Holy Unknown

Mr. Brooks (2007)  is a gripping psychological thriller directed by Bruce A. Evans and written by Evans and Raynold Gideon. The film follows Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner), a Portland businessman and devoted family man who harbors a secret: he is an addictive serial killer known as “The Thumbprint Killer.” His compulsion is fed by his bloodthirsty alter ego, Marshall, played with morbid humor by William Hurt. Brooks finds his double life threatened when a voyeur, Mr. Smith (Dane Cook), photographs him committing a murder. Instead of reporting him, Smith blackmails Brooks into taking him on as a protégé. Complicating matters further, the relentless Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) is determined to solve the case. The central tension is derived from Brooks’s genuine, earnest struggle to quit his violent “habit” while indulging the darkness embodied by Marshall. The film was shot in Shreveport, Louisiana, despite the story being set in Portland, Oregon. The blackmailer role proved cha...

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)   is a political drama directed by Mike Nichols and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film is based on the true story of the largest covert operation of the Cold War. The story follows U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a charismatic Texas Democrat, who is persuaded by anti-Communist activist Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) to use his political clout to fund the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invasion. Wilson partners with a cynical CIA operative, Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and together they secure massive, unprecedented funding for the Afghan Mujahideen. This operation eventually succeeds in driving the Soviet army out of Afghanistan, marking a crucial strategic victory in the Cold War. The film was shot primarily in California, with scenes depicting Afghanistan filmed in Morocco. Julia Roberts met extensively with the real Joanne Herring, who used her socialite status to influence powerful political figures. Herring ...

Heat (1995)  is a crime drama written and directed by Michael Mann. The film follows the parallel lives of master thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and obsessive LAPD Detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino). Their lives are set on a collision course as Hanna hunts McCauley’s crew following a high-profile bank robbery. The film is a meticulously detailed look at professionalism and the emotional toll of a life consumed by work, capturing the tension, discipline, and isolation that define both men, culminating in a tense manhunt. The film was shot in over 65 locations in Los Angeles, with not a single scene filmed on a soundstage, lending the production a palpable authenticity and urban grit. To prepare for the bank robbery, the actors spent several weeks training with former British SAS operatives. Mann based the iconic coffee shop dialogue about destroyed marriages on his conversations with real-life, high-level detectives and criminals. The film’s legendary bank heist shootout was ...

The Intern (2015)  is a comedy-drama written and directed by Nancy Meyers. The story follows Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro), a 70-year-old widower seeking purpose in retirement. He becomes a senior intern at a thriving online fashion company, and he's assigned to work with the company’s founder, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Ben at first seems out of step with the fast-paced, youthful office culture. But his steady, old-fashioned sensibility gradually earns the respect of everyone — including Jules. What begins as a cautious professional arrangement turns into a genuine friendship, as Ben offers guidance not only on Jules’s demanding career but also on the challenges of her personal life. Shot in Brooklyn, NY, the production had several casting changes. Originally, the lead female role of Jules was offered to Tina Fey. After Fey, Reese Witherspoon was attached to the role but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Anne Hathaway was eventually cast in the role of Jules. The creativ...

Shattered Glass (2003)   is a uniquely intriguing drama written and directed by Billy Ray. The film follows the true story of Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), a young, charismatic journalist working at the esteemed magazine, The New Republic . Glass is a prolific writer with a knack for sensational stories. His career unravels when a reporter from the new online publication, Forbes Digital Tool , investigates one of his articles and finds no evidence to support it. The magazine's editor, Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard), realizes that Glass has fabricated not one, but dozens of stories over a period of three years. The film documents the methodical process of uncovering the lies and the quiet devastation it causes to a respected journalistic institution. The film was shot in Montreal, Canada, which convincingly served as the backdrop for Washington D.C. Director Billy Ray showed his cast and crew the 1976 film All the President’s Men to set the tone and mood for the production. Both...