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This film tells the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, an African-American man who rose above his troubled youth to become a top contender for the middle-weight boxing title. However, his dreams are shattered when he is accused of a triple murder, and is convicted to three natural-life terms. Despit …e becoming a cause celebre and his dogged efforts to prove his innocence through his autobiography, the years of fruitless efforts have left him discouraged. This changes when an African-American boy and his Canadian mentors read his book and are convinced of his innocence enough to work for his exoneration. However, what Hurricane and his friends learn is that this fight puts them against a racist establishment that profited from this travesty and have no intention of seeing it reversed. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionwritingfreedomfaithracismrobberyprisonmurderfriendship |
| Mood: | archive footage |
| Locations: | canadacourtroomurban settingbar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1950s1940s1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | framed for murdermistake of lawwitness tamperingmurder witnessboxing championtoronto ontario canadabased on bookinstitutional discriminationbased on multiple worksself disciplineevidence tamperingsurrogate familylegal systemconvicted felonpen pal …foster familyincarcerationostracismmurder by gunshotsocial activismmiscarriage of justicemurder suspectgrudgecorrupt officialwrongful convictionilliteracyself defenseframedchild molestationoppressionmedia coveragejuvenile delinquentprideghettoframe upshot in the facenew jerseyattorneyburglarcompassionboxertitle based on songlawloyaltycorrupt cophatewitnessauthorracial slurfalse accusationjudgeboxingstabbingbookshootingshot in the chestbased on novelmale nuditygunviolence (See All) |
Betty Anne Waters (Swank) is a high school dropout who spent nearly two decades working as a single mother while putting herself through law school, tirelessly trying to beat the system and overturn her brother's (Rockwell) unjust murder conviction.
| Themes: | prisonmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | witness tamperingconvicted felonmiscarriage of justicewrongful convictionprideframe upattorneylawcorrupt copfalse accusationjudgestabbingmale nuditygunviolence |
A family of police officers - patriarch, two sons, and a son-in-law - deals with corruption in a precinct in Washington Heights. Four officers die in an ambush at a drug dealer's apartment. It's brother Francis's precinct, so when the investigation led by brother Ray finds hints of police corruption …, there's pressure to close ranks and save Frankie's career. Dad, a police brass, promises Ray that he and Frankie can clean things up, and Ray should focus on catching the drug dealer who killed the cops. Meanwhile, brother-in-law Jimmy, a hothead and an enforcer, is visited at home by a lowlife. Is Jimmy involved in the corruption? Where can this take the family? (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionrobberymurder |
| Locations: | urban settingbar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | framed for murderprideframe upshot in the facelawloyaltycorrupt copracial slurfalse accusationshootingshot in the chestgunviolence |
A small time thief from Belfast, Gerry Conlon, is falsely implicated in the IRA bombing of a pub that kills several people while he is in London. Bullied by the British police, he and four of his friends are coerced into confessing their guilt. Gerry's father and other relatives in London are also i …mplicated in the crime. He spends 15 years in prison with his father trying to prove his innocence with the help of a British attorney, Gareth Peirce. Based on a true story. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionfaithprisonfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1970s1980s |
| Story: | based on bookmedia coverageattorneycorrupt cophatefalse accusationjudgemale nudityviolence |
A serial killer in the San Francisco Bay Area taunts police with his letters and cryptic messages. We follow the investigators and reporters in this lightly fictionalized account of the true 1970's case as they search for the murderer, becoming obsessed with the case. Based on Robert Graysmith's boo …k, the movie's focus is the lives and careers of the detectives and newspaper people. (Read More)
| Themes: | writingrobberyprisonmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | framed for murdermurder witnessbased on bookattorneywitnessjudgestabbingbookshootingshot in the chestgunviolence |
In the midst of an elaborate conspiracy, an expert negotiator is driven to the edge when he's framed for the murder of his partner, as well as embezzling money from his department's pension fund. His only chance to prove his innocence is to take hostages himself, acquire the services of another expe …rt negotiator, and find out who's running the conspiracy before it's too late. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | urban settingbar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | framed for murderframedmedia coverageframe upcorrupt copfalse accusationshot in the chestgunviolence |
Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on step-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influenc …e of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismrobberyprisonmurderfriendship |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1970s1980s |
| Story: | ostracismgrudgejuvenile delinquentboxerlawhateracial slurboxingstabbingshootingmale nuditygunviolence |
Henry Hill might be a small time gangster, who may have taken part in a robbery with Jimmy Conway and Tommy De Vito, two other gangsters who might have set their sights a bit higher. His two partners could kill off everyone else involved in the robbery, and slowly start to think about climbing up th …rough the hierarchy of the Mob. Henry, however, might be badly affected by his partners' success, but will he consider stooping low enough to bring about the downfall of Jimmy and Tommy? (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionrobberyprisonfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Period: | 1950s1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | juvenile delinquentshot in the faceracial slurstabbingshot in the chestbased on novelviolence |
Serpico is a cop in the 1960s-early 1970s. Unlike all his colleagues, he refuses a share of the money that the cops routinely extort from local criminals. Nobody wants to work with Serpico, and he's in constant danger of being placed in life threatening positions by his "partners". Nothing seems to …get done even when he goes to the highest of authorities. Despite the dangers he finds himself in, he still refuses to 'go with the flow', in the hope that one day, the truth will be known. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroomurban settingbar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1960s1970s |
| Story: | based on bookghettoshot in the facecorrupt copracial slurviolence |
Brazil, 1960s, City of God. The Tender Trio robs motels and gas trucks. Younger kids watch and learn well...too well. 1970s: Li'l Ze has prospered very well and owns the city. He causes violence and fear as he wipes out rival gangs without mercy. His best friend Bene is the only one to keep him on t …he good side of sanity. Rocket has watched these two gain power for years, and he wants no part of it. Yet he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980s: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionrobberymurderfriendship |
| Locations: | urban settingbar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | based on bookjuvenile delinquentghettoshot in the faceracial slurshootingshot in the chestmale nuditygunviolence |
Larry Flynt is the hedonistically obnoxious, but indomitable, publisher of Hustler magazine. The film recounts his struggle to make an honest living publishing his porn magazine and how it changes into a battle to protect the freedom of speech for all people.
| Themes: | freedomfaithprisonmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Period: | 1950s1970s1980s |
| Story: | attorneylawjudgeshootingmale nudityviolencegun |
THE READER opens in post-war Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna love …s being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from "The Odyssey," "Huck Finn" and "The Lady with the Little Dog." Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life - this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. THE READER is a story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another. (Read More)
| Themes: | writingprisonmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1940s1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | illiteracypridelawfalse accusationjudgebookbased on novelmale nuditygun |
As children, Lorenzo Carcaterra - Shakes to his friends - Michael Sullivan, Tommy Marcano, and John Reilly were inseparable. They grew up in Hell's Kitchen, a far from perfect neighborhood, one filled as Shakes says with scams and shake downs, but one where the rules were known by its residents. The … one adult who they admired was Father Bobby Carelli, who understood them as kids more than most adults and more than he himself would like to admit. In 1967, their lives would change forever when a typical teenage prank went wrong which led to the four of them being sentenced to various terms at Wilkinson Home for Boys, a reformatory. There, they were physically, emotionally and sexually abused primarily by Sean Nokes, the head guard of their cell block, and fellow guards Ralph Ferguson, Henry Addison, and Adam Styler, although there were other caring figures of authority at the home including other guards. Their time at the home affected the four, not all who were able to emerge from the experience to regroup their lives. In their want to forget about the experience, they made a vow not to talk about it either between themselves or with others. Fast forward thirteen years, with Tommy and Johnny being career criminals, Michael an assistant district attorney and Shakes a newspaper writer, their friendship on the surface more loose than it was when they were children. When Tommy and John spot Nokes, it leads to Shakes and Michael banding together to exact revenge not only on Nokes b… (Read More)
