Actor John Travolta (1954)

American Crime Story (2016–2024) is an American anthology true crime television series created and produced by a team that includes Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, as well as Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Simpson. It is part of the American Story media franchise, which also includes American Horror Story. Each season stands alone as a ...

Savages (2012) is an American action thriller film directed by Oliver Stone, based on Don Winslow’s novel of the same name. It follows best friends Chon and Ben, marijuana growers in Laguna Beach. After smuggling seeds out of Afghanistan, Chon, a former Navy SEAL, teams up with Ben, a University of California graduate in business and botany. With their unique strain of marijuana gaining popularity, the pair amass wealth while also dedicating time and money to charitable efforts in Africa and Asia. They are also both openly involved with Ophelia Sage. However, their ...

From Paris with Love (2010), a French-English action thriller directed by Pierre Morel, follows the story of James Reese. He enjoys a comfortable life in Paris with his girlfriend Caroline, but his true passion lies in his side job with the CIA. Facing a shortage of agents in France, Reese is paired with field agent Charlie Wax. However, Wax’s cans of energy drink cause a holdup at customs and he refuses to give them up. Despite the seemingly trivial situation, Wax continues to berate customs until Reese uses his diplomatic authority to clear the cans. In the car later on, Wax apologizes for his behavior and ...

The American action thriller film The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), directed by Tony Scott and written by Brian Helgeland, revolves around a hijacking scenario. A man known as Ryder, along with his accomplices Bashkin, Emri, and ex-train operator Phil Ramos, take over Pelham 123 – a New York City Subway train at 77th Street. In an attempt to gain control of the situation, Walter Garber – a Metropolitan Transportation Authority employee working as a train dispatcher in the Rail Control Center – receives a call from Ryder demanding $10 million in cash ...

Bolt (2008) is an American animated action adventure film, produced and released by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pictures. The main character, a White Swiss Shepherd puppy named Bolt, is adopted by a 7-year-old girl named Penny. They soon become the stars of a successful TV show bearing Bolt’s name, where they use his superpowers to fight crime and defeat the evil Dr. Calico who has taken Penny’s father hostage. To ensure a convincing performance from Bolt, the director designs the filming process so that Bolt believes everything happening on set is real, including his powers like invincibility, strength, and a powerful bark. As a result, Bolt can ...

Be Cool (2005) is an American crime comedy film based on Elmore Leonard’s novel of the same name. It serves as the sequel to Leonard’s 1990 novel Get Shorty, which was also adapted into a film in 1995. The story centers around Chili Palmer, a mobster who becomes disenchanted with filmmaking and turns to the music industry following the public murder of his friend Tommy Athens, who owned a struggling record label. Chili offers to help Tommy’s widow, Edie Athens, revive the business which is in debt to hip-hop producer Sin LaSalle for $300,000. ...

As the title suggests, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005) is a captivating IMAX 3D documentary film that follows the monumental journey of twelve Apollo astronauts as they become the first humans to set foot on the moon. This project features talented filmmaker Mark Cowen at the helm, with assistance from co-writer and producer Tom Hanks. Through stunning visuals and quotes directly from those who experienced it, this film aims to transport viewers to the lunar surface and provide a romantic and inspiring glimpse into the astronauts’ awe-inspiring expedition.

Ladder 49 (2004), an American disaster thriller directed by Jay Russell and written by Lewis Colick, tells the story of Baltimore City firefighter Jack Morrison. While responding to a four-alarm fire in a 20-story concrete grain elevator/warehouse in the Canton waterfront neighborhood, Jack saves a man’s life before tragedy strikes. The stored grain explodes, causing Jack to fall through multiple floors and break his leg. As Jack fights for survival, his comrades from Ladder Company 49, led by Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy, work tirelessly to rescue him. Throughout the ...

Basic (2003) is a mystery-action thriller directed by John McTiernan and written by James Vanderbilt. During a live fire exercise in the jungles of Panama, Army Rangers trainees are led by their instructor and Master Sergeant Nathan West. Sergeant Ray Dunbar emerges from the jungle with wounded Second Lieutenant Levi Kendall, pursued by Sergeant Mueller whom Dunbar kills in self-defense. Although no other casualties are found, West’s team is presumed dead. Dunbar refuses to cooperate with Military Police investigator Captain Julia Osborne and requests to speak with ...

