YA Nominated

The story follows two detectives, the veteran William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and the young, impulsive David Mills (Brad Pitt), who are paired together to solve a series of gruesome murders in an unnamed city that is perpetually rain-soaked and dreary. Somerset, on the verge of retirement, is deeply knowledgeable and philosophical, while Mills is eager and hot-headed, newly transferred to the city with his wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow).

The detectives discover that the murders are intricately planned and each represents a punishment for one of the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy, and wrath. The first murder involves an obese man forced to eat until his stomach ruptures, representing gluttony. The second victim, a wealthy defense attorney, is bled to death for the sin of greed.

As Somerset and Mills delve deeper into the case, they realize they are dealing with a serial killer whose meticulous planning and knowledge of scripture and classical texts suggest profound derangement yet intelligent design. The killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), eventually turns himself in, covered in the blood of an unidentified victim.

Doe offers to lead the detectives to the final two bodies, initiating a tense climax. In a remote desert location, a delivery van arrives with a package, which, upon opening by Mills, is revealed to contain the severed head of his pregnant wife, Tracy, representing envy (Doe’s envy of Mills’ normal life) and preparing to incite Mills to embody wrath.

Doe explains that his plan was to illustrate the presence of sin around everyone and punish the wicked directly through his acts. Confronted with his wife’s head and Doe’s taunting, Mills is consumed by rage and kills Doe, thereby completing the series of seven sins.

Themes:

“Se7en” explores themes of good versus evil, the nature of sin, and the philosophical challenge of retaining one’s moral compass in a world filled with darkness and despair. The film is noted for its exploration of the apathy and jadedness that can come from confronting evil on a daily basis, which is contrasted with the idealism and emotional responses that stem from personal involvement. The ending starkly poses the question of justice versus vengeance and whether evil can truly be understood or countered by good.

“Se7en” is widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece for its atmospheric direction, tight screenplay, and compelling performances, leaving a lasting impact on the thriller genre with its bleak outlook and moral complexity.

Sam Bell (played by Sam Rockwell) is an astronaut working for Lunar Industries Ltd., stationed at a lunar base that harvests and sends back to Earth helium-3, a clean and potent energy source. Sam is nearing the end of his three-year solitary contract on the Moon, looking forward to returning to Earth to reunite with his wife, Tess, and their young daughter, Eve.

Sam’s only companion is GERTY, a robotic assistant with artificial intelligence designed to tend to his needs and oversee the base’s operations. As the end of his tenure approaches, Sam begins to experience a series of strange occurrences and hallucinations, leading to a personal accident involving a lunar rover.

After the accident, Sam awakens in the base’s infirmary with no memory of what happened. Suspicious of GERTY’s evasiveness and with communication with Earth mysteriously cut off, Sam decides to investigate the accident site himself. There, he makes a shocking discovery: he finds an unconscious man in a crashed rover who looks exactly like him.

The plot thickens as the two Sams try to understand their existence and the reality of their mission on the Moon. They uncover a harrowing truth – they are not the original Sam Bell but clones, part of a series created and used by Lunar Industries to cheaply staff the lunar operation. The clones are designed to believe in their singular identity and life on Earth, only to be replaced after their three-year cycle ends, with their memories reset.

As the two Sams grapple with their identity and the moral implications of their creators’ actions, they devise a plan to return one Sam to Earth to reveal the truth about Lunar Industries’ unethical practices, while the other remains to ensure the mission’s continuation.

“Moon” is a thought-provoking, psychological sci-fi film that delves into issues of corporate ethics, the nature of consciousness, and what it means to be truly human. The film’s minimalist style, combined with Rockwell’s compelling performance and the emotionally resonant story, garnered critical acclaim and has made it a standout entry in the science fiction genre.

“Eye in the Sky” is a 2015 British thriller film directed by Gavin Hood and written by Guy Hibbert. The movie provides a riveting look into modern warfare, specifically the use of drone technology, and delves deep into the moral, ethical, and political dilemmas that come with it.

Plot Synopsis:

Colonel Katherine Powell (played by Helen Mirren) is a UK-based military officer in command of an operation to capture high-level terrorists in Nairobi, Kenya. Through remote surveillance and on-the-ground intel, they locate the targets within a safe house.

As Powell’s operation progresses, the objectives shift from “capture” to “kill” when they learn that the terrorists are planning a series of suicide bombings. To execute this, they decide to employ a drone strike. The strike becomes complicated when a young girl enters the kill zone to sell bread, potentially becoming collateral damage if the missile is launched.