| Themes: | robberyprisonfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1960s1980s |
| Story: | based on bookframedjuvenile delinquentframe upattorneyloyaltywitnessracial slurjudgebookshootinggunviolence |
The Final Days is the true story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine brought to life. Sophie Scholl is the fearless activist of the underground student resistance group, The White Rose. Using historical records of her incarceration, the film re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl's lif …e: a journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence in 1943 Munich. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her comrades, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless. (Read More)
| Themes: | writingfreedomfaithprisonfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1940s |
| Story: | incarcerationlawloyaltywitnessjudgegun |
1950's Los Angeles is the seedy backdrop for this intricate noir-ish tale of police corruption and Hollywood sleaze. Three very different cops are all after the truth, each in their own style: Ed Exley, the golden boy of the police force, willing to do almost anything to get ahead, except sell out; …Bud White, ready to break the rules to seek justice, but barely able to keep his raging violence under control; and Jack Vincennes, always looking for celebrity and a quick buck until his conscience drives him to join Exley and White down the one-way path to find the truth behind the dark world of L.A. crime. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionracismmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1950s |
| Story: | frame upshot in the faceboxercorrupt copracial slurshot in the chestbased on novelviolence |
When Nick Parsons appears to be murdered his wife Libby is tried and convicted. Six years later Libby is paroled and with the help of Travis Lehman (her parole officer) she sets out to find her son and the truth behind the "murder".
| Themes: | prisonmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | framed for murderconvicted felonwrongful convictionframedframe upjudgeshot in the chest |
On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark …question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife? (Read More)
| Themes: | writingrobberymurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | framed for murderbased on bookmurder suspectmedia coverageprideframe upauthorfalse accusationbookbased on novelmale nudityviolence |
This urban nightmare chronicles several days in the life of Caine Lawson, following his high-school graduation, as he attempts to escape his violent existence in the projects of Watts, CA.
| Themes: | robberyprisonmurderfriendship |
| Mood: | archive footage |
| Locations: | urban setting |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1970s |
| Story: | juvenile delinquentghettohateracial slurshootingshot in the chestgunviolence |
Famed writer 'Truman Capote' (qv), southern born and bred but now part of the New York City social circle, is growing weary of his current assignment of writing autobiographical type pieces for the New Yorker. After reading a newspaper article about the just occurred November 14, 1959 cold blooded m …urders of the Clutter family in their rural Kansas home, Truman feels compelled to write about that event as his next article. So he and his personal assistant Nelle 'Harper Lee (I)' (qv), also a southern born New Yorker and an aspiring writer of her own, head to Kansas to research the story first-hand. Truman hopes to use his celebrity status to gain access to whomever he needs, such as to Laura Kinney, a friend of the Clutter daughter she who discovered the bodies, and to Alvin Dewey, the lead police investigator and also a Clutter family friend. If his celebrity doesn't work, Truman will grease the wheels by whatever means necessary. When the police eventually charge suspects, two young men named Dick Hickcock and Perry Smith, Truman uses those same tactics to gain access to them. Truman's fascination with the story makes him believe that he can revolutionize writing by expanding the germ of the article into what he calls a non-fiction novel. His personal involvement also changes as he grows emotionally attached to Perry, the seemingly sensitive and thus probable submissive in the criminal pairing, thus Truman becoming part of the story itself. Article or non-fiction novel, Trum… (Read More)
| Themes: | writingracismrobberyprisonfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1950s1960s |
| Story: | based on bookburglarcompassionauthorjudgebookshootinggunviolence |
An intertwined drama about the United States' war on drugs, seen through the eyes of a once conservative judge, now newly-appointed drug czar, his crack-addicted daughter, two DEA agents, a jailed drug kingpin's wife, and a Mexican cop who begins to question his boss's motives.
