Appian Way (USA): 11

Martin Scorsese co-writes, produces, and directs the American epic western crime drama film, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Inspired by David Grann’s non-fiction book from 2017, Scorsese and Eric Roth bring the story to life. During the annual ‘flower moon’ phenomenon on their Oklahoma reservation, Osage Nation elders mourn their descendants’ assimilation into White American society while burying a ceremonial pipe. It is during this time that ...

Richard Jewell (2019), an American biographical drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood and written by Billy Ray, follows the story of Richard Jewell. In 1986, he starts off as an office supply clerk at the Small Business Administration where he forms a friendship with attorney Watson Bryant. Eventually, he leaves to pursue a career in law enforcement. Although he briefly works as a sheriff’s deputy, he ultimately gets discharged. In early 1996, Jewell takes on a security guard position at Piedmont College but is terminated due to multiple complaints of ...

Live by Night (2016) is a compelling crime drama featuring Ben Affleck as the writer, director, producer and star. Based on Dennis Lehane’s 2012 novel of the same title, it follows the story of Joe Coughlin, an Irish-American World War I veteran and son of Boston police captain Thomas Coughlin. In the year 1926, Joe falls for Emma Gould, the mistress of notorious gangster Albert White who he and his friends have been targeting through a series of robberies. Despite Thomas’ disapproval and warnings against Joe’s criminal activities, the love between Joe ...

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant (2015) is an American Western action drama film based on the experiences of frontiersman Hugh Glass in 1823. The screenplay, written by Mark L. Smith and Iñárritu, was adapted from Michael Punke’s 2002 novel of the same name and inspired by the 1915 poem The Song of Hugh Glass. In late 1823, Glass leads Captain Andrew Henry’s trappers through present-day ...

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is an American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter. It is based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name. In 1987, 22-year-old Belfort begins working as a stockbroker for L.F. Rothschild, under Mark Hanna. He is quickly drawn to the drug-fueled broker culture and Hanna’s belief that a broker’s only goal is personal wealth. Belfort loses his job after Black Monday, the largest one-day stock market drop since 1929. He then ...

Directed by Brad Furman and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Runner Runner (2013) is an American crime thriller film. Once a successful Wall Street worker, Richie Furst’s past career prevents him from receiving financial aid at Princeton University. In order to afford his master’s degree, he turns to referring students to online gambling and receives a portion of the profits. When the dean threatens to expel Richie for this behavior, he attempts to win back his tuition using his impressive poker ...

Out of the Furnace (2013), an American crime drama film directed by Scott Cooper and written by Cooper and Brad Ingelsby, follows steel mill worker Russell Baze as he deals with his brother Rodney’s involvement in illegal gambling. After seeing Rodney at a horse racing simulcast, Russell learns that he borrowed money from John Petty, who runs unlawful games at his bar. Russell visits Petty, pays off part of the debt, and promises to cover the rest. However, after driving home drunk one night, Russell causes a fatal ...

The Ides of March (2011), directed by George Clooney, is an American political drama. The screenplay was written by Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon, based on Willimon’s play Farragut North. The film follows the story of Stephen Meyers, the junior campaign manager for Governor of Pennsylvania Mike Morris, as he competes against Arkansas Senator Ted Pullman in the Democratic presidential primary. Both ...

Shutter Island (2010) is a gripping neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted by Laeta Kalogridis from the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehan. The film follows U.S. Marshal Edward ‘Teddy’ Daniels and his new partner Chuck Aule as they are sent to investigate the disappearance of patient Rachel Solando at Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, Boston Harbor. Despite encountering resistance from the hospital staff, particularly from psychiatrist Dr. John ...

Public Enemies (2009), an American biographical crime drama film directed by Michael Mann, follows notorious criminal John Dillinger as he attempts to evade the law and continue his life of crime in 1933. With a screenplay co-written by Ronan Bennett and Ann Biderman, the movie begins with Dillinger’s daring escape from the Indiana State Penitentiary alongside his crew. Tragically, his mentor Walter Dietrich is killed during the jailbreak. After changing their clothes and finding refuge at a safe house on Chicago’s east side, Dillinger and his accomplices carry out a series of bank robberies while FBI agent ...

The Aviator (2004), a biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan, tells the story of young Howard Hughes. In 1913, his mother teaches him to spell ‘quarantine’ while giving him a bath in Houston, warning about a cholera outbreak. Fourteen years later, he begins directing Hell’s Angels and hires Noah Dietrich to manage his business affairs. However, after seeing the success of The Jazz Singer, Hughes becomes determined to make his film as realistic as possible and converts it to a talking movie. While the film is ...