Actor John Lithgow (1945)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), an American science fiction action film, follows pharmaceutical chemist Will Rodman in San Francisco as he tests the virus-based drug ALZ-112 on chimpanzees at biotechnology company Gen-Sys. His goal is to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Their test subject, a chimp named Bright Eyes, shows remarkable intelligence after being given the drug. Her newfound intelligence leads her to escape her cage during Will’s presentation and ultimately be killed. Will’s boss, Steven Jacobs, ends the project and orders all chimps to be euthanized. However, Robert Franklin, Will’s assistant, reveals that Bright Eyes had ...

Leap Year (2010) is a romantic comedy that follows the journey of Boston real estate stager, Anna Brady. Frustrated by her boyfriend’s lack of a proposal after four years together, she decides to take matters into her own hands and travel to Dublin, where he’s attending a cardiology conference. However, due to bad weather, her plane is diverted to Cardiff and she must find another way to get to Ireland. She ends up in Dingle, a small seaside village, where she meets Declan O’Callaghan, the owner of the local pub. In need of money due to the threat of foreclosure on his pub, Declan agrees to drive her to Dublin for €500. During their journey, Anna ...

Based on the first two novels in Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) is an American romantic comedy film. The protagonist, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Bloomwood, is a shopaholic residing in New York City with her best friend Suze. Despite working as a journalist for a gardening magazine, Becky longs to be a part of the fashion magazine Alette. On her way to an interview with Alette, she attempts to buy a green scarf but faces rejection when her credit card is declined. To obtain cash for the purchase, she offers to buy all the hot dogs from a stand and receive change in ...

The American drama show, Dexter (2006–2013), was broadcast on Showtime for seven years, starting in October 2006 and ending in September 2013. It takes place in Miami and follows the story of Dexter Morgan, a forensics expert with a focus on analyzing bloodstains for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department. However, he also leads a covert double life as a vigilante serial killer. His targets are those who have escaped justice due to corruption or loopholes in the legal system. The show received positive reviews throughout its entire run, with the first four seasons receiving universal acclaim. However, as the series progressed, reception declined significantly. It ...

Kinsey (2004) is a biographical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon, exploring the life of Alfred Charles Kinsey, a pioneer in the field of sexology. The movie follows Professor Kinsey as he discusses his sexual history, while also delving into flashbacks from his childhood and young adulthood. These flashbacks show the strict views of his father, a lay minister who believed modern inventions led to sin, and how this affected Kinsey’s upbringing. As a teenager, he faced humiliation for being exposed to cigarettes and later disappoints his father with his chosen career path. The adult Kinsey becomes a ...

The biographical film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), is based on Roger Lewis’s book and follows the journey of English comedian, Peter Sellers. It begins with him walking up to a director’s chair, before the unseen live audience breaks into applause. In 1950s London, he is already a well-known performer on The Goon Show but struggles to make a mark in film. After a disappointing audition, he seeks comfort at home with his family but receives pushy advice from his overbearing mother Peg to ‘bite the hand that feeds you’. Inspired by her words, Peter taps into his talent for ...

The Ghost of Lord Farquaad (2003) is an animated 4D film based on the Shrek franchise by DreamWorks Animation and the book by William Steig. As Shrek and Princess Fiona search for the Honeymoon Hotel, Thelonious appears and captures Fiona. Shrek and Donkey chase after them, leading them to a graveyard where they encounter Lord Farquaad’s statue of Dragon which he has sent to attack them. However, the real Dragon arrives to save them, resulting in a chase that ends with the stone dragon losing its wings and falling into the water below. In another attempt to harm Fiona, Farquaad sends her over a waterfall on a raft ...

Orange County (2002) is an American comedy featuring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. The film follows Shaun Brumder, a teenager who is bright but lacks interest in academics. He embraces the laid-back lifestyle of Southern California, spending his time surfing, partying, and drinking in the affluent town of Orange County. However, after the tragic death of his best friend Lonny in a surfing accident, Shaun reevaluates his priorities. A chance encounter with Marcus Skinner’s novel sparks his passion for writing and he sets his sights on attending Stanford University to ...

The American animated fantasy comedy film, Shrek (2001), is loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book by William Steig of the same name. The main character, an anti-social and territorial ogre, thrives in the isolation of his swamp and takes pleasure in warding off trespassers. However, his peaceful existence is disrupted when the short-tempered ruler of Duloc, Lord Farquaad, banishes a multitude of fairy-tale creatures who mistakenly end up in Shrek’s territory. Seeking retribution for the invasion, Shrek sets out to confront Farquaad and demand that the creatures be relocated elsewhere. Although he ...

Based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote (2000) is a television film produced by Hallmark Entertainment and distributed by TNT. Directed by Peter Yates and written by John Mortimer, this adaptation follows the story of an hidalgo who obsessively reads chivalry novels and eventually loses his sanity. Believing himself to be a knight named Don Quixote de La Mancha, he embarks on imagined adventures with his loyal squire, the simple farmer Sancho Panza. Together, they rescue damsels in distress and battle giants ...

