Actor Robert Duvall (1931)

Hustle (2022), an American sports comedy-drama directed by Jeremiah Zagar and co-produced, follows the story of Stanley Sugerman. As an international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, Stanley lives a life constantly on the road in search of future basketball stars. While his job is supported by team owner Rex Merrick, he often clashes with Rex’s son Vincent. However, when Rex unexpectedly passes away, Vince takes over and demotes Stanley to assistant coach. This allows him to spend more time at home with his wife Teresa and daughter Alex. But after three months, ...

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 American legal drama film, The Judge (2014), was directed by David Dobkin. Hank Palmer, a successful lawyer in Chicago, was granted a continuance for his case when he received news of his mother’s passing. Before heading back to his hometown in Indiana for the funeral, he had a heated argument with his wife, Lisa, whom he is currently divorcing. Upon arriving in Carlinville, Hank is reunited with his older brother Glen, who owns a tire shop, and his younger brother, Dale. Hank’s father is the Judge Joseph Palmer of Carlinville’s criminal court but Hank simply refers to him as ‘Judge’. ...

The movie Jack Reacher (2012) is an American action thriller written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. In Pittsburgh, a man drops a coin into a parking meter before driving his van into a garage near PNC Park. From the river’s North Shore Trail, he uses a rifle to fatally shoot five people from a distance before fleeing. Detectives from the Pittsburgh Police Department, led by Calvin Emerson, find the quarter used for parking and a shell casing at the scene. The fingerprint on the coin matches that of James Barr, a former US Army sniper. When investigators search his residence, they discover both the van and ...

The Road (2009), an American post-apocalyptic film directed by John Hillcoat and written by Joe Penhall, is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. It follows a father and son as they struggle to survive in a world ravaged by an unspecified catastrophe that wiped out all plant and animal life. Together, they travel along a road towards the coast in search of safety, scrounging for resources and avoiding violent gangs of cannibals armed with guns. Years earlier, the man’s wife gives birth to their ...

Crazy Heart (2009), an American drama written and directed by Scott Cooper in his feature directorial debut, is based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb. The story was inspired by country singer Hank Thompson. Otis ‘Bad’ Blake, a 57-year-old alcoholic songwriter and former country music star, now makes a modest living performing in small-town bars throughout the southwestern United States. He has had four failed marriages (although there is mention of a fifth he does not discuss) and no family aside from his 28-year-old son whom he hasn’t ...

Lucky You (2007), an American drama film directed by Curtis Hanson, stars Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall. The story follows Huck Cheever, a young and skilled poker player in Las Vegas who is plagued by his strained relationship with his father, L.C. Cheever, a previous World Series of Poker Champion. Despite being a regular in the Vegas poker scene, Huck needs $10,000 to enter the World Series of Poker Main Event. After a successful night at the Bellagio ...

The American satirical black comedy film, Thank You for Smoking (2005), written and directed by Jason Reitman, follows the story of Nick Naylor. As a Big Tobacco spokesman, Naylor relies on ‘research’ from the ‘Academy of Tobacco Studies’, where he serves as vice-president. Despite increasing pressure from anti-tobacco campaigns and declining numbers of young smokers, Naylor remains confident in his job. He meets regularly with his friends – firearm lobbyist Bobby Jay Bliss and alcohol lobbyist Polly Bailey – playfully referring to themselves as the ‘Merchants of Death’ or ...

Open Range (2003) is a film set in Montana during the late 1800s. It was directed and co-produced by Kevin Costner, with a screenplay by Craig Storper based on the novel The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine. The story follows ‘Boss’ Spearman and his hired hands, Charley Waite, Mose, and Button, as they drive a herd of cattle across the country. While Boss is an experienced rancher, Charley carries heavy guilt from his time as a soldier in the Civil War. When Boss sends Mose to nearby Harmonville for ...

The American thriller drama film, John Q. (2002), was written by James Kearns and directed by Nick Cassavetes. In the movie, a motorist driving recklessly on a freeway is fatally struck by a truck. Prior to this tragic event, John Quincy Archibald and his wife Denise were struggling financially in Chicago. Despite their challenges, they remained devoted parents to their young son Michael, who collapses at his baseball game one day after church. At the hospital, they receive devastating news from cardiologist Dr. Raymond Turner and administrator Rebecca Payne – ...

