Actress Kirsten Dunst (1982)

Civil War (2024), a dystopian thriller film written and directed by Alex Garland, portrays a United States ravaged by internal strife. The country is divided into two factions: an authoritarian federal government, headed by a third-term president, and rebellious secessionist groups. Despite the president’s claims of imminent victory, it is widely believed that the ‘Western Forces’ (WF) led by Texas and California will soon take over Washington, D.C. Surviving a suicide bombing in New York City only strengthens the resolve of veteran war photographer Lee Smith and his journalist colleague Joel to seek ...

Jane Campion’s film, The Power of the Dog (2021), is a reimagined Western drama based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name. Set in 1925 Montana, the story follows wealthy rancher brothers Phil and George Burbank as they encounter Rose Gordon, a widow and innkeeper, during a cattle drive. While George is drawn to Rose’s kindness, Phil disapproves of her and views her as someone after his brother’s money. He also belittles Rose’s teenage son Peter, whom he sees as weak and effeminate. After George and Rose marry and she moves in with them ...

Sofia Coppola’s film The Beguiled (2017) is a Southern Gothic psychological thriller, based on Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel of the same name from 1966. It is the second adaptation of Cullinan’s novel, following Don Siegel’s 1971 film. Set during the Civil War in Virginia, it follows Martha Farnsworth who runs a girls’ school with only five students and one teacher, Edwina Morrow, remaining after almost everyone has left including the slaves. While searching for mushrooms in the woods, pupil Amy ...

Hidden Figures (2016) is an American biographical drama film, directed and written by Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder, respectively. The film brings to life the remarkable story of three female friends who worked in NASA’s African-American computing section at Langley during the intense American-Soviet space race of early 1961 to early 1962. Based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s non-fiction book of the same name, it sheds light on their overlooked yet monumental contributions to America’s advancements in space exploration. Despite facing obstacles due to ...

Fargo (2014–2024) is an award-winning American black comedy crime drama TV show, created and primarily written by Noah Hawley. Inspired by the 1996 film of the same name, which was written and directed by the Coen brothers, it also takes place within the same fictional universe. The Coens were impressed with Hawley’s script and served as executive producers for the series. It first aired on FX on April 15, 2014, and follows an anthology format. Each season is set in a ...

Spider-Man 3 (2007) is an American superhero film based on the popular Marvel Comics character. The movie was a joint effort between Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, and Laura Ziskin Productions, with distribution by Sony Pictures Releasing. It was directed by Sam Raimi, who also co-wrote the script with his brother Ivan and Alvin Sargent. The plot follows Peter Parker as he plans to propose to Mary Jane Watson after a year since their last adventure involving the defeat of Otto Octavius. However, their peaceful moment in ...

Sofia Coppola wrote and directed a historical drama film Marie Antoinett (2006) centered around the life of Queen Marie Antoinette. The youngest daughter of Empress Maria-Theresa of Austria, fourteen-year-old Maria Antonia, is described as a beautiful, charming, and naïve archduchess. In order to unite two rival countries, her mother arranges for her to marry Louis-Auguste, the Dauphin of France. Upon arriving in France and taking on the name Marie Antoinette, she meets King Louis XV and her future husband. Their wedding takes place immediately upon their arrival at the Palace of Versailles. The couple is expected to ...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), directed by Michel Gondry, follows Joel Barish as he discovers that his ex-girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski, has had her memories of him deleted by the New York company Lacuna. In a heartbroken state, Joel decides to undergo the same procedure and records a tape recounting their tumultuous relationship. While he sleeps in his apartment, the Lacuna staff work on his brain to erase any trace of their time together. During this process, one employee named Patrick leaves to visit Clementine and uses their shared memories to try to win her over. Meanwhile, other employees Stan ...

Spider-Man 2 (2004) follows the story of Peter Parker, a young man who gained superhuman abilities two years prior and now goes by the name Spider-Man. Peter is currently struggling with strained relationships with both his love interest, Mary Jane Watson, and his best friend, Harry Osborn. To add to his troubles, he discovers that his Aunt May is facing eviction. In addition to these personal challenges, Peter also finds himself experiencing sudden bouts of power loss at critical moments. Meanwhile, Harry has taken over as head of Oscorp’s research division and is funding a project led by nuclear scientist Otto Octavius. Octavius soon becomes a mentor to Peter ...

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 ...

Based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the American superhero film Spider-Man (2002) follows high school senior Peter Parker on a school trip to a genetics laboratory at Columbia University with his friends Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson. After being bitten by a genetically engineered spider, Peter falls ill upon returning home. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn, a scientist and owner of Oscorp, is trying to secure a military contract and tests a performance-enhancing chemical on himself, resulting in him becoming insane and killing his ...

Sofia Coppola’s film, The Virgin Suicides (1999), follows a group of men in Grosse Pointe, Michigan as they reflect on their memories of the enigmatic Lisbon sisters. These five teenage girls are a point of fascination and longing for the neighborhood boys, who remember them from their youth. The Lisbon sisters, Therese, Mary, Bonnie, Lux, and Cecilia, were unattainable due to their strict Catholic parents and were often the subject of the boys’ conversations and dreams. After Cecilia’s suicide attempt, her therapist suggests that she could benefit from more social interaction with boys her age. ...

Joe Johnston’s film, Jumanji (1995), tells the story of a boy named Alan Parrish living in Brantford, New Hampshire with his parents, Sam and Carol. When he is chased by bullies one day, Alan seeks refuge in Sam’s shoe factory where he comes across a new prototype made by their friend Carl Bentley. Unfortunately, Alan accidentally damages the shoe and although Carl takes the blame, he is fired from his job. As if that wasn’t enough trouble for one day, the bullies also steal Alan’s bicycle. Desperate to get it back, Alan follows the sound of tribal drumbeats to a nearby construction site where he ...

Little Women (1994), an American historical drama film, directed by Gillian Armstrong and written by Robin Swicord, follows the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up in Concord, MA during and after the American Civil War. Their father is away at war and their mother, Marmee, must navigate the challenges of raising four headstrong daughters in 19th-century New England. The girls find solace in performing Jo’s plays in their attic theater. When their wealthy neighbor Mr. Laurence’s grandson Laurie moves in next door, he becomes a close friend to ...

Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel of the same name, Interview with the Vampire (1994) is an American gothic horror film directed by Neil Jordan. Set in late 20th century San Francisco, the movie follows reporter Daniel Molloy as he interviews Louis de Pointe du Lac, who claims to be a vampire. Initially skeptical, Molloy listens as Louis shares details of his life as a wealthy plantation owner in 1791 Louisiana. After experiencing the tragic loss of his wife and unborn child, Louis wanders the New Orleans waterfront one night and is attacked by Lestat de Lioncourt, a ...