News

The Dark Lord has risen again—only this time, we have no clue who he is. According to a report from Redanian Intelligence, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot has officially cast Voldemort. But the identity of the actor is being kept under wraps until the series premieres in 2027. Yep, that means fans might be waiting years before they get to see the snake-faced villain slither back onto the screen.

Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes, who terrified an entire generation as You-Know-Who, won’t be returning this time. But he did leave behind some valuable advice, for whosoever it may concern. While promoting his 2025 movie, 28 Years Later, with Et, the actor urged the newcomers to master the long, dramatic robe walk.

Make sure you can handle the long flowing robes and don’t trip over them. Practice your long flowing robe walk… Also, I wore tights. Initially, they were one piece with a gusset,...

If you were to create a superhero alter ego for Akiva Goldsman, you could do worse than the Master of Multitasking. The writer/producer/sometimes director has spent decades juggling a half-dozen projects at a time, with his lengthy list of credits — including The Client, Batman Forever and The Da Vinci Code — amassing more than $4.73 billion in global ticket sales, a tally worthy of Titan status. On television, he has been a key force in Paramount’s Star Trek universe as co-showrunner of the fan favorite Strange New Worlds, which bows season three July 17.

Today, Goldsman, 63, keeps working at a dizzying pace at his Weed Road banner, with sequels to I Am Legend, Practical Magic and Constantine set up at Warners, while at Mattel he’s penned a Major Matt Mattson movie for Tom Hanks — based on the astronaut toy figure — and is producing a Monsters High movie, which has cast Kim Kardashian.

When it comes to movies about mental health, you don’t always get the Hollywood clichés of grand speeches or quick fixes. Instead, the best films dive deep into the messy, complicated reality of depression, trauma, and therapy — showing us the silent battles, the slow healing, and sometimes, the heartbreak of being human.

This list brings together 10 powerful films from around the world — from Japan’s poetic daydreams to Poland’s stark moral dramas, from Hollywood classics to arthouse gems that deal with depression, trauma and therapy. They don’t just tell stories; they invite you into the minds and hearts of people wrestling with invisible wounds. Some are raw and gut-wrenching, others gentle and surreal, but all are unforgettable in their honest portrayal of what it means to suffer, to heal, and to keep going.

Whether you’ve experienced these struggles yourself or want a better understanding of mental health’s complexities,...

Cinema is a language in its own right. It speaks to our hearts and minds, offering an experience that transcends mere entertainment. It has the power to reveal, heal, and transform. For many of us, films are more than just stories played out on a screen—they are mirrors, windows, and guides that help us navigate the complexities of life.

Much like any other form of art, cinema holds the potential to shape our personal growth and identity, urging us to reflect on who we are, where we’ve been, and who we can become. From the most glamorous blockbusters to the quietest independent films, the world of cinema offers us tools for self-reflection, empathy, and transformation.

Cinema as a Mirror for Self-Reflection: Discovering Our Flaws and Potential

At its core, cinema reflects life. Every film holds a mirror up to society, to the human condition, and to our own experiences.

Censorship can be a bummer and that was the case with Psycho-Pass. The series is underrated in terms of its animation as well as its themes. It dealt with corruption, morality, and the workings of the human psyche. The human mind can be dangerous and there’s an interesting inspiration behind it.

A still from the Psycho-Pass anime | Credit: Production I.G.

Not video games or books but a Russell Crowe movie influenced this 2000s anime. Both share similarities in their themes and elements but here’s a catch. While the film was greenlighted, the anime was eventually banned in China. That, however, doesn’t dispute its masterpiece status in any way.

Russell Crowe’s $126 million movie inspired this dystopian anime

From Insider to Gladiator, Russell Crowe has dabbled in every genre as an actor. He is a well-rounded artist who is celebrated for his diverse roles and filmography. But...

Three-time Academy Award nominee Russell Crowe is set to headline a new Cold War thriller. The movie is adapted from David E. Hoffman's bestseller, The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal, which tells a riveting story within the final years of the Cold War based on previously classified CIA documents and interviews. Crowe is best known for his performance as Maximus in Ridley Scott's 2000 Oscar-winner Gladiator.

Per Deadline's report, Billion Dollar Spyhas tapped Crowe and Industry's Harry Lawtey as the lead stars with a script by Ben August and revised by Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan. Amma Asante will direct. In the movie, Crowe plays an ordinary man named Adolf Tolkachev, who is set on a highly dangerous mission to give top-secret Soviet intelligence to the United States. Lawtey will play a CIA agent named Tom Lenihan, who aids Crowe's character in challenging the Soviet government.

