Actor Charles Durning (1923)

Desperation (2006) is an American made-for-TV horror film based on Stephen King’s 1996 novel of the same name. The teleplay was written by King himself. While driving through the Nevada desert, Peter and Mary Jackson, a young couple, are stopped by Collie Entragian, the local sheriff. Despite their innocence, they are accused of possessing marijuana and taken to a police station in the nearby mining town of Desperation. Upon their arrival at the station, they come across a disturbing sight: a little girl lying dead on the floor. In an act of violence, Entragian ...

The film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) is a clever mix of satire and drama, written, produced, co-edited, and directed by the talented duo Joel and Ethan Coen. Three prisoners – Pete, Delmar, and their leader Ulysses Everett McGill – flee from a chain gang in order to find a hidden fortune before the area is flooded. Along the way, they receive help from a blind man on a railway handcar who warns them that their reward may not be what they expect. Seeking refuge at Wash’s home – Pete’s cousin – the trio incurs the wrath of Sheriff ...

One Fine Day (1996), directed by Michael Hoffman, is an American romantic comedy-drama film. It follows the story of Melanie Parker, an architect who experiences a rough start to her day when she is running late to drop off her son Sammy at school. This delay is caused by fellow divorced father Jack Taylor, a New York Daily News reporter, who forgets to bring his daughter Maggie to school and is left with no choice but to take care of her for the morning. The children miss out on a Circle Line boat cruise that was part of their school field trip due to their tardiness. Realizing they both have hectic schedules, the ...

Home for the Holidays (1995) is an American family comedy-drama film directed by Jodie Foster. Claudia Larson, a single mother who was recently let go from her job, flies from Chicago to Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving with her parents, Adele and Henry. Meanwhile, her daughter opts to stay home with her boyfriend. On the plane, Claudia calls her brother Tommy, who she thinks won’t be at the dinner, and vents about her struggles on his voicemail. At their parents’ house in Baltimore, Tommy shows up with his business partner Leo Fish – whom Claudia mistakes for his new romantic partner. While Claudia is happy ...

The American crime comedy film, Happy New Year (1987), directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Peter Falk, follows two aging thieves named Nick and Charlie on their last heist before retirement in ritzy Palm Beach, Florida. Their target is the well-guarded Harry Winston jewelry store, which has high-tech security. Edward, the store’s manager, unknowingly welcomes a disguised Nick, posing as an elderly customer looking for an expensive gift for his terminally ill wife. Meanwhile, dressed as his true self, Nick meets Carolyn, a sophisticated and attractive woman who ...

The American comedy film The Man with One Red Shoe (1985), directed by Stan Dragoti and starring Tom Hanks and Dabney Coleman, is a remake of the 1972 French film The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe, which features Pierre Richard and Mireille Darc. In the plot, a CIA agent is detained in Morocco on charges of drug smuggling. It turns out that CIA deputy director Burton Cooper is behind the operation, hoping to use ...

The Fury (1978), an American supernatural horror thriller film directed by Brian De Palma, follows ex-government agent Peter Sandza and his psychic son Robin as they encounter Ben Childress, Peter’s former colleague from the agency. Despite Sandza’s plans to leave their old lives behind and return to the United States, Childress objects and stages a terrorist attack as a cover-up for kidnapping Robin in order to protect him. Though Peter manages to survive the attack and escape while badly injured, he is unable to save his son. Meanwhile in Chicago, high-school student Gillian Bellaver discovers her own ...

The American biographical crime drama film Dog Day Afternoon (1975), directed by Sidney Lumet, follows Sonny Wortzik’s first-time attempt to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank on August 22, 1972 with his friends Salvatore ‘Sal’ Naturile and Stevie. However, their plan quickly falls apart as Stevie becomes overwhelmed and runs away. Despite arriving after the daily cash pickup, Sonny and his accomplices only find $1,100 in cash. In a desperate move, Sonny takes the bank’s traveler’s checks and sets fire to the register in a trash can. The smoke draws attention from outside, leading to the ...

The film The Sting (1973) takes place in September of 1936, during the Great Depression. It follows two skilled con artists as they attempt to swindle a mob boss. Their first scam in Joliet, Illinois brings in $11,000, but Hooker’s luck turns when he loses his share in a rigged roulette game. His partner Luther, on the other hand, decides to retire after their big score. Before leaving, he advises Hooker to seek out his old acquaintance Henry Gondorff in Chicago for ‘the big con’. However, their victim turns out to be working for corrupt police officer William Snyder and notorious gangster Doyle Lonnegan. After Luther and the victim are murdered by ...

Sisters (1972) is a psychological horror film by American director Brian De Palma. Advertising salesman Philip Woode earns a dinner for two at a Manhattan restaurant on a Candid Camera-style TV show. During the prank, he is charmed by Danielle Breton, a young French Canadian model and aspiring actress, who he agrees to take as his date. After their dinner, they head back to her Staten Island apartment for intimacy. The following morning, she reveals that her twin sister Dominique has arrived to celebrate their birthday. At her request, Philip runs to the drug store and picks up a birthday cake on his way back. However, ...

Hi, Mom! (1970) is an American black comedy movie written and directed by Brian De Palma. It is also one of Robert De Niro’s early films. Jon Rubin, a veteran who has recently returned from Vietnam and aspires to be a filmmaker, is approached by producer Joe Banner to create an erotic film. Unfortunately, the camera tilts during filming which results in Banner being dissatisfied with the finished product and withdrawing his offer. As a result, Rubin decides to join an experimental acting troupe led by another one of his neighbors. The troupe puts on a production ...