Actor Jeff Daniels (1955)

The Catcher Was a Spy (2018) is an American war film directed by Ben Lewin and written by Robert Rodat, based on the book of the same name by Nicholas Dawidoff. Moe Berg, an experienced 15-year baseball player, takes on a new role as a spy in the war effort to outdo Nazi Germany in developing the first atomic bomb. The Germans made a breakthrough by splitting the atom in 1938, and the race for the bomb was on. In charge of delivering this weapon was German Nobel prize winner Werner Heisenberg. To counter this threat, Moe ...

Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge (2017) delves into significant articles, including Michael Hastings’ exposé that led to the downfall of Gen. Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan, Lawrence Wright’s captivating exploration of televangelist Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall, and Jann Wenner’s moving post-election interview with Barack Obama in 2016. This two-part documentary also takes a retrospective look at the past 50 years of the renowned magazine, featuring interviews and footage with prominent individuals who have graced its pages since Jann Wenner founded it in 1967.

Allegiant (2016) is the third and final film in The Divergent Series, directed by Robert Schwentke and written by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, and Noah Oppenheim. In this American dystopian science fiction action film, Evelyn takes charge of Chicago and puts Jeanine’s followers on trial for their actions. Johanna disagrees with this approach and is joined by many new Allegiants. Tris, Four, Caleb, Tori, Christina, and Peter escape over the wall while being ...

Directed by Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs (2015) is a biographical drama based on the life of Apple Inc. co-founder, Steve Jobs. Written by Aaron Sorkin, the film is a British-American co-production that was adapted from Walter Isaacson’s 2011 biography and interviews conducted by Sorkin. It covers fourteen years in Jobs’ life, leading up to three press conferences – the unveiling of the Macintosh 128K in 1984, the NeXT Computer in 1988, and the iMac G3 in 1998. ...

The science fiction film, The Martian (2015) was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Matt Damon. It was adapted from Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name by Drew Goddard. In the year 2035, the Ares III mission to Mars was exploring Acidalia Planitia on sol 18 of their 31-sol expedition. However, a severe dust storm threatened to topple their Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). During the evacuation, astronaut Mark Watney was hit by debris and presumed dead. With the MAV in ...

Looper (2012) is an American sci-fi action-thriller film written and directed by Rian Johnson, with production by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern. In 2044, 25-year-old Joe works as a ‘looper’ for a Kansas City crime syndicate, assassinating their enemies who are sent back in time from the future of 2074. This is due to tracking systems that make disposing of bodies undetected nearly impossible. Abe, a man from the future, manages the loopers who kill and dispose of victims with concealed faces in exchange for ...

Traitor (2008) is an American spy thriller film written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, based on a story by Steve Martin. Samir Horn, an Arabic-speaking Sudanese-American and devout Muslim, lost his father to a car bomb in his childhood. As an adult, he becomes an arms dealer and gets arrested during a deal in Yemen. Samir’s friendly relationship with Omar, who later arranges their escape from jail together, introduces him to Fareed, a leader of the terrorist organization al-Nathir. FBI Special Agent Roy Clayton starts suspecting that Samir has become ...

The American crime film, The Lookout (2007), marks the directorial debut of Scott Frank. While driving with his lights off at night, high school sports star Chris Pratt crashes into a stalled combine on the road. Tragically, two of his passengers do not survive while he and his girlfriend Kelly are able to live through the accident. However, Chris is left with lasting mental impairments, including anterograde amnesia and anger management issues. In an effort to cope with these challenges, Chris attends classes to learn new skills and keeps a small notebook as a tool for remembering daily tasks. Despite having only ...

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) is a riveting historical drama directed by George Clooney that delves into the world of American television news. At a gathering titled ‘A Salute to Edward R Murrow’ on October 25, 1958, Murrow delivers a powerful speech addressing Senator McCarthy and other prominent figures. The film then transports us back to October 14, 1953 at CBS Studios, where an on-screen caption reveals McCarthy’s claim of over 200 Communists in the US government. With this latest development, Fred Friendly and the news team discuss potential stories for their upcoming episodes. Murrow makes it ...

