Actor Courtney B. Vance (1960)

Ben Is Back (2018), an American drama written and directed by Peter Hedges, follows Holly Burns as she returns from church on Christmas Eve to find her son Ben in the driveway. After spending months in rehab for prescription drug addiction, Ben’s sponsor suggested he take a trip home. While happy to see him again, Holly is also cautious of his past struggles and their effect on their family. She agrees to let him stay for 24 hours, under the condition that he does not leave her side. During a holiday shopping trip at the mall, Holly unexpectedly comes across Ben’s former doctor who is now suffering from ...

Isle of Dogs (2018) is a stop-motion animated comedy film written, produced, and directed by Wes Anderson, narrated by Courtney B. Vance. In the year 2038, a canine flu outbreak hits Japan, affecting the fictional city of Megasaki. The virus poses a threat to humans as well. In response, Mayor Kenji Kobayashi implements a decree banishing all dogs to Trash Island. This decision is made despite Professor Watanabe’s pleas for more time to find a cure. The first dog to be deported is Spots Kobayashi, a white and black-spotted canine who happens to be the bodyguard of ...

The film directed by Alex Kurtzman, The Mummy (2017), is an American fantasy action-adventure. David Koepp, Christopher McQuarrie, and Dylan Kussman wrote the screenplay with a story also by Kurtzman, Jon Spaihts, and Jenny Lumet. It is a reboot of the Mummy franchise and was originally part of Universal’s Dark ...

American Crime Story (2016–2024) is an American anthology true crime television series created and produced by a team that includes Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, as well as Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Simpson. It is part of the American Story media franchise, which also includes American Horror Story. Each season stands alone as a ...

Terminator Genisys (2015), the American science fiction action film, is the fifth installment in the Terminator franchise. Acting as a reboot, it takes a different direction from the original film and disregards events depicted in previous sequels. In 2029, Human Resistance leader John Connor leads a final offensive against Skynet, an artificial general intelligence system set on destroying humanity. However, just before victory is within their grasp, Skynet activates a time machine and sends a T-800/Model 101 Terminator back to 1984 to eliminate John’s mother, Sarah. To protect her, John’s loyal companion Kyle Reese volunteers to go back in time. ...

The American 3D supernatural horror film, Final Destination 5 (2011), directed by Steven Quale and written by Eric Heisserer, follows Sam Lawton and his colleagues as they head to a company retreat. However, while crossing the North Bay Bridge, Sam has a vision of its collapse due to high winds. In a panic, he manages to get his ex-girlfriend Molly Harper safely across the bridge before it crumbles. The survivors, including Molly, Nathan Sears, Peter Friedkin and his girlfriend Candice Hooper, Dennis Lapman (Sam’s boss), Olivia Castle, and Isaac Palmer are then ...

Jim Gillespie directed D-Tox (2002), a thriller featuring Sylvester Stallone as FBI agent Jake Malloy. While chasing down a serial killer who targets police officers, Malloy’s former partner becomes a victim. The killer then contacts Malloy from his own home and reveals that he was seeking revenge for being pursued by Malloy in the past for a string of prostitute murders. Tragically, the killer also takes the life of Mary, Malloy’s girlfriend. Despite his efforts to apprehend the killer, it appears that he has taken his own life. Three months later, Malloy ...

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011) is an American police procedural drama TV series based in New York City and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer. It first aired on September 30, 2001, as the third installment of Wolf’s successful Law & Order franchise. The show centers around The NYPD Manhattan ‘Major Case Squad’, a team of detectives tasked with solving high-profile cases, including murder, kidnappings, and major robberies. These cases often involve VIPs, local government ...

Space Cowboys (2000), an American adventure drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of two U.S. Air Force pilots and aspiring astronauts- William ‘Hawk’ Hawkins and Frank Corvin. In 1958, while testing a modified Bell X-2, Hawk decides to attempt breaking speed and altitude records. However, the plane stalls and they are forced to eject, narrowly missing a Boeing B-50 Superfortress with navigator ‘Tank’ Sullivan. After landing safely on the ground, Frank throws a punch at Hawk but their fight is interrupted by flight engineer Jerry O’Neill. Their superior, Bob ...

The drama 12 Angry Men (1997), directed by William Friedkin and based on Reginald Rose’s 1954 teleplay of the same name, is a remake of the 1957 film. The story follows a murder trial in which a teenage boy from the city slums is accused of killing his father. The judge instructs the jury to determine the boy’s guilt or innocence, with a unanimous decision required for conviction. A guilty verdict could potentially result in the death penalty, unlike in the 1957 film. As the twelve jurors retire to the jury room, an initial vote reveals that eleven are in ...

The American Christmas comedy-drama film, The Preacher’s Wife (1996), directed by Penny Marshall, tells the story of Reverend Henry Biggs and his struggles as the pastor of a small African American Baptist church in a poverty-stricken area of New York City. With declining membership, financial issues, and constant demands from his parishioners, Henry is feeling overwhelmed. To make matters worse, real estate developer Joe Hamilton is pressuring him to sell the church’s property for luxury condos. As a result, Henry has become neglectful towards his wife Julia and their son Jeremiah. Julia fears that their ...

The HBO film, The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), depicts the inspiring story of the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Directed by Robert Markowitz, the film follows Hannibal ‘Iowa’ Lee Jr. as he joins fellow flight cadet candidates Billy ‘A-Train’ Roberts, Walter Peoples III, and Lewis Johns on a train to Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon beginning their training, they are introduced to Colonel Noel Rogers and Major Sherman Joy, who each have their own perspectives on the cadets’ journey. While Rogers is optimistic and urges the cadets to prove ...