Actor Tom Cruise (1962)

The American science fiction action film, Minority Report (2002), directed by Steven Spielberg, is loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella The Minority Report. The federal government plans to nationally implement the ‘Precrime’ police program in 2054. This prototype has been operating in Washington, D.C. for six years. In this program, three clairvoyant humans (‘precogs’) receive psychic impressions of future homicides, allowing officers to prevent them before they happen. Perpetrators are put in a panopticon-like prison ...

The American science fiction psychological thriller film, Vanilla Sky (2001), was both directed and written by Cameron Crowe. It is a remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes, released in 1997 by Alejandro Amenábar. The movie centers around David Aames, who inherited his father’s successful publishing company. After being imprisoned, David shares his life story with Dr. Curtis McCabe, a court psychologist, while wearing a prosthetic mask. Through flashbacks, we see how David passed off the responsibilities of his company to his father’s colleagues ...

In Mission: Impossible II (2000), a thrilling spy movie directed by John Woo, Tom Cruise takes on the roles of both producer and star. Here, bio-genetics scientist Dr. Vladimir Nekhorvich reaches out to the IMF agency to warn his old friend Dimitri (Ethan Hunt) about his employer’s nefarious plans. Biocyte Pharmaceuticals has coerced him into creating a biological weapon for their own financial gain. Desperate to stop them, Nekhorvich injects himself with the Chimera virus and carries its antidote, Bellerophon, in a bag. However, things take a dangerous turn when ...

Magnolia (1999), an American drama film directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, follows Los Angeles police officer Jim Kurring as he investigates a disturbance at a woman’s apartment. Inside, he discovers a body in the closet. A neighborhood boy named Dixon futilely attempts to reveal the identity of the murderer to Jim. Later, Jim visits Claudia Wilson’s apartment after her neighbors call the police during an argument with her estranged father, Jimmy Gator. Despite her erratic behavior and drug use, Jim still asks her out on a date. Meanwhile, Jimmy is dying of cancer and hosts a quiz show called ...

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is an American film that falls under the genre of erotic mystery psychological drama. Directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, it follows the story of New York City residents Dr. William ‘Bill’ Harford and his wife Alice, who have a daughter named Helena. At a Christmas party thrown by a patient named Victor Ziegler, Bill meets up with an old medical school classmate named Nick Nightingale, now working as a professional pianist. The festivities are interrupted when Mandy, one of Victor’s sexual partners, overdoses. Bill assists in her recovery while also being ...

Director and writer Cameron Crowe brought the American sports comedy-drama film Jerry Maguire (1996) to audiences. The titular character is a smooth 35-year-old agent at Sports Management International (SMI). A revelation brought on by criticism from a player’s son causes Jerry to pen a mission statement calling out the dishonesty he sees in his industry. He vows to work with fewer clients and forge stronger, more caring relationships with them. SMI responds by sending Jerry’s apprentice, Bob Sugar, to terminate him at a restaurant. This sparks both men into action as they frantically reach out to every one ...

Mission: Impossible (1996) is a film that falls into the action genre. It was directed by Brian De Palma and features Tom Cruise, who also produced and starred in the film. The screenplay was written by David Koepp and Robert Towne with a story by Koepp and Steven Zaillian. During their time in Kyiv, Jim Phelps and his new IMF team are sent to Prague on a mission to prevent rogue ...

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 ...

Sydney Pollack directed The Firm (1993), an American legal thriller. Mitch McDeere, a top Harvard Law School graduate, is offered a lucrative position by boutique law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke in Memphis, Tennessee. He and his wife Abby relocate there as he prepares for the Tennessee bar exam. Mitch receives guidance from senior partner Avery Tolar on the firm’s strict values of loyalty, confidentiality, and high fees. Despite the enticing perks such as a new house, a Mercedes-Benz, and paid-off student loans, Abby resents the firm’s interference in employees’ personal lives. Despite working long hours, Mitch passes the bar exam but this ...

Far and Away (1992) is an American epic Western romantic adventure drama film directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Bob Dolman. In Ireland in 1892, tenant farmers worked land they could never own and paid unfairly high rents to their wealthy landlords. Joseph Donnelly dreamed of owning his own land, but after his father’s death, their family home is burned down by their landlord Daniel Christie’s men for unpaid rent. Seeking revenge, Joseph travels to Daniel’s home to kill him but only ends up injured. Nursed back to health by Daniel’s wife Nora ...

