Drama: 385

The biographical crime thriller film All the Money in the World (2017), directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, is based on John Pearson’s book Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty. It centers around the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III and his grandfather’s refusal to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. Set in Rome during that time, a group of masked men abduct teenage John Paul, while his grandfather Jean Paul remains ...

The romantic drama film, Call Me by Your Name (2017), is directed by Luca Guadagnino. Set in Northern Italy, the Perlmans own a villa outside of Moscazzano where they spend their summers and Hannukah. This year, they’ve invited an American graduate student named Oliver to join them for six weeks and assist Professor Perlman with his work. During his stay, Oliver befriends Elio, the seventeen-year-old son of the Perlmans, and his female friends all swoon over his preppy good looks. Though Oliver casually pursues one of these girls, Chiara, Elio – who is still exploring his own masculinity – ends up ...

Based on the graphic novel by John ‘Derf’ Backderf, My Friend Dahmer (2017) is a biographical psychological drama film directed by Marc Meyers. It follows the story of American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who was friends with Backderf in high school in the 1970s. Set in Bath, Ohio, the film portrays young Jeffrey as a freshman living with his parents and younger brother Dave. Obsessed with a male jogger he sees daily from his school bus, Jeffrey spends his spare time dissolving dead animals to study their skeletal structures using chemicals from his father, who is a chemist.

Promise at Dawn (2017) is a drama film directed by Éric Barbier, from a screenplay co-written with Marie Eynard. Appropriately set against the vibrant backdrop of Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities, Eric Barbier’s Promise at Dawn weaves a tale where the influence of deceased loved ones holds great weight, even in unexpected ways. Amidst the revelry, Vogue editor Lesley Blanch makes her way through the festive crowd to assist her husband, renowned writer Romain Gary. Though he believes his brain tumor ...

Fences (2016) is an American period drama film featuring the talents of Denzel Washington, who not only stars but also produces and directs the film. Written by August Wilson, the film is based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. In North America, Fences was released on December 16, 2016 through Paramount Pictures. The film garnered acclaim from critics for Washington’s and Davis’s performances as well as the screenplay, pacing, ...

The comedy-drama film, A Hologram for the King (2016), is a creation of writer, director, and co-composer Tom Tykwer. It is based on the novel by Dave Eggers published in 2012. Starring American salesman Alan Clay, the film follows his mission to sell a holographic teleconferencing system to the Saudi government and present it to their King. Clay was offered this opportunity due to his brief encounter with one of the King’s nephews. However, he carries baggage from a previous job where he witnessed layoffs and financial ruin caused by outsourcing production. ...

Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Todd Komarnicki, Sully (2016) is an American biographical drama film based on the 2009 autobiography Highest Duty by Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles. The movie follows the events of January 15, 2009, when Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles took off in US Airways Flight 1549 from LaGuardia Airport. Shortly after takeoff, their Airbus A320 collided with a ...

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 ...

Collateral Beauty (2016) is an American fantasy drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Allan Loeb. The story follows Howard Inlet, a successful advertising executive who tragically loses his young daughter. This devastating event takes a toll on Howard’s mental state as he sinks into a deep depression. His behavior becomes concerning to his estranged friends and business partners, Whit Yardsham, Claire Wilson, and Simon Scott, who worry about both Howard’s well-being and the future of their company. His actions have caused them to lose important ...

Directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Robert Siegel, The Founder (2016) is a biographical drama about Ray Kroc. In 1954, Kroc had spent most of his adult life as a salesman, becoming known for his hustle. This has garnered him both admiration and disdain as he peddles products that some consider more novelty than useful. Despite this, his hard work has provided him and his wife Ethel with a comfortable home in Arlington Heights, Illinois. However, Ethel longs for Kroc to devote more time to their relationship instead of constantly being on the road selling ...

