Actress Julia Roberts (1967)

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) is a heist comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by George Nolfi. Terry Benedict tracks down all eleven members of Danny Ocean’s crew, demanding the return of the $160 million they stole from his casinos plus an additional $38 million in interest. The deadline for repayment is two weeks. With only half of the money on hand, the group devises a plan to pull off a heist in Amsterdam to avoid trouble with authorities in the United States. A man named Matsui tips them off about the whereabouts of the first ever issued stock ...

Mona Lisa Smile (2003), an American drama directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, follows the story of Katherine Ann Watson. Upon accepting a teaching position at Wellesley College in 1953, Katherine realizes her students have already mastered the textbook and syllabus. Determined to push boundaries, she introduces modern art and encourages open discussions on the definition of quality artwork. Despite facing opposition from traditionalist student Betty Warren, Katherine remains steadfast ...

The American biographical spy film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), follows the fictional life of Chuck Barris, who aspired to be a famous television personality. Initially rejected by the women he desires, he moves from Manhattan to become an NBC page, but is ultimately let go. He then becomes Dick Clark’s personal assistant on American Bandstand in 1961, where he writes the hit song ‘Palisades Park’ and becomes involved with Penny Pacino. Eventually, Chuck pitches his idea for The Dating Game at ABC and receives $7,500 to create a pilot. However, ABC ultimately chooses to produce Hootenanny instead. After being ousted from a bar for ...

America’s Sweethearts (2001), directed by Joe Roth, is a romantic comedy. Lee Phillips, a seasoned publicist, gets fired from his job at a major film studio. Afterwards, studio head Dave Kingman invites him for a private screening of Time Over Time, a new time travel thriller starring the beloved husband-and-wife team Eddie Thomas and Gwen Harrison. However, their marriage ended when Gwen had an affair with her co-star Hector, causing Eddie to have a mental breakdown and seek treatment at a remote New Age wellness retreat. Despite Lee’s arrival, Kingman has nothing to show as the film’s director Hal ...

The Mexican (2001), an American dark comedy adventure crime film by Gore Verbinski, takes place in Los Angeles. You hear a car accident off-screen as a traffic light turns red. Five years pass and Jerry Welbach has been paying off his debt to Arnold Margolese, a mob boss now behind bars. But when Jerry messes up his last task, Bernie Nayman, Margolese’s right-hand man, assigns him a new final mission: retrieve an antique pistol named ‘the Mexican’ from a man called Beck in Mexico. This job pushes Jerry’s girlfriend Sam over the edge and she leaves for Las Vegas. Upon arriving in Mexico, Jerry ...

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven (2001) is a heist comedy film featuring professional thief Danny Ocean. After serving four years in a New Jersey prison, Ocean heads to Los Angeles to reunite with his colleague Rusty Ryan. The two then travel to Las Vegas to seek the financial support of their wealthy friend Reuben Tishkoff. Their goal is to pull off a daring multi-million dollar heist, targeting three of Tishkoff’s rival Terry Benedict’s casinos: the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. Knowing that the casinos are required to have enough cash to cover all bets placed by patrons, ...

Erin Brockovich (2000), an American biographical legal drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Susannah Grant, follows the story of an unemployed single mother of three children in 1993. After being injured in a traffic accident involving a doctor, Erin decides to sue him with the help of her lawyer, Ed Masry. Despite their expectations of winning, Erin’s explosive behavior during cross-examination results in losing the case and Ed refusing to take her calls. However, one day she shows up at his office seeking a job, as he had previously mentioned ...

The film Runaway Bride (1999) directed by Garry Marshall tells the story of Maggie Carpenter, a lively and attractive woman who has endured numerous unsuccessful relationships. She gained local notoriety and the nickname ‘The Runaway Bride’ for leaving three fiancés at the altar on their wedding day. When a man in a bar tells cynical New York columnist Ike Graham about Maggie’s reputation, he writes an unflattering article about her without fact-checking. However, this man turns out to be one of Maggie’s jilted exes and his account is filled with inaccuracies. After Maggie sends a fiery response ...

Notting Hill (1999), a romantic comedy directed by Roger Michell, features a screenplay by Richard Curtis. It follows the story of William Thacker, owner of a travel book store in the vibrant Notting Hill district of London. Following his divorce from his wife, who had left him for another man, he shares an apartment with Spike – his carefree and rather messy Welsh roommate. One day, fate brings famous Hollywood actress Anna Scott into William’s shop, where she purchases a book. As she leaves, however, a mishap causes her to cross paths with William again ...

Stepmom (1998), an American drama directed by Chris Columbus, follows the story of Jackie and Luke Harrison. The New York City couple is navigating the difficulties of co-parenting their two children, daughter Anna and son Ben. Luke, an attorney, now lives with Isabel Kelly – his girlfriend of one year. Isabel, a successful fashion photographer who is younger than Luke, never desired to be a mother. Despite this, she makes an effort to bond with Anna and Ben. However, Anna consistently rejects her while Ben’s playful behavior adds another layer of complexity. Around Jackie, Isabel is cautious yet disdainful ...