An American legal drama film, A Civil Action (1998), directed and written by Steven Zaillian, is based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Harr. The movie depicts a true court case in Woburn, Massachusetts during the 1980s regarding environmental pollution. The city’s water supply becomes contaminated with toxicants which are eventually linked to a series of local children’s deaths. Anne Anderson, a resident of Woburn, approaches cocky Boston attorney Jan Schlichtmann and his small firm of personal injury lawyers for help in taking legal action against ...

The mystery thriller film Johnny Skidmarks (1998) was directed by John Raffo. The main character, Johnny Scardino, is a crime scene photographer who regularly works with police detectives Larry Skovik and Woody Warshawski. Due to the nature of his job, he is often called ‘Johnny Skidmarks’ by the detectives. To cope with the horrors he sees, Johnny has built a wall of detachment around himself, which has only been reinforced by the recent death of his wife Ruth. He leads a solitary life, with his only companions being Ruth’s brother Jerry, who is always in need of attention and conversation, and their ...

Stephen Gyllenhaal’s American dark comedy-drama thriller film, Homegrown (1998), follows the story of small-time marijuana harvesters Jack, Carter, and Harlan in Northern California. The trio witnesses their boss Malcolm being shot by his pilot during a visit to his successful marijuana plantation. After recovering from the shock, Jack takes charge and leads the group as they quickly dismantle their camp and gather enough crop to make up for their losses before leaving. While Carter and Harlan transport the harvested crop to Lucy’s for drying, Jack focuses on finding a potential buyer. However, with ...

3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001) is an American television sitcom created by Bonnie and Terry Turner that aired on NBC from January 9, 1996 to May 22, 2001. The show follows four extraterrestrials on a mission to observe human behavior on Earth, commonly referred to as the third planet from the Sun. Taking on the guise of a human family, they blend into society while conducting their research. Interestingly, this concept is not new for the Turners, as three years prior to the show’s premiere they had written Coneheads – a film with a similar premise of aliens ...

In the directed film Hollow Point (1996), Sidney J. Furie tells the story of Diane Norwood, an FBI agent, and Max Parrish, a DEA agent, as they chase down a group of three allied crime bosses and their financial manager, Livingston. Despite having the same target, the agents opt to compete against each other for the chance to arrest the criminals and take their large cash stash in the name of their respective agencies. However, when it becomes clear that neither is willing to back down, they begrudgingly agree to join forces. Amidst intense romantic tension, Diane and Max’s ...

The HBO film, The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), depicts the inspiring story of the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Directed by Robert Markowitz, the film follows Hannibal ‘Iowa’ Lee Jr. as he joins fellow flight cadet candidates Billy ‘A-Train’ Roberts, Walter Peoples III, and Lewis Johns on a train to Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon beginning their training, they are introduced to Colonel Noel Rogers and Major Sherman Joy, who each have their own perspectives on the cadets’ journey. While Rogers is optimistic and urges the cadets to prove ...

The American drama film, My Brother’s Keeper (1995), was helmed by director Glenn Jordan. It follows the story of twin brothers, Bo and Tom Bradley, who are both beloved teachers in the Long Island school district. When Tom is diagnosed with HIV, they are presented with an opportunity for a life-saving bone marrow transplant. However, just before the surgery, their insurance company denies coverage, prompting them to take legal action in hopes of saving Tom’s life.

Silent Fall (1994) is a gripping psychological thriller directed by Bruce Beresford. The film follows the story of Timothy ‘Tim’ Warden, an autistic child who may have witnessed his parents’ brutal murder. In an attempt to crack the case, former child psychiatrist turned therapist Jake Rainer is tasked with delving into Tim’s mind. However, Tim remains unresponsive even to Jake’s probing, adding to the suspense of the film. As Tim’s protective sister Sylvie warms up to Jake and his efforts, she becomes wary upon discovering that he was involved in the death of another child under his ...

The American historical comedy-drama film, Princess Caraboo (1994), tells the story of a woman who deceives Regency England by posing as an exotic princess speaking an unknown language. Directed and written by Michael Austin and John Wells respectively, the movie is based on a true 19th-century character. When she is discovered in the fields, dressed extravagantly and speaking unintelligibly, the Worrall family takes her in. However, their Greek butler Frixos immediately suspects her to be a fraud. While Mr. Worrall sends her to face charges of vagrancy, Mrs. Worrall ...

Based on William Boyd’s 1981 novel and directed by Bruce Beresford, A Good Man in Africa (1994) is a comedy-drama film that portrays the tense relationship between English imperialists and the West African government of Kinjanja. Womanizing British diplomat Morgan Leafy faces consequences when he is found in bed with Celia, the wife of corrupt Presidential candidate Sam Adekunle. To make amends, Leafy is tasked with bribing an official who had rejected a lucrative project favored by Adekunle. However, to his dismay, the one person standing in his way is ...