It’s a rare type of cinephile who wasn’t introduced to the idea of film as more than just idle entertainment by the ritual of the Academy Awards. And it’s an even rarer type of cinephile who didn’t soon thereafter vehemently reject the Oscars as the ultimate barometer of a film’s artistic worth. Those of us who started off with The Godfather, Schindler’s List, All About Eve, or Casablanca all eventually got around to Out of Africa, Around the World in 80 Days, The Greatest Show on Earth, Cimarron, and Cavalcade.

First loves being first loves, we still find ourselves regressing if for only one night a year, succumbing to the allure of instant canonization even as it comes in the form of repeated slap-in-the-face reminders of Oscar’s bracing wrongness: Gladiator, Braveheart, Chicago, Crash. In that sense, consider this project part cathartic exorcism and part...

The Oscars have long been called a “horse race,” and in any such contest the horses are bound to shift position. One horse can pull ahead, and then fall behind. That said, I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a switchback Oscar moment quite like the one that took place on Feb. 8, the day that the Directors and Producers Guilds both bestowed their top honors on “Anora,” Sean Baker’s acclaimed tale of a sex worker who makes fast work of marrying a Russian oligarch’s wastrel son, only to see the fireworks fly when his parents find out.

As soon as “Anora” nabbed those two awards, the film’s fate looked sealed. It was declared the instant and overwhelming front-runner for best picture. Yet what was strange about this reconfiguring of stakes is that it simply brought “Anora” to the very front-runner status you’d assumed it would have occupied all along.

In the 21st century, 25 films have so far won Best Picture. A lot has changed over the past 25 years around the world and within the Academy. That evolution is partly reflected in this century’s list of Best Picture winners, which contains films that are both beloved and oft-derided. In the case of some, their Best Picture wins have even directly strengthened or worsened their reputations.

Now, ahead of the 2025 Oscars, here is where you can currently stream all of the Best Picture winners of the 21st century so far.

“American Beauty” (DreamWorks Pictures) “American Beauty” (1999)

The Best Picture winner at the 2000 Oscars, “American Beauty” is director Sam Mendes’ divisive drama about a white suburban American family slowly coming apart at the seams. It is available to stream now for free on Pluto TV.

“Gladiator” (Universal Pictures) “Gladiator” (2000)

This crowd-pleasing epic about a Roman general (Russell Crowe) who is forced...

We admit to kicking this category down the road to see if the The Brutalist’s A.I. controversy would make any measurable ripples in this race—that is, outside the social media bubble of extremely online non-voters. And the plan was to keep things simple, if Adrien Brody followed his BAFTA coronation with a SAG victory, by sparing readers any unnecessary hemming and hawing and offering at the end of this article a reprint of the essay I wrote about Brody’s performance for this year’s New York Film Critics Circle gala.

But after Timothée Chalamet’s upset victory at the SAGs for his performance as a young Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, it’s no longer possible to call this one a done deal. And suddenly I’m forced to play the part of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind, like I did last year when...

The gold-plated meltdown that has followed the revelation of Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón’s past anti-Muslim and racist tweets — with anti-George Floyd and pro-Hitler sentiments thrown in — has now required numerous apologies/explanations from the Best Actress Oscar nominee. Gascón’s previous online remarks have seriously cratered the odds for her and her film, which is nominated for 13 Oscars. The journalist and podcaster who uncovered Gascón’s troubling social media posts insists it was good old-fashioned reporting and she was not a “studio plant” fueling a smear campaign underwritten by a rival nominee.

In any case Gascón’s self-inflicted mess is the latest example of an internet-powered scandal that has threatened to derail an Oscar campaign. Here’s a look at the four most notable examples this century and how they played out.

Green Book (2018)

As this fact-based drama — about a blue-collar bouncer who chauffeured a Black...

Some of the most powerful films ever made have been inspired by real-life events, bringing true stories to the big screen in unforgettable ways. Whether they are trying to capture moments of triumph or tragedy, well-made movies based on a true story more often than not grip audiences, spark conversation, and have an everlasting impact.

While they may not always be the most historically accurate movies, these titles have a way of making real-life feel more vivid with their masterful storytelling, emotional depth, and cinematic brilliance. What ultimately makes a movie based on a true story great is it can properly capture the emotions behind the stories. Whether it’s the haunting journey depicted in 12 Years a Slave or the riveting rise-and-fall narrative of Goodfellas, some of them continue to be hailed as the best movies of all time, securing their place as timeless gems in the world of cinema.

