7.7

The Town

2010, USA

• Actors: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Slaine, Owen Burke, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper, Dennis McLaughlin, Corena Chase, Brian Scannell, Kerri Dunbar, Tony V., Isaac Bordoy, Michael Yebba, Daniel Woods, Jimmy Joe Maher, Mark Berglund, Ralph Boutwell, Michael Romig, Michael Malvesti, Jack Neary, Ed O'Keefe, Joe Lawler, Ben Hanson, Brian White, Richard Caines, Frank Garvin
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Director(s): Ben Affleck
• Available languages:
  • English English.

The Charlestown neighborhood of Boston is renowned for churning out a high number of armed robbers, generation after generation. These robbers never leave their Charlestown life on their own volition, the neighborhood where there is an unwritten code to protect that lifestyle. Such robbers include friends Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan and Desmond Elden. Doug and James in particular treat each other like family, as the Coughlins have realistically been as such to Doug since Doug's mother ran off and Doug's father, Stephen MacRay, was sent to prison. James' single mother sister, the drugged out Krista Coughlin, and Doug have a casual sexual relationship. The foursome carry out a mostly successful bank robbery, but due to circumstances take the bank manager, Claire Keesey, hostage for a short period before releasing her physically unharmed. They find out that Claire lives in Charlestown, so they want to ensure that she did not see anything that could incriminate them if they were to ever run into her. As such, Doug begins a personal relationship with her to find out what she knows and what she's told the police and the FBI, who have taken charge of the investigation. He learns that she has kept some information from the authorities for her own protection but information that could identify James in particular. But Doug slowly falls for her, as she does for him. Ultimately, Doug dreams about leaving his Charlestown life to be with Claire anywhere but there. But Doug has to try and keep his true identity from her, and keep the fact that he is seeing her from his colleagues. But leaving is not as easy as he would like as he and the gang are tasked with a big job by a local gangster named Fergie whether Doug likes it or not. And Adam Frawley, the FBI's lead investigator, comes into evidence that links the foursome to the bank robbery and a subsequent armored car heist, so is on their tail for evidence that will send them away dead or alive.

  8.0

The Fighter

2010, USA

• Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O'Keefe, Jack McGee, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Jill Quigg, Dendrie Taylor, Kate B. O'Brien, Jenna Lamia, Frank Renzulli, Paul Campbell, Caitlin Dwyer, Chanty Sok, Ted Arcidi, Ross Bickell, Sean Malone, José Antonio Rivera, Richard Farrell, Matthew Muzio, Steven Barkhimer, Art Ramalho, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jackson Nicoll, Alison Folland, Sean Patrick Doherty, Sue Costello
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
• Director(s): David O. Russell
• Available languages:
  • English English.

The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer on the verge of being KO'd by drugs and crime.

  7.6

The Great Debaters

2006, USA

• Actors: Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler, Trenton McClain Boyd, Ritchie Montgomery, Jackson Walker, Tim Parati, Robert X. Golphin, Justice Leak, Glen Powell, Brad Watkins, Brian Smiar, Damien Leake, Voltaire Rico Sterling, Stephen Rider, Gordon Danniels, Donny Boaz, Samuel Elliott Whisnant, Bonnie Johnson, Charissa Allen, Michael Beasley, Gary Mathis, George Wilson
• Genre: Biography, Drama
• Director(s): Denzel Washington
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.