Dreamworks Pictures (USA): 60

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) is a gripping historical drama written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Set in August of 1968, it follows the preparations made by Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, Lee Weiner, John Froines, and Bobby Seale as they plan to protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Five months later, they are arrested and charged with inciting a riot by crossing state lines. Appointed as prosecutors by Attorney General John N. Mitchell are Tom Foran and Richard Schultz, while all defendants except Seale are represented by William Kunstler and Leonard ...

Directed and produced by Sam Mendes, the British war film 1917 (2019) was co-written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Partially inspired by his paternal grandfather Alfred’s experiences in World War I, the film is set after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich. On April 6th, aerial reconnaissance reveals that the Imperial German Army has strategically withdrawn to the new line and is waiting with artillery to attack the British. With field telephone lines cut, General Erinmore orders ...

First Man (2018) is an American biographical drama film directed by Damien Chazelle from a screenplay by Josh Singer, based on the book of the same name by James R. Hansen. It follows NASA test pilot Neil Armstrong in 1961 as he flies the X-15 rocket-powered spaceplane, which accidentally bounces off the atmosphere. Despite successfully landing in the Mojave Desert, his colleagues question his recent series of mishaps and suggest that his focus may be divided due to personal troubles. Armstrong’s daughter Karen is ...

The American political thriller film, The Post (2017), centers around the publication of the Pentagon Papers by The Washington Post. During the Vietnam War in 1966, military analyst Daniel Ellsberg joins American troops in combat and records their progress for Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Despite privately admitting the war is futile on their flight home, McNamara publicly expresses confidence in the effort upon landing. This stark contradiction causes Ellsberg to lose faith. Years later, as a civilian contractor at RAND Corporation, Ellsberg discreetly copies hundreds of classified reports detailing the country’s extensive involvement in the ...

The film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s popular novel The BFG (2016), directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, follows the story of Sophie, a ten-year-old girl living in a London orphanage. Sophie suffers from insomnia and often stays up reading through the nights. One night at three in the morning, she sees an elderly giant outside her window during what she calls the ‘witching hour’. The giant captures her and takes her to Giant Country where he explains that she must stay with him for life as she has seen him and must not reveal the existence of ...

The film Bridge of Spies (2015) is an American historical drama directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. It was written by Matt Charman and the Coen brothers. Set in New York City in 1957, the story follows the arrest of Rudolf Abel on charges of spying for the Soviet Union. James B. Donovan, an insurance lawyer, is appointed as Abel’s legal counsel. Despite pressure from the CIA to violate client confidentiality, Donovan remains committed to providing a vigorous defense for Abel. Ultimately, Abel is convicted ...

Scott Waugh directed and co-edited Need for Speed (2014), an action crime film written by George and John Gatins. Based on Electronic Arts’ racing video game franchise of the same name, the story follows Tobey Marshall, a former race car driver who runs his late father’s garage in Mount Kisco, New York. Struggling financially, Tobey and his friends participate in street races at night. After one race, Dino Brewster, Tobey’s old rival, asks them to complete a rare Ford Shelby Mustang that belonged to ...

The American biographical historical drama film Lincoln (2012) was brought to life by director and producer Steven Spielberg. With a focus on Lincoln’s efforts in early 1865, the film showcases his determination to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude through the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. As the Civil War nears its end with the defeat of the Confederate States, President Abraham Lincoln shares his concern that his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation may not hold up in court post-war, and that the proposed Thirteenth Amendment may face defeat from returning slave states. ...

The Help (2011), a period drama film directed and written by Tate Taylor, is based on Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel of the same title. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1963, the story follows Aibileen Clark, an African-American domestic worker who works for socialite Elizabeth Leefolt. Aibileen cares for Elizabeth’s two-year-old daughter Mae Mobley as Elizabeth neglects her emotionally. Aibileen’s close friend Minny Jackson also works as a maid for Mrs. Walters and her manipulative daughter Hilly Holbrook, who is known for leading the women’s ...

War Horse (2011) is a drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis. It is adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s book of the same title and its stage version from 2007. In 1912, a bay Irish Hunter is born in Devon, England. At an auction, farmer Ted Narracott outbids his landlord Lyons for the colt Joey. His wife Rose is not pleased as they need a working horse for ploughing, not an Irish Hunter. Their son Albert and his friend ...

