Actor Jesse Plemons (1988)

Kinds of Kindness (2024), an absurdist black comedy anthology film, was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and co-written by Efthimis Filippou. It made its debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024, where Plemons took home the Best Actor award. The film follows a ‘triptych fable’ structure and features three unique yet interconnected tales. 1. The Death of R.M.F. Robert Fletcher is completely under the thumb of his demanding boss and romantic partner, ...

Martin Scorsese co-writes, produces, and directs the American epic western crime drama film, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Inspired by David Grann’s non-fiction book from 2017, Scorsese and Eric Roth bring the story to life. During the annual ‘flower moon’ phenomenon on their Oklahoma reservation, Osage Nation elders mourn their descendants’ assimilation into White American society while burying a ceremonial pipe. It is during this time that ...

Jane Campion’s film, The Power of the Dog (2021), is a reimagined Western drama based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name. Set in 1925 Montana, the story follows wealthy rancher brothers Phil and George Burbank as they encounter Rose Gordon, a widow and innkeeper, during a cattle drive. While George is drawn to Rose’s kindness, Phil disapproves of her and views her as someone after his brother’s money. He also belittles Rose’s teenage son Peter, whom he sees as weak and effeminate. After George and Rose marry and she moves in with them ...

Jungle Cruise (2021) is an American fantasy adventure film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, and Michael Green. The inspiration for the film comes from Walt Disney’s popular theme park attraction. In 1556, Spanish conquistadors led by Don Aguirre embark on a journey to South America in search of the legendary Lágrimas de Cristal Tree. This tree is believed to cure illness, heal injuries, break curses, and possibly heal ...

The film The Irishman (2019) is a Martin Scorsese-directed and produced epic gangster movie, based on Steven Zaillian’s screenplay adapted from the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. It follows the story of Frank Sheeran, an elderly Irish-American WWII veteran living in a nursing home, who reflects on his past as a hitman for the Italian-American Mafia. Sheeran starts off as a delivery truck driver in 1950s Philadelphia and begins selling meat shipments to local gangster ‘Skinny ...

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019), an American neo-Western crime thriller film, is part of the Breaking Bad franchise. Acting as a sequel and epilogue to the television series, it continues the story of Jesse Pinkman, who joins forces with former teacher Walter White to build a crystal meth empire in Albuquerque. In a flashback to their time together in Walter’s meth business, Jesse asks Mike Ehrmantraut where he would start over if given the chance. Mike mentions Alaska as an option, which piques Jesse’s interest. Despite expressing his desire to make things right for his past actions, Mike cautions that starting over would make that ...

Vice (2018) is an American biographical political satire comedy-drama film that follows the career of Dick Cheney. Directed, written and produced by Adam McKay, the film is narrated by Kurt, a fictional veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi wars. In 1963, after dropping out of Yale University due to his struggles with alcoholism, Cheney works as a lineman in Wyoming. However, after being pulled over for driving while intoxicated, his wife Lynne gives him an ultimatum to get his life together or she will leave him. Six years later in 1969, Cheney lands a job as a White House intern during the Nixon Administration where he ...

Hostiles (2017) is an American western drama film written and directed by Scott Cooper, based on a story by Donald E. Stewart. Set in 1892, the movie follows the story of Rosalee Quaid, a settler who faces a brutal attack from a Comanche war group that results in the death of her husband and three children. In Fort Berringer, New Mexico, Captain Joseph Blocker receives orders from Colonel Abraham Biggs to escort Cheyenne war chief Yellow Hawk and his family back to their tribal lands in Montana. Despite his past with Yellow Hawk, which includes the loss of friends and ...

American Made (2017), an action comedy film directed by Doug Liman and written by Gary Spinelli, draws inspiration from the life of Barry Seal. A former TWA pilot who later became a drug smuggler for the Medellín Cartel, Seal is eventually recruited as an informant for the DEA. The CIA also takes notice of Seal’s ability to smuggle Cuban cigars into the country and enlists him to take aerial photographs of Sandinista bases in 1978. Soon, he becomes involved with Pablo Escobar’s infamous cartel, led by Jorge Ochoa and Carlos Lehder, who want a part of his ...

The American biographical crime drama film, Black Mass (2015), tells the story of notorious mobster Whitey Bulger. Directed by Scott Cooper and written by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth, it is based on Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill’s 2001 book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob. Set in 1975, the film follows James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, leader of the ...

Based on Elizabeth Strout’s 2008 novel, Olive Kitteridge (2014) is an American TV miniseries set in Maine. Starring Frances McDormand as the title character and Richard Jenkins as her husband Henry Kitteridge, with Zoe Kazan as Denise Thibodeau and Bill Murray as Jack Kennison. The show is divided into four parts, each depicting a different point in the story. Premiering on HBO on November 2, 2014, the first two episodes ...

Fargo (2014–2024) is an award-winning American black comedy crime drama TV show, created and primarily written by Noah Hawley. Inspired by the 1996 film of the same name, which was written and directed by the Coen brothers, it also takes place within the same fictional universe. The Coens were impressed with Hawley’s script and served as executive producers for the series. It first aired on FX on April 15, 2014, and follows an anthology format. Each season is set in a ...

Battleship (2012) is an American military science fiction action film, adapted from the popular board game. Directed by Peter Berg from a script by brothers Jon and Erich Hoeber, the film takes place in 2005 on ‘Planet G’, a possibly habitable world. During this time, a communications array is constructed in Oahu to connect with any extraterrestrial life. It is here where Alex Hopper crosses paths with Samantha Shane, daughter of Admiral Terrance Shane, while trying to impress her. After getting arrested, ...

Black Mirror (2011–2024) is a thought-provoking British anthology series, created by Charlie Brooker, that delves into the consequences of technology on society. Originally airing on Channel 4, the show has since found a home on Netflix and has produced six series since its debut in 2011. With a total of 27 episodes and one interactive film called Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, each installment ranges from 40 to 89 minutes and can be viewed in any desired order. While the episodes cover a diverse range of genres, they all share a common theme of the potential future impact of technology, drawing inspiration from ...

Breaking Bad (2008–2013), an American neo-Western crime drama TV series, was created and produced by Vince Gilligan and aired on AMC from January 20, 2008 to September 29, 2013. It ran for five seasons and had a total of 62 episodes. Filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the show follows the story of Walter White. He is a high school chemistry teacher who is dealing with stage-three lung cancer and feeling underpaid, overqualified, and dispirited. To secure his family’s financial future before he dies, White turns to a life of crime. His former student Jesse Pinkman becomes his partner as they produce and distribute ...