The Crown (2016–2023), a historical drama series following Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, was created and principally written by Peter Morgan and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Netflix. Critics have praised its acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and production values, while some have noted its historical inaccuracies. The show has achieved multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and two Golden Globes for Best Television Series – Drama. It chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s life from the 1940s to the present day, starting with her ascension ...

Christine (2016) is an American independent biographical psychological drama film directed by Antonio Campos and written by Craig Shilowich. Set in 1974 Sarasota, Florida, the movie follows reporter Christine Chubbuck as she navigates her career at a local news station. Constantly clashing with her boss Michael over editorial decisions, Christine is torn between pursuing human-interest pieces or catering to the desire for crime-focused news that brings in ratings. She also harbors feelings for her colleague George Peter Ryan. Amidst all of this, Christine receives some ...

The American drama film The Last Face (2016), directed by Sean Penn and written by Erin Dignam, features an all-star cast including Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Jean Reno. Despite being selected for competition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the film received poor reviews upon its initial release. After debuting on DirecTV on June 29, 2017, it was ...

Vinyl (2016), an American period drama television series, was created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen and Terence Winter. The show follows Richie Finestra, a record executive in the 1970s. The pilot episode was directed by Scorsese, from a teleplay by Winter and George Mastras, with a story by

The satirical drama series, The Young Pope (2016), was created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino for Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+. Lenny Belardo, a young cardinal from New York, becomes Pope after the leading contenders of the Papal conclave are unable to gain enough votes. As a compromise candidate, he takes on the name Pius XIII and immediately begins to challenge long-standing traditions and practices within the Vatican. In one of his first actions as Pope, he declares that common people are not permitted to see him and appears shrouded in darkness during a public appearance in St. Peter’s Square. During a ...

Manifesto (2015), a multi-screen film installation, is the brainchild of Julian Rosefeldt, who wrote, produced and directed the project. The film stars Cate Blanchett in 13 distinct roles as she embodies various manifestos. Rosefeldt’s initial research and analysis included a range of textual manifestos, spanning from 19th century works like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’s The Communist Manifesto to more modern pieces such as Jim Jarmusch’s Golden Rules ...

Carol (2015) is a touching romantic drama set in the past and directed by Todd Haynes. The film, based on acclaimed author Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, features a screenplay written by Phyllis Nagy. It takes place during the holiday season of 1952 and follows the story of Therese Belivet, an aspiring photographer who works at Frankenberg’s department store in New York City. One day, while working at the store, Therese meets Carol Aird – a strikingly beautiful woman in search of a ...

Knight of Cups (2015) is an American experimental drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. It tells the story of a young prince, whose father, the king of the East, sends him on a mission to find a pearl in Egypt. However, upon arriving, he is offered a drink that causes him to forget his royal identity and fall into a deep slumber. The King sends out many messengers in search of his son, hoping to guide him back home. As a child, Rick would often hear this tale from his father. Now grown and working as a screenwriter in Santa Monica, he yearns for something more meaningful but doesn’t know where to ...

The Outcast (2015), a two-part television adaptation of Sadie Jones’ debut novel, premiered on BBC One in July 2015. Ten-year-old Lewis Aldridge witnesses his mother’s drowning during a picnic and is left traumatized. His father, who is emotionally distant, struggles to cope and eventually remarries Alice. Despite her efforts, Lewis’ new stepmother is unable to connect with him. As he enters adolescence, Lewis becomes the target of taunts related to his mother’s death and starts harming himself. After setting the local church ablaze, he serves time behind bars ...

The 33 (2015) is a biographical disaster-survival drama film directed by Patricia Riggen. In August 2010, a group of miners from Copiapó, Chile are working in the San José mine when it collapses due to the owner’s negligence. This unfortunate event leaves them trapped and without a way out. As the miners gather in a rescue chamber, they quickly realize they lack necessary supplies for a long stay – the radio is broken, the medical kit is empty, and there is little food. Amidst this dire situation, Mario Sepúlveda emerges as a leader, taking charge of rationing food and maintaining order among the group. Despite ...