The Critics’ Choice Awards has been one of the entertainment industry’s major awards that honor both movies and TV shows. Since the event occurs earlier in the calendar year, it is generally an accurate predictor of Oscar wins. The Critics’ Choice Awards has become a standard by which the industry can measure quality.

Oppenheimer won the most number of Critics’ Choice Awards in 2024 | Credit: Critics Choice YouTube

Among the infinite talents who have graced this ceremony so far, there are two actors who can be considered the most successful in this regard for clinching three Critics’ Choice Awards in the Best Actor category each. These heavyweight performers have not only triumphed in award competitions but also revolutionized method acting and character portrayal in contemporary cinema.

Russell Crowe’s back-to-back Critics’ Choice Awards wins Russell Crowe in The Insider | Credit: Touchstone Pictures

Russell Crowe made a record by winning three...

Russell Crowe praises Ryan Gosling's 2024 action movie that made $181 million at the worldwide box office. Crowe has had a prestigious career that includes his acclaimed performances as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator and as John Forbes Nash Jr. in A Beautiful Mind. From his dramatic performance in Half Nelson to his comedic performance in Barbie, Gosling has also had an impressive career, and has become one of the most prominent stars in Hollywood.

Crowe and Gosling worked together in the 2016 action comedy movie The Nice Guys, which was directed by Shane Black. The Nice Guys is widely considered among Gosling and Crowe's best movies. Both actors received praise for their performances and for their chemistry that made the buddy cop movie work well. The Nice Guys continues to be well-regarded as it boasts a 91% critical score and a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Russell Crowe Gives A Positive Review...

Russell Crowe’s portrayal of the brilliant but troubled mathematician John Nash in A Beautiful Mind was a career-defining performance. After the movie’s release and reception, Crowe catapulted to new heights of fame as it turned out to be both a commercial and a critical success.

Russel Crowe in A Beautiful Mind | Universal Pictures

Moreover, it won four Academy Awards and Crowe even secured a nomination for Best Actor. Bur, despite all these accolades what led the actor to feel a sense of relief after the filming ended? Crowe revealed more insights about the same in his recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.

The Mental Toll on Russell Crowe Russel Crowe in A Beautiful Mind | Universal Pictures

Russel Crowe was aware of the complexity and challenges of playing John Nash even before he accepted the role. The Nobel Prize-winning mathematician lived with schizophrenia which the film showcases in a painful yet beautiful manner.

Movies provide psychology majors with a unique opportunity to observe and analyze the nuances of human psychology in a dynamic and engaging format. From exploring complex mental disorders to showcasing groundbreaking psychological experiments, films can bring your studies to life in a way that textbooks alone cannot.

This list of must-watch films is curated to help you see psychology in action. To organize a proper movie night with your peers without worrying about homework, you can use an essay writing service no plagiarism guaranteed. After all, movies can be an excellent supplement to your studies. So why not take a break and enjoy them while also deepening your understanding of psychology in a practical, engaging way?

1. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

This film dives into the life of John Nash, a genius battling paranoid schizophrenia. More than just a math story, this film is a powerful portrayal of the human spirit against mental illness.

Cinderella Man is an inspiring underdog story with a stellar cast that includes Russell Crowe and Rene Zellweger. The film follows real-life boxer James J. Braddock as he navigates the Great Depression and makes a triumphant return to the ring. The supporting cast, including Paul Giamatti and Craig Bierko, delivers standout performances that enhance the compelling story.

Cinderella Man is a hugely popular boxing movie that took the world by storm in 2005, but many of the actors involved have gone on to carve unique careers for themselves and star in plenty more recognizable projects. The story follows a former boxer named James J. Braddock, whose life is turned upside-down by the Great Depression and hes forced to get into the ring once more. Its one of the most inspiring movies about underdogs in recent memory, and the story has managed to stay relevant for almost two decades.

The A-list cast...

Land of Bad's small ensemble adds thrilling depth to the modern war movie, led by standout performances from Hemsworth and Crowe. Viewership numbers on Netflix reveal Land of Bad to be a global hit, with intense action and a talented cast drawing praise. The central cast, including Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth, offers a nice mix of veteran actors and younger talents worth exploring.

The Land of Bad cast is a small ensemble but the actors all add to the thrilling modern war movie. The 2023 film centers on young Jtac officer Kinney (Liam Hemsworth), who unwittingly finds himself part of a Delta Force extraction team in the Philippines, which includes Sergeant Abel, and Reaper (Russell Crowe), the Usaf drone pilot who gives the team air support. The movie is directed by William Eubank, who also serves as a producer and co-wrote the screenplay with David Frigero.

Following a small...

