Actress Jennifer Ehle (1969)

In December 2022, Paramount+ premiered an American Western drama series titled 1923 (2022–2023). Serving as a prequel to Yellowstone and sequel to 1883, the show features Isabel May reprising her role as narrator Elsa Dutton. The series was renewed for a second season of eight episodes in February 2023. During the Nineteenth Century, several reform movements emerged in America with the goal of promoting social improvement. These efforts often had roots in Protestant churches and were accompanied by attempts to convert new members based on religious beliefs. Some denominations also sought government ...

The  biographical drama film The Professor and the Madman (2019), directed by Farhad Safinia and written by Safinia and Todd Komarnicki, is based on Simon Winchester’s 1998 book The Surgeon of Crowthorne. Set in 1872 London, the movie follows retired United States Army surgeon William Chester Minor, who suffers from hallucinations where he is persecuted by a soldier he had branded for desertion. In one of these episodes, he accidentally kills an innocent man ...

Vox Lux (2018), an American musical drama film, follows the story of a tragic incident in early January 2000. Cullen Active enters his school in Staten Island and shoots his teacher and classmates before taking his own life. Amidst the chaos, 13-year-old Celeste Montgomery calmly speaks to Cullen and offers to pray with him. Despite her efforts, the shooting results in multiple casualties and Celeste herself is injured. As she recovers, she turns to music for solace and begins writing songs with her older sister Eleanor. During an event honoring the victims, Celeste performs one of their original pieces titled ‘Wrapped Up’. The song receives instant ...

Black or White (2014), directed and written by Mike Binder, tells the story of Elliot Anderson, a man who becomes a widower after his wife dies in a car crash. He raises his granddaughter Eloise while dealing with his grief through heavy drinking. However, Elliot’s life is upended when the child’s grandmother, Rowena – who happens to be black – insists that her son Reggie, a drug addict whom Elliot holds responsible for his daughter’s death, take custody of Eloise. This sparks a heated custody battle as Elliot fights tooth and nail to prevent his granddaughter from being in the care of her ...

Director José Padilha brought the American science-fiction action film, RoboCop (2014), to life with screenwriters Joshua Zetumer, Edward Neumeier, and Michael Miner. This remake of the 1987 original is the fourth in the franchise. The story explores a futuristic world where multinational corporation OmniCorp introduces robotic peacekeepers to maintain law and order. CEO Raymond Sellars leads the company’s efforts to market this advanced technology to domestic law ...

Director Steven Soderbergh released the American thriller film Contagion (2011). After a business trip to Hong Kong, PR executive Beth Emhoff had an encounter with a former lover during her layover in Chicago. She initially chalked up her slight illness to jet lag. However, just two days later, upon returning to Minneapolis, Beth’s husband Mitch rushed her to the hospital after she suffered a seizure. Despite her treatment, she tragically passed away from an unknown disease. Meanwhile, Mitch’s stepson Clark also succumbed to the illness. Thankfully, Mitch was found to be naturally immune but chose to keep ...

The Ides of March (2011), directed by George Clooney, is an American political drama. The screenplay was written by Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon, based on Willimon’s play Farragut North. The film follows the story of Stephen Meyers, the junior campaign manager for Governor of Pennsylvania Mike Morris, as he competes against Arkansas Senator Ted Pullman in the Democratic presidential primary. Both ...

Pride and Glory (2008), directed by Gavin O’Connor, is an American crime drama that follows the Tierney family. Patriarch Francis Tierney Sr., who serves as Assistant Chief of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), is joined by his wife Maureen, son Francis Jr. and daughter-in-law Abby, along with their three kids Caitlin, Francis III, and Bailey. The family also includes daughter Megan and her husband Jimmy Egan, along with their two children Shannon and Matthew. The 31st Precinct is in good hands with Deputy Inspector Franny at the helm, while his brother Ray works in the Missing Persons Squad after ...

In Paradise Road (1997), an Australian war film directed by Bruce Beresford, a group of women from England, America, the Netherlands, and Australia are imprisoned by the Japanese in Sumatra during World War II. During a dance at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore for soldiers and their families, they are abruptly forced to flee when the Battle of Singapore breaks out and a bomb explodes outside. The women and children are quickly taken away on a boat for safety. However, the boat is soon bombed by Japanese fighter planes, causing them to jump into the water. Among them are three women – Adrienne Pargiter, Rosemary ...