| Themes: | police corruptionmurder |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | corrupt officialghettoattorneywitnessjudgeshootingviolence |
Mesrine: Killer Instinct -- the first of two parts -- charts the outlaw odyssey of Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel), the legendary French gangster of the 1960s and 1970s who came to be known as French Public Enemy No. 1 and The Man of a Thousand Faces. Infamous for his bravado and outrageously darin …g prison escapes, Mesrine carried out numerous robberies, kidnappings and murders in a criminal career that spanned continents until he was shot dead in 1979 by France's notorious anti-gang unit. Thirty years after his death, his infamy lives on. Mesrine was helped along the way by beautiful and equally reckless Jeanne Schneider (CA(C)cile de France), a Bonnie to match his Clyde. Mesrine made up his own epic, between romanticism and cruelty, flamboyance and tragedy. (Read More)
| Themes: | robberyprisonmurder |
| Locations: | canadabar |
| Period: | 1950s1960s1970s |
| Story: | based on booklawhatemale nudityviolencegun |
Shaw was an officer in the Federal Army during the American Civil War who volunteered to lead the first company of black soldiers. Shaw was forced to deal with the prejudices of both the enemy (who had orders to kill commanding officers of blacks), and of his own fellow officers.
| Themes: | freedomracismfriendship |
| Characters: | african american |
| Story: | based on bookprideshot in the facehateracial slurstabbingshot in the chestviolence |
The film follows three young men and their time spent in the French suburban "ghetto," over a span of twenty-four hours. Vinz, a Jew, Said, an Arab, and Hubert, a black boxer, have grown up in these French suburbs where high levels of diversity coupled with the racist and oppressive police force hav …e raised tensions to a critical breaking point. During the riots that took place a night before, a police officer lost his handgun in the ensuing madness, only to leave it for Vinz to find. Now, with a newfound means to gain the respect he deserves, Vinz vows to kill a cop if his friend Abdel dies in the hospital, due the beating he received while in police custody. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismfriendship |
| Locations: | urban setting |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | ghettoshot in the faceboxerhateracial slurmale nuditygunviolence |
Biograpical epic of Malcolm X, the legendary African American leader. Born Malcolm Little, his father (a Garveyite Baptist minister) was killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Malcolm became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad. He preaches the teachings when … let out of jail, but later on goes on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, there he converts to the original Islamic religion and becomes a Sunni Muslim and changes his name to El-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz. He is assassinated on February 21, 1965 and dies a Muslim martyr. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismprisonmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1950s1940s1960s |
| Story: | burglarcompassionhateracial slurshot in the chestviolence |
In New York City, detective Billy Taggart goes to court for the murder of the rapist Mikey Tavarez, but the Mayor Nicholas Hostetler and the Chief of Police Carl Fairbanks vanish with important evidence and Billy is declared not guilty by the judge; however, he leaves the police department. Seven ye …ars later, Billy is a private detective and lives with his girlfriend Natalie Barrow, who is an aspiring actress and the sister of Mikey's victim. His secretary Katy Bradshaw (Alona Tal) is trying to collect part of the debts to save their business. In the week of the elections, Hostetler summons Billy and offers $25,000 to investigate his wife, Cathleen Hostetler, whom he believes is having a love affair. Billy discovers that Cathleen is meeting Paul Andrews, who is the coordinator of the campaign of Jack Valliant, the opponent of Hostetler and favorite in the election. When Paul is found dead on the street, Billy finds that he had been double-crossed by Hostetler and he decides to investigate the truth behind Paul's murder. (Read More)
| Themes: | murder |
| Locations: | courtroomurban settingbar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | framed for murdercorrupt officialmedia coverageghettoframe upfalse accusationjudgeshot in the chestviolence |
Chopper tells the intense story of Mark "Chopper" Read, a legendary criminal who wrote his autobiography while serving a murder sentence in prison. His book, From the Inside, upon which the film is based, was a best-seller.
