Actor Morgan Freeman (1937)

Lee Tamahori directed the American neo-noir psychological thriller film, Along Came a Spider (2001). This movie is the second part of the Alex Cross series. After Detective Dr. Alex Cross of Washington DC, a forensic psychologist and writer, loses control of a sting operation and his partner Tracie Fisher dies, he decides to retire from the police force. However, his break from work is short-lived as Gary Soneji, a computer science teacher, kidnaps Megan Rose, the daughter of a US senator from her private school. The breach in security that allowed Soneji to take the girl is blamed on US Secret Service Special ...

Directed by Mimi Leder, Deep Impact (1998) is an American science fiction disaster film. During a star party in Virginia, teenage amateur astronomer Leo Biederman notices an unidentified object in the night sky and sends a picture to astronomer Dr. Marcus Wolf. Upon realizing it is a comet headed for Earth, Wolf rushes to warn others but tragically dies in a car accident. One year later, MSNBC journalist Jenny Lerner begins investigating Secretary of the Treasury Alan Rittenhouse for his connection with ‘Ellie’, whom she assumes to be his mistress. However, she becomes confused when she sees Rittenhouse and ...

Hard Rain (1998), an action thriller flick by former cinematographer-turned director Mikael Salomon and written by Graham Yost, follows the story of armored truck drivers Tom and his uncle Charlie. Braving conditions of heavy rain and flooding, they are on a mission to collect money from banks in an evacuated Huntingburg, Indiana. However, things take an intense turn when they are ambushed by a gang of armed robbers led by Jim and accompanied by Kenny, Mr. Mehlor, and Ray. In the midst of chaos, Charlie calls for help but is tragically killed by Kenny while Tom narrowly ...

Kiss the Girls (1997), an American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and based on James Patterson’s best-selling 1995 novel of the same name, follows the story of Alex Cross, a well-known detective and forensic psychologist in Washington, D.C. Recently, Alex learns that his niece Naomi, who lives in Durham, has been missing for four days. Despite trying to reassure his family, he can’t shake off his own concerns. He makes the decision to travel to Durham and investigate her disappearance himself. Even though his cousin Sampson warns ...

Based on the events in 1839, Amistad (1997) is an American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. It depicts the story of Mende tribesmen who were abducted for the slave trade aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad. The men managed to overpower their captors and take control of the ship off the coast of Cuba. This led to an international legal battle after their capture by a U.S. revenue cutter named Washington. Eventually, the case was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841. The film follows Cinqué, a captive who leads an uprising against the crew, resulting in most of them being killed. Pedro Montes and ...

Chain Reaction (1996) is an American science fiction action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis. While collaborating with a team from the University of Chicago to convert water into clean energy, machinist Eddie Kasalivich accidentally stumbles upon the key to their success: a sound frequency that stabilizes the process. As the team celebrates with a lab party, project leader Dr. Paul Shannon and project manager Dr. Alistair Barkley argue over the decision to share their discovery publicly or keep it within the US. Following the party, project physicist Dr. Lily Sinclair’s car fails to start, prompting Eddie to ...

In David Fincher’s Seven (1995), a crime thriller set in an unnamed city consumed by violence and corruption, veteran detective William Somerset is approaching retirement. He is joined by his new partner, the passionate yet quick-tempered detective David Mills, who recently moved to the city with his wife Tracy. On Monday, they are summoned to investigate the death of an obese man who was forcibly overfed until his stomach burst, with the word ‘gluttony’ scrawled on the wall. Somerset finds it too extreme for his final case and requests a different assignment, but is denied. The next day brings another ...

The Shawshank Redemption (1994), a prison drama film, was written and directed by Frank Darabont. The film is based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. Set in the late 1940s, it follows the story of Andy Dufresne, a former banker from Portland, Maine who is sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the murders of his wife and her lover. At Shawshank State Prison, Andy befriends Ellis ‘Red’ Redding, a fellow inmate serving a life sentence for smuggling contraband. With Red’s help, Andy acquires a rock ...