Land of Bad, Russell Crowe's under-the-radar action thriller from 2024, becomes a global hit on Netflix with 8.7 million views. Crowe, once an A-list actor, has faced setbacks recently but Land of Bad stands out with positive reviews. Despite box office disappointment, the action thriller is praised as a solid survival movie with a smart cast.

Land of Bad, Russell Crowe's under-the-radar action thriller from 2024, becomes a global hit on Netflix. Co-written and directed by William Eubank (Underwater), the new war film follows a US Army special forces team that is ambushed while on a mission to recover an intelligence asset, and their sole hope for survival rests with a distant Air Force drone operator who aids them during a grueling 48-hour battle. Other than Crowe, Land of Bad's cast includes Liam Hemsworth, Luke Hemsworth, Ricky Whittle, and Milo Ventimiglia.

Now, after flying under the radar for much of 2024, Crowe's...

Starting his acting career with Australian TV shows, Russell Crowe sailed prominently through the sea of talent in Hollywood and went on to leave an undeniable mark on cinema. The Oscar-winning actor made his resounding screen persona felt with 2000’s Gladiator even as movies like Romper Stomper and The Sum of Us had already put him in the spotlight.

Boasting international acclaim and easily being one of the most recognized faces globally, he still has a long way to go before settling down anytime soon.

Russell Crowe posing with fans in St Helier | Danrok for Wikimedia Commons

In a testament to his versatility and knack for living all his passions to the fullest, Crowe has also not shied behind when it came to music. Demonstrating his singing abilities in several of his outings, he, however, missed out on a chance to make that part of his career enjoy a broader limelight in his portfolio.

Russell Crowe has had a long career with few regrets. In fact, he says there is only really one in his professional life—a musical biopic he won’t name but that he turned down and it went on to be a hit (so begin your speculation now). Mostly while speaking to British GQ for this month’s cover story, however, Crowe expressed deep satisfaction with the onscreen side of his life, and even pushed back at assertions that he’s mostly remembered now for one role as a Roman general in Gladiator.

While talking at length about the many opportunities and setbacks he’s had in his life, Crowe notes he has folks still come up to him to talk about Bud White in L.A. Confidential, or John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. There’s even a certain species of movie nerd out there—which this writer pleads...

Growing up on set put Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Connelly on the fast track to Hollywood fame. But despite her success, one of her lasting regrets was not finishing college – and, she says, it’s still on her to-do list…

Jennifer Connelly is on a Zoom call from her home in Brooklyn, jetlagged after attending Louis Vuitton’s pre-fall 2024 show in Shanghai, which does not bode well: she is known to have been reticent in past interviews, and sometimes while working. When she made A Beautiful Mind, the 2001 movie for which she won an Oscar for playing the wife of schizophrenic mathematician John Nash, the co-producer Brian Grazer was unnerved by her reserve. “It was hard for me to get to know her on the set because I’m so emotional,” he told a writer in 2001. “She’s very serious. She’s not silly. She doesn’t have that buoyancy.”

It is a relief,...

I never liked Tom Ripley but I keep meeting him.

I’ve “met” Ripley in five films, and he’s now the protagonist of a somber eight-part Netflix series. So filmmakers clearly find his character intriguing. Even though he has no character.

That, in itself, reminds me that Hollywood is suffering the same problem as Washington: an absence of vital young protagonists. Voters are confronted by an election that’s really a rerun, likely opened by a debate no one wants to witness.

In filmmaking, the worldwide success of Oppenheimer told us that a complex story becomes more interesting if it’s also about someone interesting. Yet movies with vibrant young protagonists seem to be losing their moment.

Dan Lin, the new chief of film at Netflix, confides a desire — since rebutted by Ted Sarandos on Thursday’s Q1 earnings call — to steer away from mindless mega-budget action films like...

Editor’S Note: The following blog originally ran in July 2023. We’re re-posting it here with minor edit, special thanks to blogger Kristopher Hewkin. Stay tuned to our events page for more information about the Sloan Salon’s 2024 edition.

***

“The visions of yesterday have all caught up to us and we must start looking towards the next visions,” stated moderator and veteran TV writer and producer Wendy Calhoun emphasizing a recurring theme of the June 22 Sloan Salon panel “Storytelling and Tech: Crafting Human-Centered Stories About Technology.”

The online conversation delved into timely subjects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, raising ethical questions about how we represent technology in stories and highlighting some optimistic views on where it could all be headed.

This dynamic discussion was made possible due to Film Independent’s exciting 15+ year partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation that encourages filmmakers to create more realistic and...