The American mystery thriller film, The General’s Daughter (1999), was helmed by director Simon West. During his time in Georgia, undercover agent Chief Warrant Officer Paul Brenner from the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Command assumes the identity of First Sergeant Frank White to orchestrate a forbidden weapons exchange with a rebel leader. While at Fort MacCallum, Brenner experiences car trouble and receives assistance from Captain Elisabeth Campbell, who serves as a psychological operations officer and is also the daughter of Lieutenant General Joseph ‘Fighting Joe’ Campbell, ...

The Thin Red Line (1998), an American epic war film by Terrence Malick, is the second adaptation of James Jones’ 1962 novel. Private Witt of the United States Army goes AWOL in 1942 and lives amongst Melanesian natives in the South Pacific. However, he is eventually discovered and confined on a troopship by First Sergeant Welsh. Due to his actions, Witt is not allowed to rejoin his unit and is instead assigned as a stretcher bearer for an upcoming campaign. C Company, led by Capt. James Staros, has been called to Guadalcanal to reinforce the efforts in securing ...

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 American comedy fantasy film, Michael (1996), was directed by Nora Ephron. The National Mirror is a tabloid publication known for its coverage of unexplainable phenomena. Upon receiving a story tip about a woman coexisting with an angel in Iowa, editor Vartan Malt selects three staff members to investigate: Frank Quinlan, Huey Driscoll (photographer and owner of the Mirror star Sparky the Wonder Dog), and Dorothy Winters (hired to replace Driscoll). During their visit to the small town’s boarding house of Pansy Milbank, they meet Michael – a winged and cookie-scented being with a surprising fondness for ...

Get Shorty (1995), an American gangster comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and written by Scott Frank, is based on Elmore Leonard’s novel of the same name. Ernesto ‘Chili’ Palmer, a loan shark and movie enthusiast from Miami, faces trouble when his leather jacket is taken by rival mobster Ray ‘Bones’ Barboni. In retaliation, Chili retrieves it and breaks Bones’ nose. However, Bones later tries to ambush him at his office, only for Chili to shoot first and graze Bones’ ...

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the American independent film, Pulp Fiction (1994). The narrative of the film deviates from chronological order and centers around three separate protagonists: Vincent Vega, a hitman; Butch Coolidge, a prizefighter; and Jules Winnfield, Vincent’s business partner. It opens with a diner robbery by a couple and then transitions between the three story lines before concluding back at the diner. Throughout the film, there are seven distinct narrative sequences, marked by intertitles. Summary. As Pumpkin and Honey Bunny dine at ...

Staying Alive (1983), the American dance drama film, served as the sequel to Saturday Night Fever (1977). Directed by Sylvester Stallone, the story follows Anthony ‘Tony’ Manero, a former disco king who takes his brother’s advice and pursues his dream of becoming a professional dancer. He now resides in a Manhattan flophouse and works as a dance instructor and waiter at a local club while hoping for a big break in Broadway’s modern dance productions. This move from Brooklyn has seemingly had a maturing effect on Tony’s personality. His diminished Brooklyn accent, avoidance of ...

Blow Out (1981), an American neo-noir mystery thriller film, follows Philadelphia sound technician Jack Terry, who is working on the low-budget slasher film Co-ed Frenzy. His producer Sam tasks him with finding more realistic sound effects for the film, leading Jack to visit a local park. There, he witnesses a car swerve off the road and into a creek. While Jack is able to save a young woman named Sally Bedina and takes her to the hospital, the male driver dies. As Jack is questioned by a detective about the accident, he becomes interested in Sally and asks her out for a drink. He soon learns that Governor George McRyan, who was running for president, was driving the ...

Saturday Night Fever (1977) is an American dance drama that follows the life of Tony Manero, a 19-year-old Italian-American from Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood. He lives with his family and works at a small paint store. Seeking an escape from his mundane routine, Tony heads to 2001 Odyssey, a popular discotheque where he reigns supreme on the dance floor and receives the admiration and respect he craves. His circle of friends includes Joey, Double J, Gus, and Bobby C, with Annette, a local girl who has a crush on Tony, on the fringe of their group. However, Tony does not reciprocate her feelings. On occasion, Tony and his friends play around on the ...

Carrie (1976) is an American supernatural horror film directed by Brian De Palma from a screenplay written by Lawrence D. Cohen, adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 epistolary novel of the same name. The film follows sixteen-year-old Carrie White, a shy teenager who lives with her fanatically religious and unstable mother, Margaret. Carrie is a loner and constantly bullied by her peers. One day, while at school, Carrie experiences her first period but panics as she was never taught about menstruation. Her classmates find ...