The American indie comedy-drama film, The Squid and the Whale (2005), written and directed by Noah Baumbach, is set in 1986. Bernard Berkman, an arrogant novelist whose career has been on a downward spiral, is struggling to find an agent. Meanwhile, his wife Joan’s work is gaining widespread recognition, causing tension between them. One day, the couple informs their two sons- 16-year-old Walt and 12-year-old Frank- of their separation. They agree to joint custody and spending equal time with the kids, but after they split up, their relationship becomes even more combative than before as Bernard moves to a house ...

The American mystery thriller, Blood Work (2002), was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the film. While investigating a local homicide, FBI Special Agent Terry McCaleb is outside addressing the media when he spots the alleged ‘code murderer’ in the crowd. In pursuit of the man, McCaleb wounds him but suffers a heart attack and ends the chase. Following his retirement, McCaleb resides on a houseboat in Long Beach and receives a life-saving heart transplant after two years. Soon after, he is approached by Graciella Rivers, whose sister Gloria was killed in a robbery. She asks for his ...

Trial and Error (1997), an American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, follows the story of Charlie Tuttle. Recently promoted to partner at the prestigious law firm Whitfield and Morris, he is tasked by his boss and future father-in-law with requesting a continuance for a cousin-in-law’s mail fraud case in Paradise Bluff, Nevada. Despite conflicting with his upcoming bachelor party, Charlie makes the journey from California. To his surprise, he is met by his best man, actor Richard Rietti, who is determined to ensure a memorable pre-wedding celebration. However, things take an unexpected turn when Charlie gets ...

2 Days in the Valley (1996) is a darkly humorous American film by writer-director John Herzfeld. Two hired killers, Lee Woods and Dosmo Pizzo, enter a bedroom and find a sleeping couple: Olympic athlete Becky Foxx and her ex-husband Roy Foxx. After injecting Becky with a tranquilizer, Lee shoots Roy and the two men flee to an empty spot near Mulholland Drive. There, Lee stages Dosmo’s death by shooting him and blowing up their car. With his girlfriend Helga Svelgen in tow, Lee runs from the scene while Dosmo miraculously survives thanks to his bulletproof vest. Seeking refuge at the opulent home of affluent art ...

In the American action thriller film, Speed (1994), directed by Jan de Bont, LAPD SWAT officers Jack Traven and Harry Temple stop an extortionist bomber from detonating a bomb in a crowded elevator for a $3 million ransom. During the confrontation, the bomber takes Harry hostage. To save his partner, Jack shoots Harry in the leg, causing the bomber to flee and set off the bomb. Though it appears that the bomber perishes in the explosion, he survives and watches Jack and Harry’s heroic actions on TV. As a result of their bravery, Lieutenant ‘Mac’ McMahon praises them and promotes Harry to Detective ...

Radio Days (1987), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, nostalgically looks back at the golden age of radio in the late 1930s and 1940s. Set in Rockaway Beach, New York, it follows a working-class family, with fictional narrator Joe (voiced by Allen himself) recounting their adventures. Among these is how two burglars stumbled upon a radio show while robbing a home. For Joe, old radio songs evoke childhood memories of his time living with his modest Jewish-American family in Rockaway Beach during the late 1930s and early 1940s. His mother was ...

The American fantasy romantic comedy film, The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), was written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in 1935 during the Great Depression, Cecilia, a waitress from New Jersey, faces challenges in her job and marriage to her unfaithful husband Monk. Despite her struggle to leave him, she finds solace by watching the same movie repeatedly at the theater. Her focus shifts towards Tom Baxter, an archaeologist character in the film who falls for a Copacabana singer. As Baxter notices Cecilia’s gaze on him, he becomes smitten with her and breaks out of the screen to be with her. This unexpected turn ...

Terms of Endearment (1983) is a family tragicomedy film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks. It is based on Larry McMurtry’s 1975 novel of the same name. The story revolves around Aurora Greenway, a widow who lives in River Oaks, Houston. Despite having several suitors, she chooses to focus on her close relationship with her daughter Emma. Emma, who is eager to break free from her mother’s controlling nature, defies her objections and marries Flap Horton – a young college professor. However, their constant arguments and conflicting ...