Actor Johnny Depp (1963)

Based on the book by Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith, Minamata (2020) is a powerful biographical drama directed by Andrew Levitas. It features Johnny Depp (also producer) as W. Eugene Smith, an American photographer renowned for his World War II photojournalism. The film focuses on his assignment to Minamata, Kumamoto, where he witnesses the devastating effects of mercury poisoning on the locals due to industrial negligence by the Chisso Corporation. Premiering at the ...

Ciro Guerra’s drama film Waiting for the Barbarians (2019) follows the story of the Magistrate, who rules an outpost on the desert frontiers of an unnamed Empire. For years, his careful management has maintained peace with only minor misunderstandings. However, everything changes with the arrival of Colonel Joll, acting on a mysterious plan from the empire’s center. Despite the Magistrate’s attempts to understand and befriend Joll, their relationship remains antagonistic. The Colonel insists on brutally interrogating an innocent man and his nephew for suspected sheep theft. He is determined to follow ...

The Professor (2018) follows the story of Richard Brown, an English professor at a New England college. During a visit to his doctor, he receives devastating news of advanced stage 4 lung cancer that has spread throughout his body and is terminal. Given a life expectancy of six months without treatment, Richard’s hope is renewed when the doctor suggests that cancer treatment could potentially extend it to 12-18 months. After taking a walk through town and into a pond in shock, Richard returns home for dinner where he plans to share the somber news with his wife, Veronica, and their daughter Olivia. However, Richard’s plans are interrupted by Olivia’s ...

The crime thriller film City of Lies (2018) follows the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation into the killings of rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. In 2015, investigative reporter Darius ‘Jack’ Jackson from the Los Angeles Times is assigned to cover the Notorious B.I.G.’s murder. Jackson seeks out retired and disgraced LAPD detective Russell Poole for information. Through a series of flashbacks, Poole shares his belief that Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight bribed corrupt officers to carry out Wallace’s murder and conceal it. In 1997, Poole is tasked with looking into the shooting of off-duty black officer Kevin ...

Sherlock Gnomes (2018) is a mystery comedy directed by John Stevenson, and based on the beloved character Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Serving as a sequel to Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), it sees Sherlock, along with his trusted companion Dr. Watson, taking on their arch-nemesis Moriarty at London’s Natural History Museum. In a thrilling battle, Moriarty is seemingly defeated by a dinosaur skeleton. As the plot unfolds, Miss Montague, Mr Capulet and their gnomes relocate from Stratford-upon-Avon to a rundown garden in London. Lady ...

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling, is the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). Serving as the second part in the Fantastic Beast series and the tenth in the Wizarding World franchise, it follows the events of 1927. During this time, Grindelwald escapes as MACUSA transports him to Europe for trial. Three months later, Newt Scamander meets his former Hogwarts classmate Leta Lestrange in London, where he also requests to have his travel ban ...

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.

The mystery film, Murder on the Orient Express (2017), was co-produced and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Michael Green wrote the screenplay, based on Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel of the same name. It was winter in 1934 when the eccentric yet famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot traveled to the Middle East for both business and pleasure. Despite First Class being sold out during this time of year, Poirot was able to secure a cabin at the last minute thanks to his friend Bouc, who worked for the railroad and happened ...

The American swashbuckler fantasy film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), is directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. In the opening scene, young Henry Turner leaves his home in the dark of night on a rowboat, only to find himself pulled down to the bottom of the sea and inside the cursed ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman. He reunites with his cursed father, Captain Will Turner, and seeks out the fabled Trident of Poseidon to break his father’s curse. However, Will discourages him from this seemingly impossible task and sends him back to ...

Yoga Hosers (2016), an American comedy horror film written and directed by Kevin Smith, serves as a spin-off to his previous horror film Tusk. The story follows two 15-year-old girls named Colleen Collette and Colleen McKenzie, who spend their days studying yoga with their guru, Yogi Bayer, and working at a local Manitoba convenience store called Eh-2-Zed. In addition to this, they also happen to be members of the cover band Glamthrax alongside their 35-year-old friend Ichabod on drums. After receiving an invitation to a party from popular senior Hunter Calloway – who happens to be the object of Colleen ...