Lieutenant General Frank Benson (played by Alan Rickman), overseeing the mission with government officials in a London boardroom, and drone pilot Steve Watts (played by Aaron Paul), located in the US, are then thrust into a moral and ethical debate. The film primarily revolves around the weighing of one life against many. The decision-makers grapple with whether to proceed with the strike and potentially kill the innocent girl to prevent a larger imminent terrorist attack.

Throughout the film, the characters communicate mostly through electronic means, and the tension rises as the clock ticks, emphasizing the immediacy and real-time decisions required in such military operations. The situation draws in various stakeholders, including politicians, lawyers, and military personnel, each bringing their perspective and biases to the table.

Themes:

“Eye in the Sky” delves deep into the ethical quandaries of modern warfare. It questions the cost of collateral damage, the nature of decisions made from a distance, and the impact of technology on the humanity of warfare. The film lays bare the intricacies of weighing individual lives against the greater good and the bureaucratic intricacies that come into play during life-and-death decisions.

The narrative challenges the audience to contemplate the morality of their own choices in such a situation, making it a thought-provoking watch.

12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, adapted from a 1954 teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose.

The film’s story is set in a jury room and follows the deliberations of a group of jurors who are deciding the fate of a teenager accused of murdering his father. If found guilty, the young man will receive the death penalty.

As the film begins, the jurors cast their initial votes, and 11 vote guilty, with only one man, Juror #8 (played by Henry Fonda), voting not guilty. Juror #8 doesn’t believe he has enough evidence to sentence the boy to death, and he wants to talk about the case more thoroughly.

What follows is a tense and emotionally charged debate as Juror #8 attempts to sow a seed of reasonable doubt in the minds of the other jurors. His challenges and methodical reasoning force the other jurors to reconsider the evidence, and one by one, they begin to see the potential for doubt. The film masterfully explores different facets of human character and prejudice, as each juror reveals more about himself and his biases in the process.

Over the course of the film, Juror #8 gradually manages to convince the other jurors that there’s enough reasonable doubt about the boy’s guilt to warrant a not guilty verdict. Despite facing considerable opposition and personal attacks, he sticks to his convictions, urging the other jurors to consider the life at stake and their responsibility in making their decision.

In the end, all the jurors agree on a not guilty verdict, illustrating the importance of reasonable doubt and the principle that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. The film concludes as the jurors leave the courthouse, their duty fulfilled, returning to their own separate lives.

12 Angry Men is considered a classic and is widely celebrated for its powerful script, compelling characters, and its exploration of the justice system and human psychology.

Citizen Kane (1941) is an American drama film directed by and starring Orson Welles, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. Often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Citizen Kane revolutionized filmmaking with its innovative narrative structure, deep focus cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects.

The film’s plot revolves around the life and legacy of Charles Foster Kane (played by Orson Welles), a wealthy newspaper magnate based on the real-life figures of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. The story begins with Kane’s death and his enigmatic last word, “Rosebud.” This sparks a search for the meaning behind the mysterious word by a reporter named Jerry Thompson, who interviews those who knew Kane throughout his life.

Through a series of flashbacks, the audience learns about Kane’s rise to power, his pursuit of political ambitions, and his complex relationships with those around him. As Thompson delves deeper into Kane’s past, he uncovers the many contradictions and complexities of the man, revealing a portrait of a deeply flawed individual whose relentless pursuit of wealth, power, and success ultimately leaves him isolated and unfulfilled.

Citizen Kane is celebrated for its innovative storytelling techniques and powerful themes exploring the human condition, ambition, and the corrupting influence of power. The film’s influence on modern cinema cannot be overstated, as it continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.

Moneyball (2011) is an American sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Lewis. The film stars Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, and Jonah Hill as Peter Brand, a Yale-educated economist. The movie is a true story that explores the innovative strategies used by Beane to build a competitive team despite having a limited budget.

In the film, Beane and Brand challenge traditional baseball scouting methods and develop a new approach based on sabermetrics, a statistical analysis of player performance. Their goal is to identify undervalued players who can contribute to the team’s success without breaking the bank. Beane and Brand face skepticism and resistance from both the team’s scouts and the media, but they are determined to prove that their unconventional methods can lead to success on the field.

As the Oakland Athletics begin to defy expectations and rack up wins, Beane’s approach gains traction and changes the way major league baseball teams evaluate players and construct their rosters. Alongside the main plot, the film also delves into Beane’s personal life and past as a once-promising baseball player.

Moneyball received critical acclaim for its engaging story, strong performances, and unique perspective on the world of professional sports. The film earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brad Pitt, and Best Supporting Actor for Jonah Hill.