Milk (2008)
> IMDb rating: 7.5 / 10
> Tomatometer score: 93%
> RT audience score: 89%
> Directed by: Gus Van Sant
> Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Sean Penn won an Oscar for his portrayal of real-life activist and martyr Harvey Milk in this biographical drama. Set in the 1970s, it chronicles Milk’s rise into politics and his tireless advocacy for gay rights. Gus Van Sant directs.
Seven Pounds (2008)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 / 10
> Tomatometer score: 27%
> RT audience score: 75%
> Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
> Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy
Forever burdened by a tragic event, a man (Will Smith) seeks redemption by changing the lives of seven strangers. The film makes compelling use of narrative devices such as flashbacks, retaining the air of a mystery as it builds toward one final reveal.
24/7 Tempo
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
> IMDb rating: 7.8 / 10
> Tomatometer score: 64%
> RT audience score: 85%
> Directed by: Mark Herman
> Starring: Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, Zac Mattoon O’Brien
The eight-year-old son (Asa Butterfield) of a Nazi Commander befriends a concentration camp prisoner (Jack Scanlon) in this Holocaust drama. Innocence gives way to experience as the story builds toward its unforgettable conclusion.
The Lovely Bones (2009)
> IMDb rating: 6.7 / 10
> Tomatometer score: 32%
> RT audience score: 52%
> Directed by: Peter Jackson
> Starring: Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon
This supernatural thriller drama tells the story of a young girl who is murdered. She now watches over her family and her killer and must choose between revenge and helping her family move on.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
> IMDb rating: 6.9 / 10
> Tomatometer score: 45%
> RT audience score: 61%
> Directed by: Stephen Daldry
> Starring: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Max von Sydow
A young boy (Thomas Horn) uncovers the mysterious key that his deceased father left behind in this sentimental drama. That sends him on a journey across New York City, where the shadow of 9/11 still looms large. It’s based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s best-selling novel of the same name.
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