Actress Christina Ricci (1980)

The Matrix Resurrections (2021), an American sci-fi action film, marks Lana Wachowski’s solo directorial debut in the franchise, without her sister Lilly. Bugs, a young woman, discovers that the Matrix is stuck in a loop of old code. She sets out to free Morpheus from the simulation with the help of a program that embodies him. The creator of the video game series The Matrix, Thomas Anderson, based it on his hazy memories as Neo. He frequently meets Tiffany (a character inspired by his past encounters with Trinity) at a coffee shop. To develop game characters, ...

Directed by Sam Liu and written by Ernie Altbacker, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017) is an animated superhero film based on the comic book story of the same name by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. This action-packed movie is the 29th installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and the ninth in the DC Animated Movie Universe. It continues from its predecessor, Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016). Five years prior, the original Teen ...

The American fantasy comedy film, The Smurfs 2 (2013), is based on the beloved comic book series created by Belgian artist Peyo. It takes place two years after the first film and centers around Smurfette’s birthday. The Smurfs share the story of how she was originally created by their enemy, Gargamel, but was rescued by Papa Smurf and transformed into a true blue Smurf. However, Smurfette begins to question her identity and has nightmares about her origins. As her birthday approaches, the other Smurfs plan a surprise party for her but try to keep it a secret, causing Smurfette to think they have forgotten about ...

The American romantic comedy-drama anthology film, New York, I Love You (2008), showcases 11 short films directed by different filmmakers. Each of the shorts explores the theme of love and is set in one of the five boroughs of New York City. It first premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival in September and was later released in the United States on October 16, 2009. However, during a focus screening in New York, it was decided to cut two novellas from the original version: These Vagabond Shoes by Scarlett Johansson and Apocrypha by Andrei ...

The film Monster (2003), written and directed by Patty Jenkins in her debut as a feature director, follows the story of Aileen Wuornos, a street prostitute who moves from Michigan to Florida in 1989. On the brink of ending her own life, Aileen meets Selby Wall in a gay bar. Despite Aileen’s initial hostility and declaration that she is not gay, the two women strike up a conversation over beers. Selby quickly takes a liking to Aileen, admiring her protective nature. She invites Aileen to spend the night with her at the house where she is staying temporarily (having been kicked out by her parents after being accused ...

Anything Else (2003) is a romantic comedy film by American filmmaker Woody Allen. Jerry Falk and David Dobel, who bond over their shared profession as struggling comedy writers in New York City, quickly become close friends. While both are Jewish, they have differing beliefs – with David being an atheist. As they spend time together, they discover that they share a multitude of neuroses. Despite the age gap of forty years (with Jerry being twenty-one and David being sixty), they engage in deep conversations about life in the park. Though Jerry writes full-time and is even working on a novel, David still holds onto ...

The drama film, The Man Who Cried (2000), written and directed by Sally Potter tells the story of Fegele Abramovich, a Russian Jew who becomes separated from her father in 1927. As her father seeks his fortune in America, he promises to bring Fegele and her grandmother to join him. Before departing, he sings ‘Je Crois Entendre Encore’ from Les pêcheurs de perles by Bizet to his daughter. Tragically, a pogrom strikes their village after he leaves, and Fegele is forced to flee with the help of kind neighbors. Despite facing numerous obstacles on her journey, she eventually boards a ship bound for Britain with ...

200 Cigarettes (1999), an American comedy film directed by Risa Bramon Garcia and written by Shana Larsen, features multiple plot lines that all take place on New Year’s Eve of 1981. While Monica anxiously awaits the start of her big party, only her friend Hillary has arrived. As Monica tries to persuade Hillary to stay, we see other groups making their way to the event. Throughout the film, we follow these characters as they spend New Year’s Eve in New York City and eventually end up at Monica’s celebration. After ...

Tim Burton’s gothic supernatural horror film, Sleepy Hollow (1999), is a loose adaptation of Washington Irving’s short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Set in 1799, the film follows New York City police constable Ichabod Crane as he investigates a string of brutal murders in the upstate Dutch hamlet. Among the insular town elders who receive him are wealthy Baltus Van Tassel, town doctor Thomas Lancaster, Reverend Steenwyck, notary James Hardenbrook, and magistrate Samuel Philipse. According to local beliefs, the killer is an undead headless ...

The film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) was released, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same name. The story follows Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo as they speed through the Mojave Desert in 1971. While under the influence of mescaline, Duke shares his encounters with giant bats and takes stock of their drug supply. In their rented red Chevrolet Impala convertible, they pick up a hitchhiker and reveal their assignment from a magazine to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas. However, their excessive drug use causes the hitchhiker to flee on foot. Desperate to reach their destination before any ...