Actor Jon Bernthal (1976)

Based on a nonfiction book by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, We Own This City (2022) is an American crime drama miniseries. It was created by George Pelecanos and David Simon and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. HBO airs the six-episode series on April 25, 2022. The miniseries chronicles the ascent and downfall of Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force, exposing the pervasive corruption within. Focusing on Sergeant Wayne ...

An American biographical sports drama film, King Richard (2021), is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. Living in Compton, California, Richard Williams shares a home with his wife Brandy, three step-daughters, and two daughters – Venus and Serena. His dream is to turn his daughters into professional tennis players and he has been planning for their success since before they were born. Together, Richard and Brandy coach the girls every day while also balancing their jobs as a security guard and nurse. However, despite their efforts, they ...

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021), an American action thriller directed by Taylor Sheridan, follows the story of Hannah Faber, a smokejumper who is struggling after being unable to prevent the deaths of three campers and a fellow smokejumper in a forest fire. She now finds herself stationed at a lookout tower in Park County, Montana. Meanwhile, Owen Casserly, a forensic accountant, discovers that his boss and family were actually murdered by assassins Jack and Patrick disguised as a gas explosion. Fearing for his own safety, Owen takes his son Connor and goes on the run to seek refuge with his brother-in-law and Deputy ...

The American sports drama film, Ford v Ferrari (2019), was directed by James Mangold and written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller. In an effort to increase their car sales, Ford Motor Company Vice President Lee Iacocca suggests purchasing the dominant Ferrari team participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans to Henry Ford II. However, owner Enzo Ferrari uses this offer to secure a deal with Fiat that allows him to maintain ownership of Scuderia ...

Widows (2018), a neo-noir heist thriller directed by Steve McQueen, follows Harry Rawlings and his criminal gang as they steal $2,000,000 from Chicago crime boss Jamal Manning. During their getaway, the van is destroyed in a police standoff. In need of funds for his campaign for alderman of a South Side ward, Jamal threatens Veronica, Harry’s widow. Veronica is given a key to a safety deposit box by Bash, Harry’s loyal chauffeur. Inside is Harry’s notebook with a detailed plan for stealing an additional $5 million from Jamal’s opponent, Jack Mulligan. Despite being advised to sell the notebook to ...

The Punisher (2017–2019), a Netflix original series developed by Steve Lightfoot, is based on the beloved Marvel Comics character. Set in the same universe as the franchise’s films and other shows, it serves as a spin-off from the initial Marvel Netflix production, Daredevil (2015-2018). In season one, former Marine Frank Castle – known as ‘the Punisher’ in New York City – seeks vengeance for his family’s tragic demise. However, he soon discovers a larger conspiracy beyond their murders. In season two, Castle finds himself embroiled in the investigation of Amy Bendix’s ...

Baby Driver (2017) is an action-packed film written and directed by Edgar Wright. The main character, Baby, is a skilled getaway driver in Atlanta who works for criminal mastermind Doc. His job involves driving robbers to their heists, as payment for stealing a car filled with Doc’s illegal merchandise. Due to a childhood car accident that resulted in the death of his parents, Baby suffers from tinnitus and finds comfort in music. He often uses his iPods to drown out the ringing, which doesn’t sit well with some of the robbers he works with. When not working as a driver, Baby enjoys creating remixes of ...

Directed by Sam Liu with a screenplay by Alan Burnett and Bryan Q. Miller, Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016) is an American animated superhero film. It is the 26th installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series and the seventh film in the DC Animated Movie Universe. Years ago, Raven was born to Arella, who had been impregnated by the demon Trigon. Realizing his true nature, Arella fled and found refuge with a group of mystics in the alternate dimension of Azarath. As she grew up, ...

Directed by Gavin O’Connor, The Accountant (2016) is an American action thriller film written by Bill Dubuque. The protagonist, who goes by the name ‘Christian Wolff’, is on the autism spectrum. While his mother wants to send him to Harbor Neuroscience for treatment, his father disagrees and takes it upon himself to train Christian and his brother Braxton in various martial arts. This training also includes encouraging Christian to face stimuli that usually trigger him, rather than avoiding them. As things stand, Christian runs a small accounting office ...