“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of work in the history of cinema. J.R.R Tolkien’s books were considered unadaptable due to their complexity and scale before Peter Jackson stepped in.

Viggo Mortenson || Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

One of the biggest hurdles of any adaptation is finding the perfect cast. Picking the right actors who can do justice to the characters is a task easier said than done. It is safe to say that the trilogy was almost perfect in its choice of actors. However, there were some other seriously talented actors who were also considered for major roles in the series, including that of Aragorn.

SUGGESTEDLord of the Rings is Tied With 2 Other Movies from Wildly Different Genres for Most Oscar Wins Record Marvel’s Zeus Russell Crowe Turned Down The Role of Aragorn After Talks With Peter...

Normally this is the part where we take you on a brief temperature check on—if not philosophical flight of fancy over—the state of the movie industry and how that will factor into what’s occupying most of the real estate in Oscar voters’ heads. We usually delve into why in fact the whole annual spectacle serves just about anything but the purported task of rewarding the previous year’s best cinematic work. How does Parasite represent the best-case scenario for a more international AMPAS? Does Tár surgically unpack our anxieties about representation, or does it just exploit them? Why Green Book, why now? But seeing how Mark Harris, in this weekend’s New York Times, pretty thoroughly wrapped up that legwork this go-around, and recognizing that there’s only so many angles we can take to argue the functional utility that Oppenheimer has market-cornered in this year’s race,...

A Beautiful Mind exaggerated John Nash's hallucinations, as most individuals with schizophrenia do not experience life-like people as depicted in the movie. The pen ceremony at Princeton, where Nash is honored by his professors, was completely fabricated for the film, although it symbolizes his acceptance and recognition among his mathematical peers. The movie inaccurately portrays Nash's medication usage, as he actually stopped taking medication in 1970, while the film suggests he took newer medications in 1994.

A Beautiful Mind dramatizes the true story of mathematician John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics who was known for his pioneering contributions to game theory. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe as Nash, the movie focuses on his time as a gifted Princeton student and how he went down a nightmarish spiral after working as a cryptographer for the CIA. It also delves into the strained relationship that Nash had with his wife Alicia,...

A Beautiful Mind takes historical liberties, altering major events in John Nash's life and simplifying his achievements for a more dramatic narrative. The movie misrepresents Nash's symptoms of schizophrenia by creating characters that were never real and altering his hallucinations. The ending of the movie suggests that Nash overcame his problems with his heart, but in reality, he rationalized his delusions and relied on medication. The movie's portrayal contradicts the real-life accomplishments of John Nash.

The ending of A Beautiful Mind says some problems can only be solved with the heart, showing John Nash earning the Nobel Prize despite his struggles with schizophrenia. While the historical accuracy of A Beautiful Mind is questionable on a number of levels, it was a big hit when it was released, earning five Academy Award nominations in 2002, winning four categories, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Jennifer Connelly, Best Director for Ron Howard,...

Ron Howard sure has come a long way since The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days. For nearly 40 years now, the former child star has achieved astronomical success as a Hollywood director, boasting a resume that's filled with hits, including Cocoon, Willow, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Frost/Nixon.

Even today, the 69-year-old Howard is proving to be just as relevant as ever, with such projects in the pipeline as the CIA drama The Fixer and the sci-fi flick Seveneves. A quick look through Howard's IMDb page shows a filmography that many directors would give a limb for. Still, like pretty much every filmmaker in the business, Howard has turned down a few major projects in his day, for one reason or another. Here are three movies that Ron Howard almost directed, with a little more context as to why he passed on them.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace...

Exclusive: Akiva Goldsman won an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, his screenplay detoured from Sylvia Nasar’s biography to the story of her genius mathematician husband John Nash. Depicted deciphering Soviet-planted hidden media messages for the Defense Department, the duty turned out to be a symptom of schizophrenia. That was a mild foray into the human mind compared to The Crowded Room, the 10-part Apple TV+ series Goldsman created and was showrunner on. Tom Holland stars as a young man whose erratic behavior was the result of a false reality triggered by a mind that fractured into multiple alter egos. Inspired by the Daniel Keyes book The Minds of Billy Milligan, Goldsman changed facts to create a fictionalized story that would be hard to believe had it not happened. What Goldsman hasn’t discussed until now is how much of the narrative was informed by his own memories of being...

A Beautiful Mind: Characters imagined by the protagonist completely change upon second viewing, adding a disturbing twist to the scenes. The Book Of Eli: The revelation that the protagonist is blind alters the entire movie upon rewatch, with subtle clues in his behavior and interactions becoming clear indicators of his condition. Fight Club: The realization that the narrator and Tyler Durden are the same person fundamentally transforms the film, with subtle details throughout the movie taking on new meaning and significance.

