Good Machine (USA): 3

Thumbsucker (2005) is an American indie comedy-drama film by first-time director Mike Mills. It follows the story of Justin Cobb, a timid 17-year-old living in suburban Oregon with his family of four. His persistent thumb-sucking has caused significant dental issues, much to the disapproval of his father. To avoid making his dad feel old, Justin refers to his parents as Mike and Audrey. Audrey, a nurse, becomes infatuated with actor Matt Schramm and enters a contest to win a date with him. She claims it’s all in good fun but is overly concerned with looking attractive for the opportunity. Meanwhile, Justin ...

Laurel Canyon (2002), an American drama film written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko, follows the story of newly engaged couple Sam and Alex as they embark on a move to Los Angeles in pursuit of career opportunities. Sam, a recently graduated medical student, is starting his residency in psychiatry, while Alex is nearing completion of her Ph.D. dissertation on genomics. The plan was for the couple to stay at Sam’s mother Jane’s vacant home in the eccentric Laurel Canyon area of the city. However, their plans are thrown off when they arrive to find Jane still there, caught up in a passionate love affair with ...

Safe (1995) is an American psychological horror film written and directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore. Carol White is a housewife in an affluent Los Angeles suburb. She fills her days with activities such as gardening, aerobics, and socializing with friends. Despite appearances of stability, her marriage and family life lack passion and her friends keep their distance. After the renovation of her home, Carol begins to experience physical ailments in ordinary situations: uncontrollable coughing from nearby exhaust fumes while driving, difficulty breathing at ...