|
Death Penalty
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Based on a true story, Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) is a nun, teacher, and activist living in Louisiana who has often worked with prisoners sentenced to death. One day, she receives a letter from Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn), who is scheduled to be executed soon for the rape and murder of two teenagers.
Dancer In The Dark (2000)
Set somewhere in rural Washington state, Czech immigrant Selma (Bjork) works in a pressing plant, struggling to make ends meet for herself and her 10-year-old son, Gene (Vladica Kostic). Though the prolonged finale is von Trier at his most sadistic, Selma's bluntly shot fate is also undeniably heartbreaking.
Anti Racism
American History X (1998)
Dramatic exploration into the roots of race hatred in America. In a shocking opening scene, teen Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) races to tell his older brother, neo-Nazi Derek (Edward Norton), about the young blacks breaking into his car in front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts white-power prisoners with black Lamont (Guy Torry), his prison laundry co-worker and eventual pal.
Rabbit Proof Fence (2002)
Based on a true story, three young aboriginal girls who escape a governmental internment camp and trek across the outback to return home, is touching, if a little near-sighted. Bringing to the fore the shocking government policy that Australia had in place from the 1930s through the 1970s, whereby children of mixed aboriginal and white descent) were removed from their families to be trained as domestic servants,.
Anti - War
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
The film's first half details the volunteers' harrowing boot-camp training under the profane, power-saw guidance of drill instructor Sgt. Hartman (R. Lee Ermey, a real-life drill instructor whose performance is one of the most terrifyingly realistic on record). Part two takes place in Nam, as seen through the eyes of the now thoroughly indoctrinated marines.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Steven Spielberg directed this powerful, realistic re-creation of WWII's D-day invasion and the immediate aftermath. This mass slaughter of American soldiers is depicted in a compelling, unforgettable 24-minute sequence.
|