Unforgiven (1992), an American Western film, was both produced and directed by Clint Eastwood himself. Set in Big Whiskey, Wyoming in 1880, the storyline follows a cowboy named Quick Mike who inflicts permanent disfigurement on prostitute Delilah Fitzgerald after she laughs at his small penis. In response, Sheriff ‘Little Bill’ Daggett orders Mike and his accomplice Davey Bunting to compensate Delilah’s employer, Skinny DuBois, for lost revenue by handing over several horses. This decision deeply angers the prostitutes, who offer a bounty of $1,000 for the cowboys’ deaths. Meanwhile, in Hodgeman ...

The Power of One (1992) is a drama directed and edited by John G. Avildsen. It is loosely based on Bryce Courtenay’s book with the same name, published in 1989. The story revolves around Peter Philip Kennith Keith (also known as ‘PK’), born in 1930 on a South African homestead to an Englishwoman who had recently lost her husband. PK received dual education – from his mother in England’s ways and from a Zulu nanny whose son Tonderai was his closest friend. However, their peaceful existence is disrupted when the farm’s cattle succumb to ...

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) is an American action adventure film based on the timeless English folk tale from the 12th century. The film’s director, Kevin Reynolds, sets the story in 1194, where we meet our protagonist Robin of Locksley, a nobleman who had been imprisoned in Jerusalem for years after following King Richard on the Third Crusade. Along with his companion Peter Dubois, they manage to escape with the help of a fellow prisoner named Azeem, whom they save from mortal danger. Before passing away from his injuries, Peter makes Robin promise to protect his sister Marian. With Azeem by his side ...

The movie The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) was directed and produced by Brian De Palma. It follows the story of Sherman McCoy, a wealthy bond trader on Wall Street who indulges in lavish living and receives sexual favors from Maria Ruskin, a gold digger from the South. While driving back to Maria’s apartment from JFK Airport, they accidentally end up in the dangerous South Bronx area. As they attempt to move a tire blocking their way, Sherman is confronted by two African American teenagers. In a panic, Maria speeds in reverse and runs over one of the boys before driving away. Though initially wanting to report ...

Glory (1989) is a historical war drama film by Edward Zwick that follows the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Captain Robert Gould Shaw, having been injured at Antietam, returns to Boston on medical leave with the help of his influential father. Shaw is later promoted to colonel and given command of the 54th regiment, with his friend Cabot Forbes as his second-in-command. The initial recruit for their unit is Thomas Searles, an intelligent African-American who previously worked as a secretary for the Shaw family. ...

Lean on Me (1989), a biographical drama directed by John G. Avildsen, tells the story of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. By 1987, the school had fallen into disarray as drug abuse and crime ran rampant. Students struggled to pass basic skills tests and even teachers were not safe from gang violence. After Mayor Bottman learns that state administration will take over the school unless at least 75% of students pass the minimum basic skills test, he turns to Dr. Frank Napier for advice. The superintendent suggests hiring Joe Clark, a former teacher at Eastside High who was transferred years ago, as the new ...

Clean and Sober (1988) is an American drama film directed by Glenn Gordon Caron. It follows Daryl Poynter, a successful but self-destructive real estate salesman in Philadelphia who struggles with cocaine addiction. After embezzling $92,000 from his company’s escrow account, he loses an additional $52,000 to his drug habit and poor stock market investments. One morning, he wakes up next to a woman who suffered a cocaine overdose and attempts to hide the situation from the police. However, they are aware of what happened. On top of that, there is the issue of the missing money. With no escape plan, Daryl heads to ...

Resting Place (1986) is an American TV movie directed by John Korty. In 1972, Major Kendall Laird is tasked with providing assistance to the families of fallen soldiers. He is currently accompanying the remains of Army Lieutenant Dwight Johnson to his hometown of Rockville, Georgia. Despite initially expecting a short and uneventful assignment, Major Laird soon realizes that he has a seemingly impossible task ahead of him. The small town is deeply segregated and its authorities refuse to allow the deceased to be buried in the local cemetery designated solely for caucasians. This poses a significant challenge for Major ...