Section Eight (USA): 16

The Informant! (2009) is an American biographical-crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z. Burns. It follows the story of Mark Whitacre, a rising star at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in Decatur, Illinois during the early 1990s. Whitacre’s wife Ginger urges him to blow the whistle on the company’s illegal price-fixing practices. In November 1992, he confesses to FBI agent Brian Shepard that ADM executives (including himself) had been colluding with competitors to manipulate lysine prices. To gather evidence, Whitacre secretly ...

In the film Che: Part One (2008), directed by Steven Soderbergh, we follow the life of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara. During an interview in Havana in 1964 with Lisa Howard, Guevara is questioned about the potential impact of reform on the message of the Cuban Revolution. In 1955, Guevara first encounters Fidel Castro at a gathering in Mexico City and joins the July 26th Movement after hearing Castro’s plans. Fast forwarding to 1964, we witness Guevara delivering a passionate speech against American imperialism at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. He also ...

Michael Clayton (2007) is an American legal thriller feature film that marks Tony Gilroy’s directorial debut. The movie revolves around the life of Michael Clayton, a ‘fixer’ for a prestigious law firm in New York City. He uses his extensive connections and knowledge of legal loopholes to benefit his clients. One evening, Michael interrupts a poker game to assist a client who had hit a pedestrian with his car in Westchester County. On his way back home, while passing by some barren trees atop a hill, he notices three horses and stops to take a closer look. Little did he know that behind him, an ...

Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) is an American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Businessman Reuben Tishkoff takes on a new project, building a hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, against the advice of his friend and former criminal associate Danny Ocean. However, things take a turn for the worse when investor and casino mogul Willy Bank strongarms Reuben into giving up his ownership stake. After suffering a heart attack, Reuben is left bedridden. In an attempt ...

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 Good German (2006), an American neo-noir crime film, was directed by Steven Soderbergh and based on Joseph Kanon’s 2001 novel of the same name. It follows Jacob Geismer, an American war correspondent for The New Republic, as he returns to Berlin during the Potsdam negotiations after World War II in Europe (May 1945), but before the end of hostilities in Asia (August 1945). While there, he witnesses his driver Tully’s murder and discovers that Tully had been involved in black-market activities. As Geismer investigates further, he becomes entangled in the ...

Rumor Has It (2005) is an American romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner. In 1997, Sarah Huttinger, a writer for The New York Times, returns to her hometown of Pasadena, California for her sister Annie’s wedding with her fiancé Jeff Daly. While in town, Sarah confides in her grandmother Katharine Richelieu about her doubts regarding marriage. To Sarah’s surprise, Katharine reveals that Sarah’s mother Jocelyn also had cold feet and ran off to Cabo San Lucas a week before her own wedding. Seeking more information, Sarah seeks out her mother’s old friend Aunt Mitsy who confirms that Jocelyn spent ...

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) is a riveting historical drama directed by George Clooney that delves into the world of American television news. At a gathering titled ‘A Salute to Edward R Murrow’ on October 25, 1958, Murrow delivers a powerful speech addressing Senator McCarthy and other prominent figures. The film then transports us back to October 14, 1953 at CBS Studios, where an on-screen caption reveals McCarthy’s claim of over 200 Communists in the US government. With this latest development, Fred Friendly and the news team discuss potential stories for their upcoming episodes. Murrow makes it ...

Syriana (2005), an American political thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, is loosely based on Robert Baer’s 2003 memoir See No Evil. The movie was filmed in over 200 locations across five continents, including the Middle East, Washington D.C., and Africa. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Gaghan revealed that the film draws from his personal experiences meeting and interviewing powerful figures such as oil owners, media moguls, lobbyists, ...

The Jacket (2005), an American science-fiction psychological thriller film directed by John Maybury, begins with Jack Starks as an active soldier in the Gulf War. Through his voice-over, we learn that he was 27 when he died for the first time. While on duty, he is ambushed and shot in the head by a young boy. One year later, Jack is portrayed as a solitary figure, hitch-hiking along a snowy road. He comes across a broken-down pick up truck occupied by Jean Price, an intoxicated mother, and her daughter who appears to be around eight or ten years old. Despite Jean’s erratic behavior and vomiting episodes, the girl ...

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) is a heist comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by George Nolfi. Terry Benedict tracks down all eleven members of Danny Ocean’s crew, demanding the return of the $160 million they stole from his casinos plus an additional $38 million in interest. The deadline for repayment is two weeks. With only half of the money on hand, the group devises a plan to pull off a heist in Amsterdam to avoid trouble with authorities in the United States. A man named Matsui tips them off about the whereabouts of the first ever issued stock ...

Far from Heaven (2002) is a historical romantic drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes. Set in 1957 suburban Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker embodies the ideal wife, mother, and homemaker. Her husband, Frank, holds an executive position at Magnatech, a television advertising company. However, one evening, Cathy receives a call from the local police station informing her that Frank has been detained. Despite Frank’s claims of a misunderstanding, it becomes clear that he has been frequenting gay bars in Hartford. Amidst the turmoil, Cathy encounters Raymond Deagan in her yard – the son of her late gardener ...

Welcome to Collinwood (2002), the American caper comedy film written and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The plot follows Cosimo, who gets arrested with Toto while attempting to steal a car. In prison, he meets an elderly inmate who mentions the ‘Bellini’ – a perfect heist that he couldn’t complete due to a life sentence. With hopes of pulling off this elusive crime, Cosimo solicits his girlfriend Rosalind’s help in finding someone willing to take his place in jail for a sum of money. Rosalind and Toto reach out to Basil, Leon, Riley, and ...

The American biographical spy film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), follows the fictional life of Chuck Barris, who aspired to be a famous television personality. Initially rejected by the women he desires, he moves from Manhattan to become an NBC page, but is ultimately let go. He then becomes Dick Clark’s personal assistant on American Bandstand in 1961, where he writes the hit song ‘Palisades Park’ and becomes involved with Penny Pacino. Eventually, Chuck pitches his idea for The Dating Game at ABC and receives $7,500 to create a pilot. However, ABC ultimately chooses to produce Hootenanny instead. After being ousted from a bar for ...

Insomnia (2002), a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz, stands out in Nolan’s filmography as the only project he did not also write. It is a remake of the similarly titled 1997 Norwegian film. Set in the small fishing village of Nightmute, Alaska, the story begins with the murder of 17-year-old Kay Connell. Detectives Will Dormer and Hap Eckhart from the LAPD are called in by their old friend and chief of police, Nyback, to assist with the investigation. Meanwhile, Dormer ...

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven (2001) is a heist comedy film featuring professional thief Danny Ocean. After serving four years in a New Jersey prison, Ocean heads to Los Angeles to reunite with his colleague Rusty Ryan. The two then travel to Las Vegas to seek the financial support of their wealthy friend Reuben Tishkoff. Their goal is to pull off a daring multi-million dollar heist, targeting three of Tishkoff’s rival Terry Benedict’s casinos: the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. Knowing that the casinos are required to have enough cash to cover all bets placed by patrons, ...