3 Arts Entertainment (USA): 22

An American sci-fi film Chaos Walking (2021), directed by Doug Liman and written by Patrick Ness and Christopher Ford, is an adaptation of Ness’s trilogy of the same name. The first book, titled The Knife of Never Letting Go, serves as the basis for the movie’s plot. Set in 2257 AD on the planet New World, the male colonists are affected by a condition known as Noise, which exposes everyone’s thoughts to one another. The colonists were previously ...

The film The Call of the Wild (2020) is based on Jack London’s novel from 1903 and tells the story of Buck, a large and gentle mix of Saint Bernard and Scotch Shepherd. He lives happily with his master, Judge Miller, in Santa Clara, California during the late 19th century. However, one night he is taken away and ends up on a ship bound for the Yukon. On the journey, a crew member uses violence to maintain discipline towards Buck. When they eventually reach Alaska, John Thornton loses his harmonica which Buck retrieves for him just before being sold to Perrault and Francoise. They run a dog sled team that delivers ...

Late Night (2019) is an American comedy-drama film directed by Nisha Ganatra from a screenplay produced by Mindy Kaling. Katherine Newbury, an acclaimed talk show host with extensive experience in comedy, faces declining ratings for her long-running program. Facing pressure from network president Caroline Morton to improve or risk being replaced, Katherine brings on Molly Patel to the writing team. As the only Indian-American woman among a group of white male writers, Molly initially struggles due to her lack of comedy experience. However, she proves her worth by ...

13 Hours (2016) is an American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan; it is based on Mitchell Zuckoff’s 2014 book of the same name. Set in Libya in 2012, following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, it portrays Benghazi as one of the most dangerous places in the world, prompting countries to withdraw their diplomatic offices out of fear for potential attacks by militants. The United States maintains a diplomatic compound in the city, while less than a mile ...

The show Jessica Jones (2015–2019), developed by Melissa Rosenberg for Netflix, is an adaptation of the Marvel Comics character. It exists in the same universe as the Marvel films and is one of several series leading up to The Defenders crossover event. Jessica, a superpowered individual, had a short-lived stint as a superhero until Kilgrave, her arch-nemesis, tragically drove her to take a life. She then changes careers to become a private detective. However, when Kilgrave resurfaces, Jessica must once again confront him to put an end to his reign of terror. Following a ...

Edge of Tomorrow (2014) is an American science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman and written by Christopher McQuarrie and the writing team of Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill. The story takes place in a world where an alien race known as ‘Mimics’ have invaded and conquered much of Europe, resulting in the formation of the ...

Unbroken (2014) is an American biographical war drama film directed by Angelina Jolie and written by a team including the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson. Inspired by Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 non-fiction book, also titled Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, the story follows Louis ‘Louie’ Zamperini during his time as a bomber in World War ...

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021) is an American police procedural comedy TV series that aired on Fox and later on NBC for eight seasons and 153 episodes, from September 17, 2013 to September 16, 2021. Created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, the show follows seven NYPD detectives as they adjust to their new commanding officer, Captain Raymond Holt. The captain is serious and stern, and takes over Brooklyn’s 99th precinct where Detective Jake Peralta works. Jake is a talented but carefree detective who’s used to doing things his own way. Other members of the ...

The show Louie (2010–2015), based loosely on comedian Louis C.K.’s own life, showcases both his onstage stand-up routine and his personal life as a divorced father of two daughters. Each episode follows either two distinct storylines or one longer narrative made up of connected shorter pieces, all centered around the character of Louie. C.K. himself is the star of the show and appears in every episode. Unlike traditional shows, Louie does not have a regular cast, but instead features various guest appearances from fellow comedians and actors. Given its setting in ...

Extract (2009), an American comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge, centers around Joel Reynolds, the owner and founder of Reynolds Extract. While his business is thriving, his marriage lacks excitement and he frequently deals with his bothersome neighbor, Nathan. One day, an unfortunate incident occurs at the factory resulting in employee Step losing a testicle. This catches the attention of Cindy, a con artist who reads about it in the news. She devises a plan to make easy money by getting a job at the factory and manipulates Joel for inside information on Step. In addition, she begins stealing from her ...

Directed by David Ayer, Street Kings (2008) is an American action thriller film. The protagonist, Tom Ludlow, is a detective for the LAPD’s Vice-Special unit who has struggled with alcoholism following his wife’s death. In his latest undercover mission, he arranges a meeting with Korean gangsters under the guise of a firearms deal as he believes they have abducted two teenage girls. During the encounter, Ludlow allows himself to be beaten and robbed before tracking them down using a device on his stolen vehicle. Upon arriving at their hideout, he takes swift action to eliminate the gang members, fabricates ...

