Actor Harry Dean Stanton (1926)

Seven Psychopaths (2012) is a film, directed and co-produced by Martin McDonagh. Marty, an alcoholic writer in Los Angeles, is struggling with his new screenplay of the same name. Although he has the title, he lacks the characters to fill it. His best friend Billy, a struggling actor, makes money by kidnapping dogs for rewards. Hans, Billy’s partner-in-crime, is devoted to his religious beliefs and caring for his wife Myra who has cancer. While Billy wants to collaborate with Marty on the screenplay, he feels too embarrassed to ask directly. In hopes of persuading Marty, Billy shows him a newspaper article about ...

This Must Be the Place (2011), an Italian-French-Irish drama directed and written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello respectively, tells the story of Cheyenne. The former wealthy rock star has been living a mundane and uninspired life in Dublin for the past two decades. His retirement was prompted by the tragic suicides of two of his teenage fans. Seeking some sort of redemption, he makes the journey to New York to make amends with his dying father, only to arrive too late. His justification for not being in contact for 30 years was due to his father’s rejection when he began experimenting with goth ...

In the animated Western comedy Rango (2011), directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan, a theatrically-minded pet chameleon finds himself stranded in the Mojave Desert of Nevada when his owners’ car accidentally loses his terrarium. Seeking refuge, he meets a nine-banded armadillo named Roadkill, who is on a quest for the ‘Spirit of the West’ and tells him about a town called Dirt where water mysteriously appears every Wednesday. With no other options, the chameleon sets out into the desert but not before narrowly escaping being preyed upon by ...

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 ...

The Green Mile (1999), an American fantasy drama film based on the novel with the same title by Stephen King, was written, directed and co-produced by Frank Darabont. In 1935, at Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row, nicknamed ‘The Green Mile’, retiree Paul Edgecomb served as an officer. Whilst watching the film Top Hat in 1999 at a Louisiana assisted-living home, Paul begins to cry. His companion Elaine becomes concerned and he explains that it reminded him of events he witnessed during his time as an officer. He worked alongside corrections officers ...

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), an epic religious drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader with contributions from Scorsese and Jay Cocks, is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ controversial 1955 novel of the same name. The film depicts Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter living in the Roman client state of Judea, struggling with conflicting desires and his understanding of God’s plan for him. ...

The American supernatural horror film Christine (1983), directed and co-scored by John Carpenter, is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It follows the impact of a classic red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine on the lives of Arnie Cunningham, his friends, family, and teenage enemies. This car seems to have a mind of its own and a possessive personality that negatively influences Arnie. In 1957, at a Detroit car factory, the Fury shuts its hood on a worker’s hand and later kills another worker for dropping ash on its seats. Twenty years ...

Young Doctors in Love (1982) is an American comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. The story follows a group of eight young medical interns who join the City Hospital surgery staff, headed by the brash and cynical Dr. Prang. Among the patients at the hospital is Sal Bonafetti, an old mafioso who has disguised himself under a different name due to fear of retaliation from rival crime organizations. His son Angelo takes on the identity of a woman named ‘Angela’ to keep watch over his father. In addition, professional hitman Malamud also becomes a patient in order to carry out an assassination attempt on Sal. ...

One from the Heart (1982), a musical romantic drama film, was both written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The plot unfolds on Independence Day in Las Vegas where Hank, a mechanic, and Frannie, a travel agent, end their five-year relationship. Hank’s lack of consideration for Frannie’s desire for adventure and thrill causes their split. Both individuals end up spending the night with their envisioned partners – Hank with Leila, a circus performer, and Frannie with Ray, a waiter masquerading as a singer and pianist. Following their separate nights apart, Hank experiences an emotional breakdown and ...

Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O’Bannon, is a science fiction horror film. The story was co-authored by Ronald Shusett. The seven-member crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, including Captain Dallas, Executive Officer Kane, Warrant Officer Ripley, Navigator Lambert, Science Officer Ash, and engineers Parker and Brett, are in stasis as they return to Earth. Upon receiving a transmission from a nearby moon, Mother awakens the crew. In accordance with protocol to investigate any potential ...

Farewell, My Lovely (1975) is an American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Dick Richards. In 1941 Los Angeles, private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by recently released bank robber Moose Malloy to locate his ex-girlfriend Velma. Despite not seeing her in seven years due to his incarceration, Malloy abruptly disappears after murdering the new owner of Velma’s former workplace. With the help of Velma’s old acquaintance Tommy Ray and a photo she provided, Marlowe tracks her down at an insane asylum. However, when he informs Malloy of his findings, he realizes that the picture he was given was ...