Actress Octavia Spencer (1972)

Stephen Gaghan directed the American fantasy adventure film, Dolittle (2020). The screenplay was co-written by Gaghan, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand, based on a story by Thomas Shepherd. Set in Victorian era Britain, the film follows Dr. John Dolittle, a Welsh veterinarian with the unique ability to communicate with animals. After his wife Lily’s death at sea, Dolittle isolates himself from human society and focuses solely on ...

Onward (2020), a urban fantasy adventure facilitated by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, takes place in a world filled with mythical beings. Millennia ago, magic was a common occurrence but mastering it proved to be a challenge. However, as time passed and technology advanced, magic lost its significance and was mostly abandoned. In the present day, self-doubting elf Ian Lightfoot and his impulsive brother Barley are navigating their teenage years. On Ian’s sixteenth birthday, their mother Laurel presents them with a gift from their late father Wilden: a magical staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and instructions for a ...

Allegiant (2016) is the third and final film in The Divergent Series, directed by Robert Schwentke and written by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, and Noah Oppenheim. In this American dystopian science fiction action film, Evelyn takes charge of Chicago and puts Jeanine’s followers on trial for their actions. Johanna disagrees with this approach and is joined by many new Allegiants. Tris, Four, Caleb, Tori, Christina, and Peter escape over the wall while being ...

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 ...

Zootopia (2016) is an animated buddy cop movie created by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, the film follows Judy Hopps, a determined rabbit from Bunnyburrow who achieves her childhood dream of becoming the first rabbit police officer in urban Zootopia. Despite her eagerness and ambitions, Chief Bogo of the Zootopia Police Department assigns Judy to parking duty. However, on her very first day, she crosses paths with con artists Nick Wilde and Finnick. The next day, she jeopardizes her job by leaving her post to apprehend Duke Weaselton, a petty thief who stole a bag of rare crocus bulbs. ...

Insurgent (2015) is an American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Robert Schwentke, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Veronica Roth. It is the sequel to the 2014 film Divergent and the second installment in The Divergent Series. Five days after Jeanine and her mind-controlled Dauntless soldiers attacked the Abnegation faction, she has declared martial law and labeled all Divergents and their allies as enemies. In the debris of Abnegation, Max and Eric find a box with all five faction symbols on it. Jeanine believes it contains ...

Black or White (2014), directed and written by Mike Binder, tells the story of Elliot Anderson, a man who becomes a widower after his wife dies in a car crash. He raises his granddaughter Eloise while dealing with his grief through heavy drinking. However, Elliot’s life is upended when the child’s grandmother, Rowena – who happens to be black – insists that her son Reggie, a drug addict whom Elliot holds responsible for his daughter’s death, take custody of Eloise. This sparks a heated custody battle as Elliot fights tooth and nail to prevent his granddaughter from being in the care of her ...

The film Fruitvale Station (2013), directed and written by Ryan Coogler, explores the events leading up to the death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant III from Hayward, California. The movie opens with actual footage of Oscar and his friends being held by BART Police at the Fruitvale station in Oakland on January 1, 2009 at 2:15 a.m., moments before the fatal shooting. Throughout the day, Oscar faces challenges such as infidelity in his relationship, losing his job at Farmer Joe’s grocery store, and considering returning to drug dealing before ultimately deciding to get rid of his stash. In the evening, he joins his ...

The Help (2011), a period drama film directed and written by Tate Taylor, is based on Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel of the same title. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1963, the story follows Aibileen Clark, an African-American domestic worker who works for socialite Elizabeth Leefolt. Aibileen cares for Elizabeth’s two-year-old daughter Mae Mobley as Elizabeth neglects her emotionally. Aibileen’s close friend Minny Jackson also works as a maid for Mrs. Walters and her manipulative daughter Hilly Holbrook, who is known for leading the women’s ...