| Themes: | prisonmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | based on bookjudgestabbingbookshootingmale nuditygunviolence |
1882, New Mexico Territory. Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are itinerant lawmen, hired by desperate towns as marshal and deputy. The city fathers of Appaloosa hire them after Randall Bragg, a newly-arrived rancher with money and a gang of thugs, disrupts commerce and kills three local lawmen. Cole an …d Hitch contrive to arrest Bragg and bring him to trial, but hanging him proves difficult. Meanwhile, a widow has arrived in town, Allison French, pretty, refined, and good-natured. Virgil falls hard, and it seems mutual, but there may be more to Allie than meets the eye. Can friendship and skill with a gun overcome a pernicious villain and green-eyed jealousy? (Read More)
| Themes: | friendshipmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Story: | murder witnesslawloyaltywitnessjudgebookshootingshot in the chestbased on novelmale nuditygunviolence |
Kevin Lomax, a ruthless young Florida attorney that never lost a case, is recruited by the most powerful law firm in the world. In spite of his mother's disagreement, which compares New York City to Babylon, he accepts the offer and the money that comes along. But soon, his wife starts feeling homes …ick as she witnesses devilish apparitions. However, Kevin is sinking in his new cases and pays less and less attention to his wife. His boss and mentor, John Milton, seems to always know how to overcome every problem and that just freaks Kevin right off. (Read More)
| Themes: | murder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | murder suspectprideattorneylawwitnessjudgeboxingbookbased on novelmale nuditygun |
John Singleton's portrayal of social problems in inner-city Los Angeles takes the form of a tale of three friends growing up together 'in the 'hood.' Half-brothers Doughboy and Ricky Baker are foils for each other's personality, presenting very different approaches to the tough lives they face. Rick …y is the 'All-American' athlete, looking to win a football scholarship to USC and seeks salvation through sports, while 'Dough' succumbs to the violence, alcohol, and crime surrounding him in his environment, but maintains a strong sense of pride and code of honor. Between these two is their friend Tre, who is lucky to have a father, 'Furious' Styles, to teach him to have the strength of character to do what is right and to always take responsibility for his actions. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | urban setting |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1980s |
| Story: | juvenile delinquentprideghettotitle based on songhateracial slurshootingshot in the chestviolencegun |
Rudy Baylor is a jobless young attorney. However, he is also the only hope of an elderly couple whose insurance company will not pay for an operation that could save their son's life. In this judicial drama, Rudy learns to hate corporate America as he falls in love with a battered young married woma …n. Will he be up to the task? (Read More)
| Themes: | murderfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Story: | self defenseattorneylawhatejudgebased on novel |
GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enor …mous family fortune -- all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismprisonfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1960s1980s |
| Story: | attorneylawhatewitnessauthorjudgestabbingbookmale nuditygunviolence |
When the aging head of a famous crime family decides to transfer his position to one of his subalterns, a series of unfortunate events start happening to the family, and a war begins between all the well-known families leading to insolence, deportation, murder and revenge, and ends with the favorabl …e successor being finally chosen. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1950s1940s |
| Story: | convicted felonattorneycorrupt copracial slurshootingshot in the chestbased on novelviolence |
Gangster Sonny is the big man in the Bronx neighborhood of an Italian small boy named Calogero. A shooting witnessed by the boy (nicknamed C) is the starting point of a lasting bond between the gangster and the boy. Father (bus driver Lorenzo), however, disapproves. C grows up under the wing of both … men, torn between his own natural honesty and his fascination with Sonny. C's neighborhood cronies get involved in theft, use of guns, and racial fights. When C falls for an African American girl, things don't get any easier. C's leap to manhood is marked by tragedy, but also by his recognition of the many faces of love. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | urban settingbar |
| Characters: | african american |
| Period: | 1960s |
| Story: | murder witnessloyaltyracial slurshootingviolence |
Wendell Rohr is a torts lawyer taking on the gun lobby. Rankin Fitch is the jury consultant for the Defendants and between them the battle is for the hearts and minds of the jury. But there is someone on the inside. Nicholas Easter is a juror with a girlfriend, Marlee, on the outside. they have a pa …st ..... and their own agenda. (Read More)
