Focus Features (USA): 29

The Bikeriders (2023), an American period crime drama film written and directed by Jeff Nichols, follows the story of Kathy Bauer as she meets Benny Cross, an impulsive member of the Vandals Motorcycle Club based in Chicago. Despite knowing each other for just five weeks, they get married. Meanwhile, photography student Danny Lyon joins the Vandals on their journey and interviews them along the way. During his time with the club, he comes to learn that founder Johnny Davis was inspired to create it after watching Marlon Brando in The Wild One. However, Johnny faces a challenge to his leadership when he rejects a ...

Tár (2022) is a psychological drama film written and directed by Todd Field. Acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett takes on the role of Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor facing accusations of misconduct. As the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, she relies on Francesca, her personal assistant, to handle her busy schedule. During an interview with Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker Festival, Lydia shares details about her upcoming live recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and her book Tár on Tár. In addition to her musical endeavors, she also collaborates with Eliot Kaplan, an investment banker and amateur conductor who co-founded the Accordion ...

An American historical action film, The Northman (2022), directed and co-written by Robert Eggers and Sjón respectively, portrays the return of King Aurvandill to the fictional island of Hrafnsey in AD 895. Accompanied by his wife, Queen Gudrún, and son, Prince Amleth, father and son partake in a ritual led by Aurvandill’s jester, Heimir. During the ceremony, Heimir reveals to Amleth that his future is predetermined and he must seek revenge for his father’s death rather than face dishonor. The following day, a treacherous coup by Amleth’s uncle Fjölnir ...

Directed by Edgar Wright, The Sparks Brothers (2021) is a documentary that delves into the story of Ron and Russell Mael, the talented duo behind the pop and rock band Sparks. The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30 and was later released in North America on June 18 by Focus Features. Through extensive interviews with Ron and Russell Mael, as well as other notable musicians such as Beck, Flea,

Downton Abbey (2019) is a historical drama film written by Julian Fellowes, the series creator and writer of its TV counterpart, and directed by Michael Engler. Produced by Carnival Films and Perfect World Pictures, the movie picks up where the series left off, bringing back much of the original cast. Set in 1927, the Crawleys are thrilled to learn that King George V and Queen Mary plan to visit Downton as part of their royal tour of Yorkshire. Amidst preparations by the servants, Lady Mary feels Barrow, the house butler, is ill-prepared for such an important event and ...

Atomic Blonde (2017), an American action thriller film directed by David Leitch, is adapted from the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart. Set in November 1989, just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, MI6 agent James Gascoigne is killed and his wristwatch, which contains a crucial microfilm document known as The List, is stolen by KGB agent Yuri Bakhtin. In response, top-level MI6 spy Lorraine Broughton is called in for a debriefing with MI6 executive Eric Gray and CIA agent Emmett ...

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) is an American stop-motion animated action fantasy film produced by Laika. The story takes place in feudal Japan, where a 12-year-old boy named Kubo lives with his ill mother in a mountain cave near a village. Despite having lost an eye, Kubo uses his magical abilities and plays the shamisen to make origami for the villagers. Through his performances, he shares the tale of his missing father Hanzo, a samurai warrior. However, Kubo is never able to complete the story as he doesn’t know what happened to his father and his mother’s deteriorating mental state prevents her from remembering the ending. She also warns him not to be ...

Self/less (2015) is an American science fiction action thriller film directed by Tarsem Singh, produced by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern and written by Alex and David Pastor. The movie follows the story of billionaire New Yorker Damian Hale, who is faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis. In search of a cure, he stumbles upon Professor Albright, who introduces him to a medical procedure known as ‘shedding’. This ...

The World’s End (2013), an apocalyptic sci-fi comedy film, was created by director Edgar Wright and screenwriters Simon Pegg and Wright. In an effort to relive his youth, 40-year-old Gary King, who struggles with alcoholism, reconnects with childhood friends Oliver Chamberlain, Peter Page, Steven Prince, and Andrew Knightley. He convinces them to join him on the ‘Golden Mile’, a pub crawl through their hometown of Newton Haven that ends at the World’s End pub. The group had attempted this feat in ...

Gus Van Sant’s drama, Promised Land (2012), follows the journey of Steve Butler as he climbs the ranks at Global Crosspower Solutions, an energy company focused on fracking for natural gas. With a proven record of efficiently and cost-effectively securing mineral rights leases from land owners, Butler catches the attention of top management. Teaming up with his partner Sue Thomason, Butler travels to a struggling farming community in Pennsylvania where residents take great pride in their long-standing family farms. Having grown up in a town similar to this one, Butler is determined to win over the locals on behalf ...