The Soloist (2009), directed by Joe Wright, features Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. in lead roles. The film tells the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man who struggles with schizophrenia and is also an exceptionally talented musician. In 2005, Steve Lopez works as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times under his ex-wife Mary, who is now his editor. After being involved in a biking accident, Lopez is hospitalized. It is during this time that he hears the beautiful sound of a violin being played. Intrigued, he ...

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) is an American science fiction action film, inspired by Hasbro’s popular Transformers toys. In ancient times, the Primes, highly regarded leaders of Cybertronians, obtained their energy known as Energon through star harvesters. However, there was a rule among the Primes to never deplete stars that support life. One Prime broke this rule by constructing a star harvester on Earth and thus became known as ‘the Fallen’, the first Decepticon. Fast forward to 2009, two years after the battle in Mission City, the Autobots and humans have joined forces to form NEST (Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species ...

The Lovely Bones (2009) is a supernatural drama film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay he co-wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, based on Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel of the same name. In 1973, 14-year-old high school freshman Susie Salmon has aspirations of becoming a photographer. She is asked out by Ray, the boy she has a crush on. One day while walking home through a cornfield, Susie encounters her neighbor George Harvey and follows him to an ...

Tropic Thunder (2008), a satirical action comedy film directed and co-written by Ben Stiller, tells the story of a film adaptation of Hook-handed Vietnam veteran Staff Sergeant John ‘Four Leaf’ Tayback’s memoir. The cast includes has-been action hero Tugg Speedman, five-time Academy Award-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, closeted homosexual rapper Alpa Chino, and drug-addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy. Despite newcomer supporting actor Kevin Sandusky’s reliability, the rest of the actors cause chaos for inexperienced director Damien Cockburn. With the project falling behind schedule and ...

Revolutionary Road (2008) is a romantic drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe. It is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Richard Yates. The story follows longshoreman Frank Wheeler, who meets a woman named April at a party in 1948. Their aspirations differ – Frank dreams of being a cashier, while April longs to become an actress. After securing a sales position with Knox Machines, Frank and April get married and move to 115 Revolutionary Road in suburban Connecticut, as they await the ...

In the  musical slasher film, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), directed by Tim Burton and written by John Logan, a barber named Benjamin Barker arrives in London with young sailor Anthony Hope. After being falsely convicted and sent to Australia by corrupt Judge Turpin, who desired his wife Lucy, Barker assumes the identity of ‘Sweeney Todd’ and returns to his old shop above Nellie Lovett’s meat pie shop on Fleet Street. Lovett, who harbors unrequited love for him, informs Todd that after his exile, Turpin drove Lucy to suicide and ...

Transformers (2007), an American sci-fi action film based on Hasbro’s toy line, follows the epic story of two factions of sentient robots – the Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the Decepticons led by Megatron. A brutal civil war on their home planet Cybertron has left it devastated and in ruins, as both sides fight for control of the AllSpark – a powerful cube that holds the key to their existence. The Autobots seek to use it for healing and peace, while the Decepticons aim to use its power for destruction and domination. But fate brings them to Earth when Megatron crash-lands in the Arctic Circle, where he remains frozen until discovered by Captain ...

Dreamgirls (2006) is an American musical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon, and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. It is adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. The story follows car salesman Curtis Taylor Jr., who in 1962 Detroit meets a promising Black girl group called ‘The Dreamettes’ at an R&B amateur talent show. The trio, consisting of lead singer Effie White, and backup singers Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson, catches his eye. Impressed with their talent, Curtis presents himself as their new manager and hires them to sing ...

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) is a Japanese-language American war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood. It tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers and serves as a complement to Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers, which portrays the same battle from the American viewpoint. Both films were shot back to back. In 2005, Japanese archaeologists discover something in the dirt while exploring tunnels on Iwo Jima. The year is 1944. Private First Class Saigo, a conscripted baker who longs for his wife and newborn ...

The American war drama film, Flags of Our Fathers (2006), was directed, co-produced, and scored by Clint Eastwood and written by William Broyles Jr. and Paul Haggis. It is based on the book of the same name written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. The story follows the five Marines and one Navy corpsman involved in raising the flag on Iwo Jima and explores the impact it had on their lives. ...