Movie twists that completely change the second time viewers watch the film are a testament to how far cinematic storytelling has come. Audiences may not always realize it, but movies drop clues about upcoming twists all the time. Apart from adding to a film's rewatchability, these clues and twists also teach viewers how certain filmmakers foreshadow events meant to surprise audiences.

From the most famous movie twist...

The year 2001 was a remarkable year for cinema, with many diverse and innovative films that challenged, entertained, and inspired audiences. It can be considered as one of the best years in film history, with masterpieces from acclaimed directors such as David Lynch, Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, Steven Soderbergh, and more. From fantasy to thriller, from comedy to drama, from animation to live-action, 2001 had something for everyone. In this article, we will explore some of the best movies of 2001, ranked according to their ratings and reviews. Let’s dive into each film and see what makes them so special.

10. Donnie Darko Donnie Darko Trailer

Donnie Darko is a cult classic that defies easy categorization. It is a dark and surreal tale of a troubled teenager who has visions of a mysterious rabbit named Frank, who tells him that the world will end in 28 days. The film mixes elements of science fiction,...

Sony's "Spider-Man less" Universe has been an interesting experiment so far. The very idea of a cinematic universe based solely on a superhero's "rogues" gallery has never been attempted before, for the obvious reason as to how awkward it might be, and the mechanics of how it would work without a primary hero, but lo and behold, Sony actually had the guts to give it a shot and, well, it's kinda, sorta working out for now. At least financially speaking. The first entry into this universe, Venom, was quite the unexpected box office hit. It didn't fare well with critics but was pretty much loved by fans and audiences, and its success most likely gave Sony the confidence to green-light more projects and really build the foundation for their ambitious play.

Then came its sequel, which had pretty much the same results of big box office cash, low critic scores,...

Biopics tend to hold a soft spot in the hearts of both critics and audiences alike. It's not too difficult to see why, either: when the headlining character is a name embedded in the collective cultural consciousness, a certain amount of marketing has already been done for the film in the first place. Audiences are interested to learn more about the hidden personal struggles of famous characters in history or perhaps learn a fascinating true story behind a lesser-known character or event. Such movies have often risen to the very summit of critical success, too. A Beautiful Mind, a story about the mathematician John Nash, won Best Picture in 2001 and gave Russell Crowe a third consecutive Best Actor nomination. Gary Oldman finally won his Oscar for playing Winston Churchill in 2017’s Darkest Hour. Helen Mirren broke through the Oscar barrier with The Queen in 2006; Colin Firth did the same with The King’s Speech,...

Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers from “The Crowded Room.”

Over 20 years ago, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman penned the script for “A Beautiful Mind,” the Oscar-winning biopic of mathematician and diagnosed schizophrenic John Nash. To convey Nash’s subjective experience of his condition, “A Beautiful Mind” pulled a bait-and-switch. Early in the film, we meet Nash’s college roommate, who becomes his lifelong friend; later, it’s revealed the roommate was a figment of Nash’s imagination. At the time, the twist was effective enough to earn Goldsman an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The limited series “The Crowded Room,” created by Goldsman for Apple TV+, attempts the same trick to greatly diminished returns. A simple Wikipedia search shows that “The Crowded Room” was inspired by Billy Milligan, the first defendant acquitted by invoking a case of dissociative identity disorder in the late 1970s. But ahead of the show’s release,...

If you’re in the mood for a great story, Amazon’s excellent Prime Video service has some incredible dramas to keep you entertained. The service has a huge library, from Oscar-winning favorites to obscure gems. And the best part is that it’s free if you have Amazon Prime. If you don’t, you can pick up a 30-day Free trial.

30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com Titanic November 18, 1997

101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic’s departure through to its death—on its first and only voyage.

This is the movie that launched Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into superstardom. It is epic in every way, and director James Cameron...

Feeling like a love story? Amazon’s excellent Prime Video service allows you to scroll through thousands of great flicks, including some undiscovered romantic gems. And the best part is that it’s free if you have Amazon Prime. If you don’t, you can pick up a 30-day Free trial.

We’ve rounded up some popular Oscar-winning romantic epics, a few rom-coms to make you laugh, and enough tear-jerkers to empty a box of Kleenex. Here are our picks for the best romantic movies on Prime Video.

30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com Titanic November 18, 1997

101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic’s departure through to its death—on its first and only voyage.