The historical romantic drama film, Anna Karenina (2012), directed by Joe Wright and adapted by Tom Stoppard from Leo Tolstoy’s novel of the same name, portrays the tragic story of Russian aristocrat and socialite Anna Karenina. Married to statesman Alexei Karenin, Anna engages in an affair with wealthy cavalry officer Count Vronsky. Meanwhile, in 1874 Russia, Princess Darya (known as ‘Dolly’) banishes her unfaithful husband Prince Stephan ‘Stiva’ Oblonsky. Upon hearing this news, Anna travels ...

ParaNorman (2012) is a stop-motion animated film from directors Sam Fell and Chris Butler, who also wrote the screenplay. The story takes place in Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts and follows 11-year-old Norman Babcock. Despite his ability to communicate with the dead, including his late grandmother and other ghosts in town, Norman is ostracized by his family and peers at school. However, he finds a friend in Neil Downe, who shares his experiences of being bullied. During rehearsals for a school play about the town’s witch trials, Norman and Neil are visited by Mr. ...

Hanna (2011), an action thriller directed by Joe Wright, follows the story of fifteen-year-old Hanna Heller and her ex-CIA operative father, Erik, who live in rural northern Finland. Raised and trained by her father since she was two, Hanna is a highly skilled assassin with expertise in hand-to-hand combat and target shooting. However, their peaceful life is disrupted when Marissa Wiegler, a senior CIA officer, seeks to eliminate Erik for knowing a dangerous secret. In response, Erik has taught Hanna everything she needs to know to kill Marissa. One night, after proving her readiness to face their enemies, Hanna ...

One Day (2011), a romantic drama film directed by Lone Scherfig from a screenplay by David Nicholls, tells the story of two characters who meet on July 15th, St. Swithin’s day, and their relationship over the course of 20 years. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1988, Dexter and Emma spend a platonic night together and agree to remain friends. The following year, he helps her move to London to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. However, she struggles to find success and ends up working as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant where she meets Ian, ...

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) is a British Cold War spy thriller film directed by Tomas Alfredson. The script was written by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, adapted from John le Carré’s novel of the same name. In 1973, ‘Control’, head of British intelligence, sends agent Jim Prideaux to Budapest on a mission to uncover a mole within their ranks. However, Prideaux is shot during the operation and Control subsequently dies. Sir Percy Alleline ...

The American action thriller film, The American (2010), directed by Anton Corbijn, follows the story of Jack and his lover, Ingrid, as they spend some time in Sweden. While taking a walk in the wilderness near their cabin, Jack notices a trail of footprints in the snow and quickly pulls Ingrid towards shelter. Gunshots from a sniper are heard in the distance. Ready to protect them both, Jack draws his own gun and takes down the sniper before turning his attention to another armed man. After his swift actions, Jack flees to Rome where he contacts a man named Pavel for help. However, Pavel insists that it is not safe for ...

Somewhere (2010) is a film written and directed by Sofia Coppola. It tells the story of Johnny Marco, a newly famous actor recovering from an injury at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. The opening scene features a black Ferrari speeding around a desert race track before coming to a stop and revealing Johnny Marco stepping out. Despite his rise to fame, he feels unfulfilled in his daily life as a recently divorced actor. He resides at the Chateau Marmont, nursing his broken wrist in a plaster cast. While he occasionally drinks and socializes with his childhood friend Sammy, also an actor, Marco spends most of his time ...

The psychological drama, Biutiful (2010), is a film directed, produced and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Starring Javier Bardem, it follows Uxbal’s life in a shabby Barcelona apartment with his two young children, Ana and Mateo. He is separated from Marambra, the children’s mother who struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder. Having grown up as an orphan, Uxbal only has his brother Tito for family support – Tito works in construction and sometimes solicits Marambra’s services. To make a living, Uxbal arranges work for Chinese ...

The film Away We Go (2009), directed by Sam Mendes and written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, follows the story of Verona De Tessant and Burt Farlander, a young couple living in Denver. Struggling to make ends meet and create a fulfilling life for themselves, they receive unexpected news of their upcoming parenthood. As they contemplate how and where to raise their child and build a happy family, they decide to visit Burt’s parents, Gloria and Jerry, who live nearby. However, upon arriving at their home, they ...

In his directorial debut, Martin McDonagh brings us In Bruges (2008), a black comedy-drama crime thriller. Following orders, inexperienced hitman Ray unintentionally shoots a young boy instead of his target, a priest during confession. Along with his mentor Ken, Ray travels to Bruges as instructed by their employer Harry, to wait for further instructions. While Ken finds the city enchanting and peaceful, Ray is unimpressed and unhappy. However, their boredom is momentarily interrupted when they come across a movie being filmed with a dwarf actor. This entertains Ray greatly. During his time in Bruges, Ray also meets Chloë – a local drug dealer who is working as ...