When Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a shy, brilliant MIT student looking for a way to pay for med school, is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students to learn how to count cards, he gets more than he bargained for. Trained by unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), the team heads to Las Vegas armed with fake identities and an unstoppable system for cracking blackjack. Caught up in the money and the Vegas lifestyle, Ben eventually turns his back on his team and pushes his talent to its very limit, while trying to stay one step ahead of the casino's enforcer, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne). Directed by Robert Luketic. With Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Aaron Yoo and Jacob Pitts. Categories: Drama, Based on a True Story. Year: 2008.
21
Starting as an up-and-coming professional boxer, Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) punches his way through his personal and professional struggles with religion, politics and fame, eventually becoming an American icon. More than just the greatest fighter of all-time, Muhammad Ali uses his notoriety and gift for verbal fireworks to champion the Civil Rights and anti-war movements. With Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles and Jada Pinkett Smith. Directed by Michael Mann. Categories: Biography, Drama and Sports. Year: 2001.
Ali
After the death of the top gangster in Harlem, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the man's former driver, moves into a position of great power in the drug market. Striking a deal with a Thai general, Lucas is able to smuggle heroin in the coffins of soldiers who died in Vietnam and makes a fortune. But, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), a NJ detective with close ties to the streets, aims to bring Lucas down after he is put in charge of a drug trafficking task force. With Roberts bearing down on him, Lucas must do everything he can to stay on top, including dealing with the Italian mafia and corrupt NYPD officers. Directed by Ridley Scott. With Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Armand Assante and T.I.. Categories: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Based on a True Story. Year: 2007.
American Gangster
Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke) is a navy man with a violent past whose aggressive outbursts bring him to the attention of a naval psychiatrist (Denzel Washington). Together, they break down Fisher's barriers and force a confrontation with his painful memories. As Antwone begins a search for the family he never knew, he is supported only by his doctor and a wish for peace. Directed by Denzel Washington. With Malcolm David Kelley and Joy Bryant. Categories: Drama, Based on a True Story. Year: 2002.
Antwone Fisher
Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a millionaire tycoon, but his real passion is flying. A talented businessman with eccentric habits, Hughes becomes involved in oil, casinoes and the film industry before starting a quest to create the fastest and biggest planes ever flown. While courting some of Hollywood's most beautiful women, including Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) and Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), Hughes is also faced with severe obsessive-compulsive behavior, that ultimately leads to his downfall. Directed by Martin Scorsese. With John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Ian Holm, Jude Law and Alan Alda. Categories: Politics, Biography, Drama. Year: 2004.
The Aviator
When a new drug promises a miraculous recovery from a crippling mental disease, Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) tests it on Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), a grown man who became catatonic as a child. When the treatment proves successful, Leonard is freed from his internal prison. But, when the cure turns out to have limitations, both Leonard and Dr. Sayer have difficulty dealing with the outcome. Directed by Penny Marshall. With Julie Kavner, Penelope Ann Miller and John Heard. Categories: Drama, Based on a Novel. Year: 1990.
Awakenings
When Martine (Saffron Burrows) offers her old friend Terry (Jason Statham) a lead on a foolproof job targeting a London bank, Terry assembles a crew to tunnel into a room containing the safety deposit boxes of some of Great Britain's richest and most powerful people. Terry and his team are after millions in cash and jewelry, but along with the loot they discover a collection of dirty secrets. Realizing that Martine had other motives in organizing the robbery, Terry and his partners are thrust into a storm of corruption and scandal that leads to the highest levels of the British government, and must make a mad dash for freedom and their lives. Directed by Roger Donaldson. With Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, Richard Lintern and Peter Bowles. Categories: Crime, Thriller, Based on a True Story. Year: 2008.
The Bank Job
In 1999, thousands of activists descend upon Seattle to join in a mass demonstration against the WTO Ministerial Conference. What begins as a peaceful protest in Seattle's streets turns into an all-out riot, with protesters facing off with police and the National guard. Caught in the middle are Dale (Woody Harrelson), a riot cop, Ella (Charlize Theron), his wife, Jay (Martin Henderson), a protest organizer, and Mayor Jim Tobin (Ray Liotta). Directed by Stuart Townsend. With Michelle Rodriguez, André Benjamin, Rade Serbedzija, Ivana Milicevic, Joshua Jackson, Connie Nielsen, Channing Tatum and Jennifer Carpenter. Categories: Action, Drama, Based on a True Story. Year: 2007.
Battle in Seattle
John Forbes Nash (Russell Crowe) is a mathematical genius studying at Princeton University when he hallucinates for the first time. As his brilliance grows, so does his mental illness, caused by schizophrenia that even his love for Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) can't fix. After accepting a job as a cryptologist for the military, Nash's delusions explode and he must defeat the insanity threatening to destroy his life. Directed by Ron Howard. With Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer, Paul Bettany and Judd Hirsch. Categories: Biography, Drama, Mystery. Year: 2001.
A Beautiful Mind
Based on the real life destruction of two Black Hawk helicopters in Somalia that left over 100 U.S. Rangers stranded in Mogadishu in the middle of an army of opposing gunmen. Facing incredible firepower and scattered throughout the city, the troops must to repel enemy attacks while simultaneously devising a plan for extraction. Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Jason Isaacs, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana and Sam Shepard. Categories: Action, Drama, History, War. Year: 2001.
Black Hawk Down
Frank Dux (Jean Claude Van Damme) is a soldier training with the karate master Tanaka (Roy Chiao) for the Kumite, a secret, revered martial arts tournament attracting the strongest and deadliest fighters on the planet. There, Dux is joined by Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb), a hulking, tough street brawler. As Dux ducks the military's attempts to bring him back into service, he must also keep his eyes on Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), the most vicious and powerful fighter in the tournament. Directed by Newt Arnold. With Philip Chan, Forest Whitaker and Leah Ayres. Categories: Action, Sports. Year: 1988.
Bloodsport