Being a student is an unforgettable and transformative period in one's life, packed with self-discovery, personal growth, and unforgettable memories. From academic pursuits to social dynamics, student life offers us many tales worth telling. Here we present the top 10 movies and TV series that beautifully capture this essence by offering relatable narratives, insightful perspectives and unforgettable characters: 

1. "Dead Poets Society" (1989): 

"Dead Poets Society" is an all-time classic that explores individuality and passion within an all-boys prep school environment. Robin Williams shines as an English teacher who encourages his pupils to seize every opportunity that presents itself while pushing against societal norms. This film reminds us to embrace our true selves and pursue our dreams with enthusiasm. 

2. "The Breakfast Club" (1985): 

John Hughes' timeless film, "The Breakfast Club," follows five high school students from disparate social circles as they bond during a Saturday detention session. Through an engrossing dialogue and genuine moments of vulnerability,...

Russell Crowe will receive the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema at the 57th Karlovy Vary Film Festival (June 30-July 8). The Oscar winning actor will also deploy his musical talent with his band Indoor Garden Party, which will perform at the festival’s opening night concert. The festival also revealed Friday that Johnny Depp would appear in its trailer, which will have its premiere at the opening ceremony.

Crowe, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia at an early age, began his acting career at the age of 6, working in TV and theater. In 1989, he started working in Australian films, with “The Crossing”, “Proof”, and “Romper Stomper”. He won two Australian Academy Awards: supporting actor for “Proof” and best actor for “Romper Stomper.”

His first appearance in a U.S. film was alongside Gene Hackman, Sharon Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Sam Raimi’s...

The 57th Karlovy Vary Film Festival is highlighting two of the biggest stars of the 2000s, announcing Friday that Russell Crowe will receive the 2023 lifetime achievement honor, the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema, and securing Johnny Depp to feature in this year’s festival trailer.

Crowe will also show off his musical chops at the Czech festival, taking the stage to perform with his band Indoor Garden Party at the Karlovy Vary opening night concert on June 30.

Since his breakthrough performance as an Australian skinhead in Geoffrey Wright’s Romper Stomper in 1992, Crowe has been unavoidable on the global film scene. His iconic turns as rough cop Bud White in Curtis Hanson’s L. A. Confidential (1997), as Big Tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand in Michael Mann’s The Insider (1999), as Roman general Maximus in Ridley Scott’s sword-and-sandals epic Gladiator (2000), and as mentally-ill mathematical genius John Nash...

Russell Crowe is set to receive the coveted Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. To celebrate his achievements, the festival will be presenting a 20-year anniversary screening of Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which earned Crowe a Golden Globe nomination.

Crowe is also set to perform with his band Indoor Garden Party at the festival’s opening night concert on June 30.

Additionally, Karlovy Vary’s new original trailer, which will premiere at the opening ceremony, will star Johnny Depp. Kviff is well known for its original trailers, which take a distinctive approach to honoring guests and award recipients from previous editions of the fest.

Depp will be the 18th person to appear in a trailer made especially for the festival, this one being directed by Ivan Zachariáš. Depp was previously a...

Different times of the day have different effects on how one wants to watch a movie. For example, if you are thinking about what movie to watch in the evening, then you need a list of certain movies that are best to watch in the evening.

This is due to the correlation of external factors on the subject of perception of what is happening. Either way, so you do not go into the problem of what movie to watch in the evening, it is better to use a ready-made list. And in order not to be constantly in search of a platform on which it would be possible to view your favorite movie or series, we advise you to use pirate bay torrent site. This site allows you to download your favorite movies as quickly and safely as possible. Here you’ll find a collection of the most interesting movies and series.

The Pope's Exorcist stars Academy Award winner Russell Crowe along with a diverse cast of actors from all over the world. Crowe plays the titular character, Father Gabriele Amorth, a real-life Catholic priest who claimed to have performed tens of thousands of exorcisms in his career. Drawing inspiration from Amorth's own memoirs and case files, The Pope's Exorcist deals with Amorth's battle against several demons, who possessed innocent people. As the Chief Exorcist of Vatican investigates the case of a possessed boy, he also comes across an ancient conspiracy that the Catholic Church has tried to keep hidden for centuries.

The Pope's Exorcist cast includes some well-known genre actors, such as Franco Nero and Ralph Ineson, and is helmed by Overlord and Samaritan director Julius Avery. The 2023 horror marks the first time a film has directly adapted Amorth's life and career. Previously, one of Amorth's high-profile exorcisms was featured in the 2017 documentary,...

Oscar voting is kicking off, and 366 films are vying for the Academy’s attention for best picture, in addition to their selections in their respective branches. One important note to Academy members: Fill out your ballots in full.