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) is an American science fiction film, serving as a remake of the 1951 film with the same title, which was originally based on the 1940 short story Farewell to the Master. Way back in 1928, a lone mountaineer exploring the Karakoram mountains in India comes across a glowing sphere. After losing consciousness, he wakes up with a scar on his hand and finds that the sphere has vanished. Fast forward to present day, an unidentified object is spotted heading towards Earth from Jupiter’s orbit with potential to wipe out all life. In response, the U.S. government hastily enlists a team of scientists, including Helen Benson ...

I Am Legend (2007) is an American post-apocalyptic action thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Akiva Goldsman and Mark Protosevich. The film depicts a world in which a measles virus, intended to cure cancer, instead becomes lethal and spreads rapidly, infecting 99% of the population and turning them into vampiric, albino, cannibalistic mutants known as Darkseekers. These creatures are vulnerable to sunlight and prey on the small number of people who are naturally immune. Three years have passed since ...

A Scanner Darkly (2006), directed and written by Richard Linklater and based on Philip K. Dick’s novel of the same name, tells the story of a United States that has failed in its fight against drugs. The country is plagued by Substance D, a potent drug that causes strange hallucinations and has resulted in approximately 20% of the population becoming addicted. In an effort to combat the epidemic, the government has implemented an extensive surveillance system and enlisted undercover agents and informants. One such agent is Bob Arctor, tasked with infiltrating the ...

The American superhero horror film, Constantine (2005), marked Francis Lawrence’s directorial debut. In Mexico, a scavenger discovers the tip of the spear that pierced Jesus Christ in a ruined church, but becomes possessed after taking it to Los Angeles. John Constantine, a cynical occult expert, helps exorcise a demon from a young girl and learns about a treaty between Heaven and Hell that should prevent this type of possession. With terminal lung cancer, Constantine seeks an extension to his life by working with the half-breed angel, Gabriel, to deport Hell’s forces. However, Gabriel reminds him that ...

The Office (2005–2013) is a US sitcom that follows the daily work lives of office employees at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It aired on NBC for nine seasons, from March 24, 2005 to May 16, 2013. Adapted from the British series of the same name by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, it was created for American television by Greg Daniels. While its short first season received mixed reviews, subsequent seasons, particularly Steve Carell’s ...

Sweet November (2001), the film directed by Pat O’Connor and set in San Francisco, tells the story of Nelson Moss, a hardworking advertising executive. One day, he meets Sara Deever, a woman unlike anyone he has ever met. When she cheats on her driving test and he tries to confront her, she charms him with her request for him to spend a month with her, promising to change his life for the better. On the first night of November, after Nelson is fired and dumped on the same day, they sleep together. The next day, Sara’s close friend Chaz arrives and refers to Nelson as ‘November’. As they spend ...

Girl, Interrupted (1999) is a biographical psychological drama film, written and directed by James Mangold. In the year 1967, in New England, an aimless 18-year-old named Susanna Kaysen experiences a nervous breakdown and takes an overdose of aspirin and alcohol. Despite her protests, she is admitted into Claymoore, a local psychiatric hospital. During her stay in the ward, Susanna forms bonds with other patients such as Polly ‘Torch’ Clark, who has schizophrenia; Cynthia Crowley; Daisy Randone, who engages in self-harm and struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder; Georgina Tuskin, a compulsive liar and ...

The Wachowskis brought us The Matrix (1999), a science fiction and action-packed film. At an abandoned hotel, Trinity is cornered by a police squad, but her superhuman abilities allow her to overpower them before fleeing. As she runs from both the police and a group of suited Agents with similar powers, she answers a ringing public telephone and disappears. Thomas Anderson, also known as Neo in the hacking world, becomes intrigued by constant online mentions of ‘the Matrix’. Trinity contacts Neo and informs him that Morpheus has the answers he’s seeking. However, Agent Smith and his team arrive at ...

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), directed by Jay Roach, is an American spy comedy film. Its title is a witty nod to the James Bond classic, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). In the film, Austin Powers, a time-displaced British spy from the 1960s, is on his honeymoon with his wife Vanessa Kensington when she is revealed to be a fembot controlled by Dr. Evil. Following her explosive demise, Austin realizes he is once again a free agent and can indulge in casual affairs. Meanwhile, NATO observes Dr. Evil’s comeback from space and his reunion with his estranged son Scott, who later appears on ...