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) is an American romantic comedy directed by P. J. Hogan and written by Ronald Bass, who also served as producer. Just three weeks prior to her 28th birthday, New York City food critic Julianne ‘Jules’ Potter receives a call from Michael O’Neal, her lifelong friend and a sportswriter in Chicago. The two had made a pact years ago that they would marry each other if they were both single at age 28. However, Michael informs Jules that he is getting married in four days to a younger college student named Kimmy Wallace, ...

Conspiracy Theory (1997), a political action thriller directed by Richard Donner, follows the events surrounding New York City taxi driver and self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist Jerry Fletcher. Jerry frequently shares his ideas with Alice Sutton, a lawyer at the U.S. Justice Department whom he once saved from a mugging. Unbeknownst to her, Jerry also spies on her at her home. Meanwhile, Alice is focused on solving the mystery of her father’s murder. In a state of paranoia, Jerry becomes convinced that he has uncovered CIA agents and follows them into a building, where he is captured. During interrogation, he is ...

The biographical period drama film, Michael Collins (1996), was written and directed by Neil Jordan. As the Easter Rising of 1916 comes to an end, the Irish republicans at their headquarters in Dublin surrender to the British Army. Tragically, several prominent figures of the Rising, including Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh, Tom Clarke and James Connolly are executed by firing squad. The only exception is Éamon de Valera, who is spared due to his American citizenship but is detained with Michael Collins and Harry Boland. After Sinn Féin’s victory in the 1918 Irish general election, they unilaterally declare ...

The gothic horror film Mary Reilly (1996), directed by Stephen Frears, was adapted from Valerie Martin’s novel of the same name and written by Christopher Hampton. Upon her arrival as a maid in Dr. Henry Jekyll’s household, Mary develops a rapport with him and he starts relying on her help, much to the disapproval of his butler, Poole. Fascinated by the scars on Mary’s hand and neck, Jekyll examines them at her reluctance and learns they were caused by her abusive father locking her in a cupboard with rats ...

Everyone Says I Love You (1996) is a musical film created by Woody Allen. Djuna Berlin, also known as D.J., acts as the narrator for the stories within the lavish and inclusive Park Avenue household she resides in. This home was formed through the union of her mother, the ever-dedicated activist Steffi, and Bob Dandridge, a lawyer. The only current issue in this household is Scott Dandridge, Bob’s son from his previous marriage, who has taken on conservative views. Steffi and Bob’s two children together, teenage Lane and Laura Dandridge, are inseparable but may run into conflict as they both have feelings ...

Something to Talk About (1995), a comedy-drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, follows Grace King Bichon, who spends her days helping out at her parent’s horse farm. Her daughter Caroline shares her love for horses, while their stable manager Hank has his sights set on riding Ransom in an upcoming equestrian championship. However, Grace’s father Wyly plans to purchase a stud named Ford instead and ride it himself in the event, causing tension within the family. Adding to Grace’s stress, she discovers her husband Eddie is having an affair. In a dramatic confrontation with Eddie and his mistress, Grace ...

Robert Altman wrote, directed and produced Ready to Wear (1994), an American satirical comedy-drama film. During Paris Fashion Week, a group of models, designers, industry insiders and journalists gather to work, argue and attempt to seduce each other. The fashion world is thrown into chaos when the head of the Fashion Council, Olivier de la Fontaine, dies from choking on a sandwich. He leaves behind a wife, mistress and a mysterious Russian companion who has since disappeared. As authorities investigate the death, Fashion Week continues. American television personality Kitty inserts herself among the designers to get ...

The American romantic action comedy film, I Love Trouble (1994), features Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte as the main stars. It was written and produced by the husband-and-wife duo of Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, while also being directed by Shyer himself. The movie follows veteran reporter Peter Brackett, who gains newfound fame after publishing his book ‘White Lies’. As he is tasked with covering a train crash for his newspaper, ‘The Chicago Chronicle’, he meets newcomer Sabrina Peterson. However, their ...

The American legal thriller film, The Pelican Brief (1993), is an adaptation of John Grisham’s 1992 novel. It was directed by Alan J. Pakula. In the film, two elder Supreme Court justices, Jensen and Rosenberg, are killed by an assassin named Khamel. Tulane University law student Darby Shaw writes a legal brief outlining her theory on the motive behind their murders. Her lover and former clerk of Rosenberg’s, Thomas Callahan, reads the brief and passes it on to Gavin Verheek, special counsel to the director of the FBI. Shortly after, Callahan is killed in a ...

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), an American psychological thriller directed by Joseph Ruben, follows the story of Laura Burney. Her life seems perfect with her successful investment counselor husband, Martin in Boston. However, Martin’s charming facade hides an obsessive and controlling personality that has subjected Laura to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse throughout their nearly four-year marriage. Despite his apologetic ways of showering her with flowers and gifts after each instance, the pattern continues. One day, Martin accepts an invitation from their neighbor, a doctor, for an evening sail despite ...