Every Academy member votes for best picture, outside of their respective branch association. For best picture, the member is invited to list up to five films in preferential order. In the days of paper ballots, there were horror stories of voters writing the same film five times on their entries, but those days are gone with electronic voting. However, listing five films is crucially important based on the Academy tabulation methods, which involves a lot of math. As we remain in the final year of the “sliding scale,” where the results can produce any number of nominees between five and 10, simply put, all lines matter.

Depending on how many voters participate this year,...

To win a Best Picture Oscar, a film has to have something about it.

Only 94 films in history have been given this award. They’re not voted on by the eccentric members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who pick the Golden Globes, or by specialist groups of critics, but by the roughly 10,000 members of the Academy. That is to say, the choice is made by distinguished figures from within the industry.

Sometimes, though, they do still make some baffling choices.

By the time the Oscars roll around at the end of the awards process, a herd mentality tends to have set in.

When everybody has already voted at all the other awards shows for, say, The King’s Speech or The Shape of Water, the Academy members follow suit. It’s rare for a Best Picture winner ever to be a complete surprise.

Nonetheless, a few questionable films have stolen glory that rightfully belonged elsewhere.

To win a Best Picture Oscar, a film has to have something about it.

Only 94 films in history have been given this award. They’re not voted on by the eccentric members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who pick the Golden Globes, or by specialist groups of critics, but by the roughly 10,000 members of the Academy. That is to say, the choice is made by distinguished figures from within the industry.

Sometimes, though, they do still make some baffling choices.

By the time the Oscars roll around at the end of the awards process, a herd mentality tends to have set in.

When everybody has already voted at all the other awards shows for, say, The King’s Speech or The Shape of Water, the Academy members follow suit. It’s rare for a Best Picture winner ever to be a complete surprise.

Nonetheless, a few questionable films have stolen glory that rightfully belonged elsewhere.

At the second annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1996, 32-year-old Nicolas Cage (“Leaving Las Vegas”) supplanted inaugural Best Film Actor recipient Tom Hanks and became the category’s youngest winner. Although his standing has been threatened in recent years by Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”), Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me By Your Name”), and Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”), the record remains intact nearly three decades later. This year, however, he could finally be knocked down a spot on the list if Austin Butler (31) succeeds on his freshman solo bid for “Elvis.”

Butler is part of only the seventh Best Actor lineup in SAG Awards history to exclusively consist of newcomers to the category. He does have one Best Film Ensemble nomination under his belt, as do two of his competitors: Brendan Fraser and Bill Nighy. Fraser, who triumphed alongside his “Crash” cast mates, is currently nominated for “The Whale,” while Nighy’s first...

To win a Best Picture Oscar, a film has to have something about it.

Only 90 films in history have been given this award. They’re not voted on by the eccentric members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who pick the Golden Globes, or by specialist groups of critics, but by the 6,000 members of the Academy. That is to say, the choice is made by distinguished figures from within the industry.

Sometimes, though, they do still make some baffling choices.

By the time the Oscars roll around at the end of the awards process, a herd mentality tends to have set in.

When everybody has already voted at all the other awards shows for, say, The King’s Speech or The Shape of Water, the Academy members follow suit. It’s rare for a Best Picture winner ever to be a complete surprise.

Nonetheless, a few questionable films have stolen glory that rightfully belonged elsewhere.

To win a Best Picture Oscar, a film has to have something about it.

Only 90 films in history have been given this award. They’re not voted on by the eccentric members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who pick the Golden Globes, or by specialist groups of critics, but by the 6,000 members of the Academy. That is to say, the choice is made by distinguished figures from within the industry.

Sometimes, though, they do still make some baffling choices.

By the time the Oscars roll around at the end of the awards process, a herd mentality tends to have set in.

When everybody has already voted at all the other awards shows for, say, The King’s Speech or The Shape of Water, the Academy members follow suit. It’s rare for a Best Picture winner ever to be a complete surprise.

Nonetheless, a few questionable films have stolen glory that rightfully belonged elsewhere.

After the events of "Avengers: Endgame," Paul Bettany went from being the little voice in Tony Stark's head to becoming a full-fledged superhero of his own as Vision. But before the actor debuted as J.A.R.V.I.S. in "Iron Man," he'd already spent a good chunk of his career playing already an eccentric bunch of characters. He appeared as a young Geoffrey Chaucer in "A Knight's Tale" and as a convincing figment of John Nash's imagination in "A Beautiful Mind." He even reunited again with Russell Crowe for "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," where Bettany starred as a...

The post Paul Bettany Caused an Embarrassing Situation for Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code appeared first on /Film.