Michael Corrente’s A Shot at Glory (2000) is a film that experienced limited commercial and critical success. The story centers around Gordon McLeod, the manager of a second tier Scottish football team. Under pressure from his American owner, McLeod must sign a marquee player in hopes of improving the team’s fortunes and preventing it from being relocated from its dedicated town after a century of history. Along the way, he faces personal battles with his daughter and a former colleague who betrayed him. The fictional Scottish football club featured in the film, Kilnockie FC, is based on a Second Division ...

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) is an American action heist film directed by Dominic Sena and written by Scott Rosenberg. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, it is a loose remake of the 1974 H.B. Halicki film of the same name. Car thief Kip Raines and his gang are hired by British gangster Raymond Calitri in Long Beach, California, to steal 50 high-end cars. However, their plan goes awry when Kip unknowingly leads the police to their warehouse after taking a Porsche 996 from a showroom. ...

The American legal thriller film The Gingerbread Man (1998) was directed by Robert Altman and adapted from a rejected John Grisham manuscript. Rick Magruder, a divorced lawyer known for his shady tactics and defending criminals, celebrates another courtroom win at a party held by his firm. As he becomes increasingly intoxicated, he crosses paths with Mallory Doss, a waitress who has misplaced her car. Rick offers to drive her home, where her father Dixon Doss has already parked the vehicle. The two argue about Mallory’s mistreatment by her father before she ...

An American legal drama film, A Civil Action (1998), directed and written by Steven Zaillian, is based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Harr. The movie depicts a true court case in Woburn, Massachusetts during the 1980s regarding environmental pollution. The city’s water supply becomes contaminated with toxicants which are eventually linked to a series of local children’s deaths. Anne Anderson, a resident of Woburn, approaches cocky Boston attorney Jan Schlichtmann and his small firm of personal injury lawyers for help in taking legal action against ...

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 ...

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 ...

The American comedy-drama film, The Paper (1994), directed by Ron Howard, follows Henry Hackett, a dedicated metro editor at The New York Sun. While he loves his job, Henry is tired of the long hours and low pay. He fears becoming like his work-obsessed boss, Bernie White, who neglects his family. When Bernie reveals his prostate cancer diagnosis, he tries to reconcile with his estranged daughter before it’s too late. Facing financial struggles, the paper’s owner enacts unpopular cutbacks under the supervision of Henry’s rival, managing editor Alicia Clark. At home, Henry clashes with his pregnant wife ...

Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) is a historical Western film directed by Walter Hill and written by John Milius. It loosely chronicles the events leading to Geronimo’s surrender in 1886. The renowned healer reluctantly agrees, along with his fellow Apache, to settle on a reservation designated by the American government under the Indian Removal Act. Despite their efforts to adjust, many of the Apache struggle to let go of their traditional lifestyle while the government fails to fulfill its promise of protecting tribal lands from encroachment by American ...

Walt Disney Pictures released the American historical musical drama film, Newsies (1992). It was directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega and is set in New York City in 1899. The story follows a group of struggling newspaper sellers, known as ‘newsies’, who are trying to make ends meet by selling copies of the New York World on the streets (‘Carrying the Banner’). When two brothers named David and Les join the group, their intelligence and charm catch the attention of their leader, Jack ‘Cowboy’ Kelly. Jack takes them under his wing and begins to admire their work ethic as they sell ...

Days of Thunder (1990) is an American sports action drama film that showcases the journey of young USAC racer, Cole Trickle. He is offered a spot on Chevrolet dealership tycoon Tim Daland’s NASCAR Cup Series team, with former crew chief and car builder Harry Hogge coming out of retirement to lead his pit crew. Following a successful private test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Cole is given a new chassis and officially joins the team. However, he faces several challenges in his debut race at Phoenix, struggling to adapt to the larger NASCAR stock cars, communicate with his crew, and fend off aggressive driver Rowdy Burns. These issues, along with crashes and engine ...