The film Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) was a live-action/animated fantasy adventure produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films, Team Todd, and Tim Burton Productions. For three years, Alice Kingsleigh had followed in her father’s footsteps and explored the high seas. However, upon returning to London from China, she discovered that her ex-fiancé Hamish Ascot had taken over his late father’s company. He demanded that Alice hand over her family home in exchange for her father’s ship. Following a familiar butterfly (previously known as Absolem), Alice returned to Wonderland through a mirror. She was welcomed by well-known characters such as ...

The fantasy film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling, is the first instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series and the ninth in the Wizarding World franchise. Set in 1926 New York City, it serves as a spin-off and prequel to the Harry Potter films, following British wizard Newt Scamander on his journey. While searching for a Niffler that escaped from his magical creature-filled suitcase, he crosses paths with Jacob Kowalski, an aspiring baker who accidentally swaps suitcases with ...

The American action comedy film, Mortdecai (2015), was directed by David Koepp and written by Eric Aronson. It is based on the novel series of the same name, specifically the first book Don’t Point that Thing at Me, written by Kyril Bonfiglioli. In Hong Kong, Lord Charlie Mortdecai, a self-proclaimed ‘art dealer’ and swindler, is approached by one of his victims, a gangster named Fang. With the help of his loyal manservant Jock, Mortdecai narrowly escapes harm. Back in London, he and his wife Johanna brainstorm ways to pay off their hefty tax debt. Meanwhile ...

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 ...

Tusk (2014) is a darkly comical thriller directed and penned by Kevin Smith, inspired by an episode from his SModcast podcast. Buddies Wallace Bryton and Teddy Craft co-host The Not-See Party, a show where they chat with eccentric individuals. While Wallace travels to Canada to meet the famous Kill Bill Kid, known for accidentally chopping off his own leg on camera, his girlfriend Ally remains at home. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Wallace discovers that the young internet star has taken his own life. Refusing to let the opportunity pass him by, Wallace sets out to find another intriguing interview subject. He stumbles ...

Directed by Wally Pfister and written by Jack Paglen, Transcendence (2014) is an American science fiction thriller film that follows the story of Dr. Will Caster, a scientist researching artificial intelligence and sapience. His goal is to create a sentient computer capable of achieving what he calls ‘Transcendence’. Assisted by his wife Evelyn, who is also a scientist, he works tirelessly with his team to bring this vision to life. However, their progress is hindered by the anti-technology group R.I.F.T., who carry out targeted attacks on A.I. laboratories ...

The American musical fantasy film, Into the Woods (2014), from director Rob Marshall and screenplay by James Lapine, is a retelling of the timeless tale. The story follows the Baker and his wife who long for a child but are plagued by a curse placed upon them by the Witch. As it goes, the Witch caught the Baker’s father stealing from her garden while his mother was pregnant and demanded their unborn child as payment. But that wasn’t all – in addition to the baby, the Baker’s father took some enchanted beans which resulted in the Witch being cursed with age and ugliness. With no other option, she ...

Lucky Them (2013), an American comedy-drama film by Megan Griffiths, follows Ellie Klug, a music critic in her 40s at Stax, a dying underground magazine. For her next assignment, Giles, her editor, tasks Ellie with writing about Matthew Smith’s mysterious disappearance and assumed suicide on its 10th anniversary. While most people believe he is dead, Ellie, who was Matthew’s childhood sweetheart and last remained with him before he vanished, remains hopeful of finding him. After an online tip leads her to a potential lead on Matthew’s whereabouts, Giles gives Ellie a thousand dollars to pay the source. ...

The Lone Ranger (2013), an American Western action film directed by Gore Verbinski and written by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, follows the story of lawyer John Reid. In 1933 at a San Francisco funfair, young Will meets Comanche Tonto, who tells him about his encounters with the famous Lone Ranger. The film then flashes back to 1869, when Reid returns home to Colby, Texas on a train managed by railroad tycoon Latham Cole. Unbeknownst to Reid, the train also ...

The dark fantasy film Dark Shadows (2012), directed by Tim Burton, is based on the gothic television soap opera of the same name. In 1760, young Barnabas Collins and his wealthy family relocated from Liverpool to Maine, where they built the Collinwood Mansion and founded the town of Collinsport. However, fifteen years later, Barnabas finds himself in a complicated situation. He is engaged to Josette but is also having an affair with Angelique, a servant who happens to be a witch. When Barnabas rejects Angelique, she uses her magic to murder his parents and place a curse on him. In addition, Angelique casts a spell on ...