Daredevil (2015–2018), a Netflix series based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, follows Matt Murdock, who gained unique and powerful senses after a chemical spill blinded him as a child. By day, he uses his abilities as a lawyer at his own firm, while at night he patrols Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil, bringing justice to those who need it most. This series was also the first of its kind on Netflix and eventually led to the crossover miniseries The Defenders. Season 1. After ‘the incident’, criminals of various backgrounds ...

Sicario (2015) is an American action thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Taylor Sheridan. Set in Chandler, Arizona, it follows FBI Special Agents Kate Macer and Reggie Wayne as they lead a raid on a Sonora Cartel safe house, where they make a gruesome discovery. During the operation, two police officers are killed by an explosive booby trap. As a result of her performance, Kate joins a Joint Task Force run by CIA Officer Matt Graver and former Mexican prosecutor turned CIA-trained assassin Alejandro Gillick. Together, they aim to locate and capture ...

Fury (2014), an American war film written and directed by David Ayer, follows the experiences of a seasoned staff sergeant named Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier during the Western Allied invasion of Germany in April 1945. Wardaddy leads a crew on board an M4 Sherman tank called Fury, consisting of gunner Boyd ‘Bible” Swan, loader Grady ‘Coon-Ass’ Travis, driver Trini ‘Gordo’ Garcia, and assistant driver–bow gunner ‘Red’. The team has been together since fighting in North Africa. However, after Red is killed in a tank battle, Private First Class Norman Ellison joins as ...

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is an American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter. It is based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name. In 1987, 22-year-old Belfort begins working as a stockbroker for L.F. Rothschild, under Mark Hanna. He is quickly drawn to the drug-fueled broker culture and Hanna’s belief that a broker’s only goal is personal wealth. Belfort loses his job after Black Monday, the largest one-day stock market drop since 1929. He then ...

The action thriller film Snitch (2013), directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Dwayne Johnson, is based on the real-life experiences of DEA informant James Settembrino. College student Jason Collins gets pulled into a dangerous situation by his friend Craig, who convinces him to receive a package of drugs at his house. However, the package also contains a tracking device. When DEA officers raid the house, Jason attempts to escape but is caught and arrested by Agent Cooper. Later on, while attending a barbecue with his estranged father John Matthews (who owns a ...

Grudge Match (2013) is an American sports comedy film directed by Peter Segal. Two Pittsburgh boxers, Henry ‘Razor’ Sharp and Billy ‘The Kid’ McDonnen, were fierce rivals during their prime. Despite each having only one loss on their records, Kid defeating Razor in one fight and Razor defeating Kid in the other, they never had a chance for a rematch. When Razor suddenly retires without explanation, Kid is left infuriated and robbed of a big payday. Many years later, Razor finds himself short on cash and working at a shipyard when he is approached by promoter Dante Slate Jr., the son of the man ...

Mob City (2013) is an American neo-noir crime drama television series based on real-life accounts of the L.A.P.D. and gangsters in 1940s Los Angeles, chronicled in John Buntin’s book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City. It follows the decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, led by police chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements under the leadership of Bugsy Siegel, who controlled mafia operations in the city. Set in 1947, with glimpses into the 1920s for context, this crime drama captures a time of flashy cars and budding movie ...

Rampart (2011) is a gripping crime drama directed and co-written by Oren Moverman and James Ellroy. The film follows Dave Brown, a seasoned member of the LAPD’s Rampart Division with over two decades of experience. In the midst of training a new officer, Brown resorts to violence to extract information from a suspect regarding a meth lab location. After his shift, he returns home to his two daughters and two ex-wives, who also happen to be sisters. A late-night visit to a piano bar leads to a spontaneous one-night stand with a stranger. However, Brown’s fate ...

The Pacific (2010) follows a U.S. Marine Corps squad during their campaign against the Japanese Empire in WWII. Created by the same team as Band of Brothers, it portrays the struggles of ordinary soldiers during war. This fast-paced series appeals to action enthusiasts, but also showcases the emotional bonds between Marines on the battlefield. However, unlike its ‘older brother’ Band of Brothers, The Pacific takes a unique approach by delving into the lives of soldiers who were chosen to return home and promote war bonds. Through this, it explores the journey of these men from initial excitement to eventual regret and even shame towards ...

The Walking Dead (2010–2022), an American post-apocalyptic horror drama show, is the source material for the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. This show and its corresponding comics make up the foundation of The Walking Dead franchise. The plot revolves around a diverse group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies, also known as ‘walkers’. As society has crumbled, these survivors must also contend with other groups who have established their own ...