Actor Gabriel Byrne (1950)

War of the Worlds (2019–2024), a production of Fox Networks Group and StudioCanal-backed Urban Myth Films, is an adaptation of H. G. Wells’ 1898 novel about Earth’s response to a surprise invasion by Martians. The series, created and written by Howard Overman and directed by Gilles Coulier and Richard Clark, marks the third television adaptation of the novel. Set in modern-day France, this Anglo-French retelling takes inspiration from The Walking Dead as ...

The 33 (2015) is a biographical disaster-survival drama film directed by Patricia Riggen. In August 2010, a group of miners from Copiapó, Chile are working in the San José mine when it collapses due to the owner’s negligence. This unfortunate event leaves them trapped and without a way out. As the miners gather in a rescue chamber, they quickly realize they lack necessary supplies for a long stay – the radio is broken, the medical kit is empty, and there is little food. Amidst this dire situation, Mario Sepúlveda emerges as a leader, taking charge of rationing food and maintaining order among the group. Despite ...

Based on the legends of Ragnar Lodbrok, a renowned Viking leader feared for his ruthless raids on Anglo-Saxon England and West Francia, Vikings (2013–2020) portrays his rise from a simple farmer in Kattegat to a Scandinavian king. With the help of his family and fellow warriors, Ragnar’s fame only grows as he continues to pillage England. As the show progresses, it also delves into the stories of his sons and their own daring exploits across Europe, Asia, and North America. It broadly follows the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his crew, family and descendants as described in the 13th-century ...

Assault on Precinct 13 (2005), a 2005 action thriller directed by Jean-François Richet and starring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne, follows Detroit Police Department Sergeant Jake Roenick in the aftermath of a failed sting operation. Struggling with substance abuse, he clings to his mundane position as desk sergeant at Precinct 13, which is set to close down. On New Year’s Eve, Roenick, along with officer Jasper O’Shea and secretary Iris Ferry, are left to cover the shift. When psychiatrist Alexandra Sabian ...

Shade (2003), a film by Damian Nieman, is an American neo-noir crime thriller. In an underground mob poker game that gets robbed, a cheating man defends himself during a gunfight, leaving only him and one gangster alive. A Mexican standoff ensues. Hustlers Tiffany and Charlie Miller meet with poker player Larry Jennings while he’s winning a game. They form a partnership to work a game with a potential $20,000 profit. The third member of their team, Vernon, is introduced as a card mechanic and blackjack dealer. In a flashback, Vernon switches out the contents of the shoe while his accomplices win $40,000 from the ...

The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) is an American action drama film that marked Randall Wallace’s directorial debut. Facing bankruptcy from King Louis XIV’s costly wars, the Kingdom of France is on the brink of revolution and its citizens are starving due to a lack of resources. In an effort to save money, the king orders for rotten food to be distributed among his people as he prepares for yet another battle. Meanwhile, the former Musketeers have gone their separate ways; Aramis has become a Jesuit priest, Porthos is a womanizing drunkard plagued by health issues, and Athos has retired to his farm. ...

The film Enemy of the State (1998), directed by Tony Scott, follows Senior NSA Assistant Director Thomas Reynolds as he meets with Congressman Phil Hammersley in a public park. The two discuss a controversial counterterrorism bill that would greatly increase surveillance powers of American intelligence agencies over individuals and groups. However, Hammersley remains steadfast in his opposition to the bill, arguing that the potential benefits are not worth sacrificing the privacy rights of ordinary citizens. On the other hand, Reynolds is determined to see the bill passed in order to secure a long-awaited promotion. He ...

The American acid Western film, Dead Man (1995), was both written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It follows the story of William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, Ohio, as he travels by train to Machine, a frontier company town. He is looking to start a new accounting job at the metal works. However, the fireman on the train warns him against this plan. Upon arriving in Machine, Blake realizes that the townspeople are not welcoming towards him. To his dismay, he discovers that the accounting position had already been filled by someone else. The town’s owner, John Dickinson, even resorts to threatening Blake with ...

The crime thriller film, The Usual Suspects (1995), directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, follows a group of criminals. One of them, Dean Keaton, is found dying on a ship in San Pedro Bay after a confrontation with a mysterious figure known as ‘Keyser’. The ship is set on fire, leaving only two survivors: Arkosh Kovash, a Hungarian mobster with severe burns, and Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint, a con artist with physical disabilities. U.S. Customs agent Dave Kujan flies from New York City to Los Angeles to interrogate Verbal while FBI ...

Royal Deceit (1994) is a drama adventure film co-written and directed by Gabriel Axel. Prince Amled witnesses the murders of his father, King Hardvendel of the Danes, and brother, leading him to enter a semi-catatonic state. This saves him from being killed like his family members by Fenge (the king’s brother) and his henchmen. The king and prince’s bodies are brought back to Amled’s distraught mother, Geruth, at their castle. Fenge claims he arrived after the murders and offers support to Geruth as she mourns her loss. He is eventually crowned king and declares Geruth as queen. During the funeral ...

Little Women (1994), an American historical drama film, directed by Gillian Armstrong and written by Robin Swicord, follows the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up in Concord, MA during and after the American Civil War. Their father is away at war and their mother, Marmee, must navigate the challenges of raising four headstrong daughters in 19th-century New England. The girls find solace in performing Jo’s plays in their attic theater. When their wealthy neighbor Mr. Laurence’s grandson Laurie moves in next door, he becomes a close friend to ...

Point of No Return (1993) is an American action film directed by John Badham. In Washington, D.C., Maggie Hayward is a drug addict convicted of murdering a police officer during a robbery shootout, and is about to face lethal injection. However, her demise is faked and she instead receives a proposition from ‘Bob’, a spy. Reluctantly agreeing to cooperate, she undergoes extensive training including martial arts, firearms, etiquette, and computer use under the guidance of Senior Operative Amanda. Through this training, Maggie transforms into a refined and elegant woman. At dinner with Bob, she learns about ...

Cool World (1992) is a movie by Ralph Bakshi and written by Michael Grais and Mark Victor. World War II veteran Frank Harris returns to his mother in 1945 Las Vegas, but sadly she dies after their motorcycle ride ends in an accident. From there, Frank is transported to a cartoon-like alternate universe known as the ‘Cool World’, where he starts over as a detective for the local police force. Almost five decades later, underground cartoonist Jack Deebs is released from prison after serving ten years for killing a ...

Mussolini: The Untold Story (1985) is a biographical miniseries that chronicles the life and reign of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Like Hitler: The Rise of Evil, the series is spoken in English rather than Mussolini’s native language. It delves into the private aspects of his life, including his long-term relationship with Clara Petacci. Based on the recollections of Vittorio Mussolini, it spans seven hours and begins in 1922 as Mussolini gains power through his Black Shirt militia. He presents himself as the reincarnation of Caesar and his popularity soars after Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935. In an attempt for peace, he attends a conference in ...