Every life is lived within certain boundaries, limits both real and imagined. Hip-hop titan Eminem stars as an aspiring rapper struggling to transcend those limits in this story that echoes his own. B-Rabbit (Eminem) lives on the wrong side of Detroit's Eight Mile. Dogged by a pregnant ex-girlfriend, a pitiful showing at a local rap contest, and a dead-end job, B-Rabbit moves in with his alcoholic mother (Kim Basinger) so he can save money for a demo. Things briefly start looking up when B-Rabbit meets Alex (Brittany Murphy). But a new set of problems begin plaguing him. If he's going to find his way out, the wannabe rapper will need to find his voice and seize the moment at another rap showdown. The movie is directed by academy award winner Curtis Hanson.
Jody (Tyrese Gibson) is a 20-year-old African-American who lives with his 36-year-old mother (A.J. Johnson). He's never met his father. He doesn't have a job, but he does have two children, one boy and one girl, born to different mothers. Jody's world is jolted when his mom's new boyfriend, ex-con Melvin (Ving Rhames), moves in. Jody is protective of his family. Melvin tries to show Jody the path he's on. Both are well-intentioned, but the conflict escalates. Jody finds himself at a crossroads, torn between two influences, the street-smart, mature Melvin and the violent gangsta Rodney (Snoop Dogg), in this powerful family drama from director John Singleton.
Two Irish brothers, Connor (Sean Patrick Flannery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) MacManus, wind up taking out a couple of Boston mafia members. The killing becomes a calling, and the brothers launch a vendetta against bad men, compelled by what they feel is direction from God. Despite the criminal nature of their acts, the public barely flinches. Even the FBI agent (Willem Dafoe) assigned to bring them in wonders if the brothers aren't doing a good deed, as, though he's reluctant to admit it, the Murphys are doing something he's always hoped would happen. As the brothers continue to shed blood in the name of truth and justice, the public soon responds - though not with anger - in this gritty moral crime drama.
Writer/director John Singleton made an authoritative debut with this powerful film about life in inner-city Los Angeles. Boyz N the Hood follows the life of Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and his friends, half brothers Ricky (Morris Chestnut) and Doughboy (Ice Cube), whose lives are taking different paths through South Central. Soon-to-be college bound Tre, guided by the wisdom of his father Furious (Lawrence Fishburne), has kept himself free of the drugs and violence that so many in his neighborhood succumb to. Ricky is a star football player hoping his SAT scores are good enough to land a USC football scholarship. The honorable "Dough," meanwhile, is on a different path. As the story unfolds, all three struggle with honor, morality, and straight-up survival in the face of their neighborhood's harsh realities.
This inspiring high-school drama is based on a real-life hero, Coach Ken Carter. Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) starts as the new basketball coach at his alma mater, Richmond High, only to find it in worse shape than ever. Realizing that the players don't take school seriously, Carter requires each team member to sign a contract that he'll maintain a minimum GPA and attend all classes. At first rejecting this tough-as nails approach, the team becomes more successful on the court, and they come to embrace Carter. But when their report cards show bad grades, Carter gets serious and benches the whole team. Is Carter doing the right thing by making the players sacrifice their short-term glory for the good of their future?
The multicultural cross-section of modern society gets tangled together in this tense, smart debut film from award-winning writer/producer Paul Haggis. The lives of many characters - including two cops, a television director, an attorney, a Persian storeowner, detectives, two young black men, and a self-righteous housewife - interweave to become linked in a series of powerful scenes. The rage simmering under the surface of these characters explodes, and lives are changed in unexpected ways. As in real life, there are no easy answers here, but the conflicts will strike a chord on many levels. Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Ludacris, Matt Dillon, and Brendan Fraser star in this compelling story about people that are so disconnected, the only way they can interact is to crash into each other.
Step-sister and brother Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) command the social center of an elite Manhattan prep school. Manipulative, conniving, and exceedingly wealthy, the two view seduction as a game, and few are able to resist their charms. Kathryn, though, is the one able to - and interested in - resisting Sebastian, much to his dismay. When Kathryn is dumped by her boyfriend Court (Charlie O'Connell), she enlists the help of Sebastian to ruin Court's new love interest, Cecile (Selma Blair). Cecile is easy prey for Sebastian. For the sake of entertainment, he raises the stakes. He and Kathryn make a bet. If Sebastian beds the headmaster's daughter (Reese Witherspoon), a virgin saving herself for marriage, he gets Kathryn. If not, she gets his 1956 Jaguar convertible.
On the surface, Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) seems like the average misguided teen. The high-schooler doesn't seem interested in much. His well-meaning, upper-middle-class suburban parents (Holmes Osborne and Mary McDonnell) have him well-medicated. One night, while sleepwalking, Donnie's told the world will end in 28 days. He sinks into a distressing/enlightening series of crimes and coincidences that blur the line between destruction and creativity. Like Donnie Darko the kid, Donnie Darko the movie is anything but average. What on the surface looks like your average tale of misguided teen angst features, among other oddities, a sinister 6-foot-tall rabbit named Frank, spirit fingers, and, oh yeah - time travel. Chances are, you'll watch it more than once.
Director Oliver Stone dives into the '60s rock scene and spins a hypnotic epic about the rise of one of rock's greatest bands, The Doors, and their legendary frontman, the late Jim Morrison. The biographical movie centers around Morrison (Val Kilmer), who, after dropping out of film school, became an icon whose legend has endured long after his death at age 27. Stone shows how The Doors blew away conventional music and isn't afraid to dive into the mystical side of the man who became known as The Lizard King. Kilmer's performance is so realistic it's eerie. Meg Ryan leads an impressive supporting cast that only enhances the edgy realism of Stone's psychedelic saga.
A heartwarming story set in the frozen Antarctic, Eight Below follows one man, eight dogs, and their journey of friendship and perseverance in the face of improbable odds. It's the planet's most unforgiving winter, and two explorers have to leave their dogs behind in order to survive. But one man, Jerry (Paul Walker), vows to save the dogs from the brutal cold. The animals will have to work together and be resourceful to survive until Jerry can reach them. Believing in one another and refusing to give up, man and animal forge an unforgettable bond in this stirring family adventure inspired by true-life events.
Odessa, Texas is a has-been town, as depressing and run down as the lives of its citizens. The only joy for the townsfolk is the local high school football team. This inspirational story follows the whole 1988 season of the Permian High Panthers, starting with coach Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) losing his star running back (Derek Luke) on the first day of practice. With the whole town watching, Gaines keeps the struggling team on track, getting the boys to push their limits and make everyone proud. Coping with a shy quarterback (Lucas Black), player injuries, and controlling parents, the Panthers strive to make themselves and the town proud by becoming hard-hitting winners. Directed by Peter Berg the film is based on the true story and best-selling novel by H.G. Bissinger.
Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) was the basketball coach at a small school, Texas Western. Thanks to one remarkable season, the school left an indelible mark on sports - and American - history. In the segregated world of the mid-1960s, Haskins set out to field the best team he could, regardless of his player's skin color. As a result, the 1965-66 edition of his Texas Western Miners team featured the first all-African-American starting five in history. The team overcame skepticism, mockery, and outright hatred, and put together a season for the ages. Glory Road is the inspiring true-life story of that team, which saw its season conclude with an improbable win over traditional NCAA basketball powerhouse Kentucky in the 1966 championship game.