The American legal drama film A Few Good Men (1992), based on Aaron Sorkin’s 1989 play, follows the story of Private William Santiago, a United States Marine who is found dead after being beaten while stationed at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Two fellow Marines, Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey, face a court-martial for his murder and are defended by inexperienced lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee of the United States Navy JAG Corps. His superior, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway, becomes suspicious as evidence emaerges that Santiago may have been trying to transfer out ...

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 ...

The American epic biographical anti-war drama film, Born on the Fourth of July (1989), is based on Ron Kovic’s 1976 autobiography. Directed by Oliver Stone and co-written by Stone and Kovic, the film follows Kovic’s life in Massapequa, New York. As a child in 1956, he spends time playing with friends in a forest before attending an Independence Day parade with his family and best friend Donna on his birthday. However, after being inspired by President John F. ...

Rain Man (1988) is an American road comedy-drama film, directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. Collectibles dealer Charlie Babbitt has imported four grey market Lamborghinis to Los Angeles for resale. The cars are being held at the port by the EPA due to failing emission tests, causing Charlie stress as he needs to deliver them to buyers who have already made down payments. He directs one of his employees to deceive the buyers while he deals with his creditor. Amidst this chaos, Charlie ...

Cocktail (1988), a romantic comedy-drama directed by Roger Donaldson from a screenplay by Heywood Gould and based on his book of the same name, follows Brian Flanagan. After completing his army service, he returns to New York City with hopes of securing a prominent job in the business world. However, when that doesn’t pan out, he turns to bartending while attending business school during the day. There, he meets Doug Coughlin, an experienced bartender who takes him under his wing and teaches him flairing techniques. The two become close friends, and Doug suggests ...

Top Gun (1986), an American action drama directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, was distributed by Paramount Pictures. U.S. Navy Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw were stationed aboard the USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean. They flew the F-14A Tomcat and during an interception with two hostile MiG-28s, Maverick locked onto one while the other targeted his wingman, ...

The film The Color of Money (1986) was directed by Martin Scorsese. It serves as a sequel to the 1961 classic, The Hustler, and is also based on Walter Tevis’ novel with the same title. In the movie, ‘Fast Eddie’ has left his pool-playing days behind and has become a successful liquor salesman in Chicago. However, he teams up with other pool players, including Julian, a hustler who is no match for the young and magnetic Vincent at nine-ball. Recognizing Vincent’s talent, Eddie sees potential in him and his inexperienced girlfriend Carmen ...

Legend (1985) is an American epic dark fantasy adventure film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Hjortsberg. The Lord of Darkness, aiming to create eternal night, instructs the goblin Blix to kill the unicorns in the nearby forest and bring back their horns. Blix enlists her companions Pox and Blunder, who follow Princess Lili as she visits her lover, Jack in the Green. Jack teaches Lili how to communicate with animals and then blindfolds her before taking her to a stream where unicorns play. When Lili reaches out to touch one of the creatures, Blix shoots it ...

Risky Business (1983), an American coming-of-age comedy film by Paul Brickman, revolves around Joel Goodsen, a high-achieving high school student living in the wealthy area of Glencoe, Chicago North Shore with his parents. While his father hopes for him to attend Princeton University, Joel is involved in Future Enterprisers, an extracurricular activity where students collaborate to develop small businesses. When his parents are away on a trip, Joel’s friend Miles encourages him to take advantage of his newfound freedom. One night, Joel indulges by rummaging through the liquor cabinet, blasting music on the stereo ...

Directed by Michael Chapman, All the Right Moves (1983) is an American sports drama film that follows Stefen ‘Stef’ Djordjevic, a gifted athlete and B student. Stef, a Serbian American, hopes to earn a college football scholarship and leave his economically depressed hometown of Ampipe behind. He dreams of becoming an electrical engineer after graduation, unlike his grandfather, father, and brother Greg who all worked at the struggling steel mill in town. Despite the downturn of the early 1980s recession, Ampipe is still heavily dependent on its main employer, American Pipe & Steel. Stef finds solace in ...