Drama: 385

The American comedy-drama film, Margot at the Wedding (2007), was both written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The main character, Margot, is a accomplished writer who is often preoccupied with her own thoughts and feelings. It is hinted that she may have borderline personality disorder. Margot decides to bring her 11-year-old son Claude with her for a weekend visit to her sister Pauline’s home on Long Island, New York. Pauline is set to marry Malcolm, an unrewarding musician whom Margot finds unappealing. During her stay in town, Margot participates in a public interview at a local bookstore with Dick Koosman, a ...

Abel Ferrara’s independent film, Go Go Tales (2007), follows the story of Ray Ruby, the manager of Ray Ruby’s Paradise. As the number of tourists dwindles, Ray becomes worried about the future of his establishment. To attract more customers, he decides to hold a lottery. However, with finances running low and bills piling up, including payment for the pole dancers, Ray struggles to keep the club afloat. To make matters worse, Lillian, the landlady, threatens to turn the space into a Bed Bath & Beyond if she does not receive rent money soon. In a desperate attempt to ...

To Each His Own Cinema (2007) is a French comedy-drama anthology film created for the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival. It showcases 34 short films, each 3 minutes long, by 36 renowned directors from various parts of the world. The filmmakers were invited to express ‘their state of mind of the moment as inspired by the motion picture theatre’. The film’s subtitle, ‘a declaration of love to the big screen’, captures its overall theme. Many of the shorts touch on similar topics such as paying tribute to classic European art cinema, reflecting on the decline of movie-going, recollecting childhood awe, and exploring the ...

Juno (2007) is a comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. In Elk River, Minnesota, the sixteen year old high-schooler discovers she is pregnant by her friend and longtime admirer Paulie Bleeker. She initially considers an abortion, but then decides to visit a local women’s clinic where she encounters a schoolmate protesting against abortion. After discussing her options with the clinic staff, Juno ultimately chooses to give the baby up for adoption. With the help of her friend Leah, she searches for potential adoptive parents in the ...

Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) is a popular, long-running American family drama that aired on ABC for five seasons, from 2006 to 2011. It follows the wealthy Walker family as they navigate life in California, specifically Los Angeles and Pasadena. The series centers on the aftermath of patriarch William Walker’s death and its impact on his wife Nora and their children: Sarah, Tommy, Kitty, Kevin, and Justin. Nora must come to terms with her husband’s infidelity, while her children deal with their own personal issues. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Kevin’s boyfriend/husband Scotty, Nora’s brother Saul, and William’s ...

Man About Town (2006) is a comedy-drama film produced by Sunlight Productions and independently presented by Media 8 Entertainment. Top Hollywood talent agent Jack Giamoro appears to have it all: a thriving career, wealth, a luxury car, and a stunning wife. However, in his quest for success, he has lost touch with himself and neglected his marriage. In an effort to reconnect with himself, Jack enrolls in a journal writing class. But soon after, his seemingly perfect world begins to crumble when he discovers that his wife, Nina, is having an affair with his most important client. The situation deteriorates when Barbi, a determined ...

The American biographical drama film, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), directed by Gabriele Muccino, follows the story of Chris Gardner. In 1981, Gardner, a San Francisco salesman, puts all his savings into portable bone-density scanners. He promotes them to doctors and touts their convenience over regular X-rays. These scanners become a key factor in Gardner’s life. Despite being successful in selling most of them, the delay in receiving payments causes tension with his wife Linda, who also works as a hotel maid. As their financial struggles increase, so does the strain on their marriage, even with their young ...

The Last Time (2006) is an American independent black comedy following the story of Ted Riker, the top salesman at Bineview’s New York office. He is given the task of training Jamie Bashant, a new and inexperienced salesman who has recently moved to the area with his fiancé, Belisa. Despite Ted’s efforts to assist Jamie in improving his skills, he continues to struggle. When Belisa meets Ted, she is impressed by his success and confident demeanor. They eventually share a passionate night together and make sure to keep their affair a secret from Jamie. As their relationship intensifies, Ted opens up about his past failed love which led him to switch careers ...

The Italian film, The Family Friend (2006), was directed by Paolo Sorrentino and was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Geremia, an elderly tailor and money lender, lives alone with his ill-tempered mother in a rundown house. Known for his selfish and frugal ways, Geremia develops a peculiar obsession with money and uses it to meddle in others’ affairs under the guise of being their ‘family friend’. One day, he is approached by a man seeking a loan for his daughter Rosalba’s wedding. Instantly smitten with the charming young woman, Geremia enters into an unconventional relationship ...

Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006), an American disaster drama TV miniseries, portrays the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Written by Abi Morgan and directed by Bharat Nalluri, it is a joint production of HBO and the BBC. Through intertwining plotlines, we witness the personal tragedies faced by various characters. The Carter family, consisting of Ian, Susie, and their six-year-old daughter Martha, desperately search for her after she was carried away by the tsunami. In addition, Kim Peabody and her son Adam also scour the destruction for Kim’s ...

Notes on a Scandal (2006) is a British psychological drama/thriller directed by Richard Eyre and produced by Robert Fox and Scott Rudin. Based on Zoë Heller’s novel of the same name from 2003, the screenplay was written by Patrick Marber. The story follows Barbara Covett, a London history teacher who has reached retirement age without ever getting married. She holds disdain for her students and colleagues at the ...

Babel (2006), a psychological drama, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. This multi-narrative film features an ensemble cast and interweaves stories set in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. It is an international co-production between companies from the US, Mexico, and France, completing Arriaga and Iñárritu’s Death Trilogy that also includes Amores perros (2000) and 21 Grams (2003). The ...

In Take the Lead (2006), an American drama dance film directed by Liz Friedlander, Antonio Banderas portrays Pierre Dulaine, a dance instructor and the creator of Dancing Classrooms. As a group of students prepares for their school dance, Rock shows up with a damaged ticket and is turned away by Mr. Temple and Principal James. Later, he gets into trouble with some thugs who pressure him to vandalize the Principal’s car. However, when Pierre arrives and interrupts them, they scatter. The next day, Pierre visits the school to speak with the Principal about what he ...

Stories of Lost Souls (2005) is an anthology film featuring a star-studded cast, including Josh Hartnett, Hugh Jackman, Keira Knightley, Cate Blanchett, James Gandolfini, Paul Bettany, and Illeana Douglas. It was directed by eight different directors, such as Deborra-Lee Furness and ...

Directed by Rowan Woods and written by Jacquelin Perske, Little Fish (2005) is an Australian film following the story of Tracy Heart. Despite her past struggles with heroin addiction, Tracy is determined to move forward and achieve her dreams. Living in Cabramatta, Sydney where heroin is easily accessible, she resides with her mother and brother Ray. In order to become a partner in the video store she works at, Tracy needs financial assistance. However, due to her criminal record, credit card debt, drug history, and lack of collateral, her loan applications are ...

Hell (2005) is a French film directed by Danis Tanović. Originally drafted by Krzysztof Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz, it was intended to be the second installment in a trilogy. The story takes place in Paris and follows three sisters: Celine, Anne, and Sophie. In one early scene, a woman and her young daughter (later revealed to be Celine) visit an office where they encounter two people: her father and a naked young man. Years later, after several chance meetings with Sebastian in their adulthood, a misunderstanding ...

The American medical drama television series Grey’s Anatomy (2005–2024) follows the personal and professional lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at Seattle Grace Hospital (later renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital). Premiering on March 27, 2005, as a mid-season replacement on ABC, it is currently the network’s longest-running scripted primetime show. The success of the series has propelled actors Pompeo, Dempsey, and Oh to global fame, with all three ranking among the top five highest-earning ...

The American comedy-drama film, Ellie Parker (2005), follows the journey of a young Australian actress trying to break into Hollywood. Naomi Watts stars as Ellie, a struggling performer constantly shuttling between auditions across Los Angeles. Despite her youth and determination to succeed, the uncertain future weighs heavily on her mind. Living with her superficial musician boyfriend only adds to her dissatisfaction, as his idea of loyalty is questionable at best. As she navigates through the challenges of pursuing her dreams in a cutthroat industry, Ellie must also face personal struggles and relationships that fall ...

Thumbsucker (2005) is an American indie comedy-drama film by first-time director Mike Mills. It follows the story of Justin Cobb, a timid 17-year-old living in suburban Oregon with his family of four. His persistent thumb-sucking has caused significant dental issues, much to the disapproval of his father. To avoid making his dad feel old, Justin refers to his parents as Mike and Audrey. Audrey, a nurse, becomes infatuated with actor Matt Schramm and enters a contest to win a date with him. She claims it’s all in good fun but is overly concerned with looking attractive for the opportunity. Meanwhile, Justin ...

In the drama film Last Days (2005), directed, produced, and written by Gus Van Sant, we witness a fictionalized portrayal of a musician’s final days, loosely based on Kurt Cobain. The central character, Blake, breaks out of a rehab facility and makes his way back home through the forest. After swimming through a lake and spending the night by a fire, he returns to his house and changes his clothes before wandering around with a shotgun in hand. Among his roommates – Scott, Luke, Asia, and Nicole – is Thadeus A. Thomas, who chats with him about advertising in the upcoming Yellow Pages book. Despite ...