| Themes: | robberymurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | african american |
| Story: | legal systemmiscarriage of justicemedia coverageattorneylawjudgeshootingbased on novelgun |
A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, …and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price. (Read More)
| Themes: | prisonmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1950s1960s1970s1980s |
| Story: | based on bookconvicted felonjudgeshootinggun |
Los Angeles, 1928. A single mother returns from work to find her nine-year-old son gone. She calls the LAPD to initiate a search. Five months later, a boy is found in Illinois who fits the description; he says he's her son. To fanfare and photos, the LAPD reunite mother and son, but she insists he's … not her boy. The cops dismiss her as either a liar or hysterical. When she joins a minister in his public criticism of the police, they in turn use government power to silence and intimidate her. Meanwhile, a cop goes to a dilapidated ranch to find a Canadian lad who's without legal status; the youth tells a grisly tale. There's redress for murder; is there redress for abuse of power? (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionprisonmurder |
| Locations: | canadacourtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | miscarriage of justicewrongful convictionwitnessfalse accusationjudgestabbingshootingviolencegun |
Wealthy, brilliant, and meticulous Ted Crawford, a structural engineer in Los Angeles, shoots his wife and entraps her lover. He signs a confession; at the arraignment, he asserts his rights to represent himself and asks the court to move immediately to trial. The prosecutor is Willy Beachum, a hots …hot who's soon to join a fancy civil-law firm, told by everyone it's an open and shut case. Crawford sees Beachum's weakness, the hairline fracture of his character: Willy's a winner. The engineer sets in motion a clockwork crime with all the objects moving in ways he predicts. (Read More)
| Themes: | prisonmurder |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | evidence tamperinglegal systemshot in the facelawcorrupt copwitnessjudgeshootinggun |
In 1964, a brash new pro boxer, fresh from his olympic gold medal victory, explodes on to the scene, Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self confidence with his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all …time. To his credit, he sets out to prove that with his highly agile and forceful style soon making him a formidable boxer who soon claims the heavyweight championship. His personal life is no less noteworthy with his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, his friendship with the controversial Malcolm X and his abandonment of his slave name in favour of Muhammad Ali stirring up controversy. Yet, at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test with the military draft rules are changed, making him eligible for military induction during the Vietnam War. Despite the fact that he could easily agree to a sweetheart deal that would have meant an easy tour of duty for himself, Ali refuses to submit on principle to cooperate in an unjust war for a racist nation that treated his people so poorly. The cost of that stand is high as he finds himself unable to legally box in his own country while his case is contested in court. What follows is a battle for a man who would sacrifice so much for what he believes in and a comeback that would cement his legend as one of the great sports figures of all time. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismfriendshipmurder |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1960s1970s |
| Story: | boxing championboxerracial slurboxingshootingshot in the chestviolence |
Based on the novel by David Baldacci, Absolute Power is about the ruthlessness of people in power. The President believes that everything he does is beyond reproach, including an affair or two. That leads to murder and everyone around him is involved. There is only one witness, a thief named Luther …Whitney. They are sure he'll talk, but when? The Secret Service is determined to keep him quiet, but catching a thief isn't always easy. (Read More)
| Themes: | murderfriendship |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | framed for murderbased on bookframe upburglarwitnessracial slurbased on novelviolence |
1920's prohibition Chicago is corrupt from the judges downward. So in going up against Al Capone, Treasury agent Eliot Ness picks just two cops to help him and his accountant colleague. One is a sharp-shooting rookie, the other a seen-it-all beat man. The four of them are ready to battle Capone and …his empire, but it could just be that guns are not the best way to get him. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionracismmurder |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Story: | based on bookshot in the facecorrupt copshootingshot in the chestbased on novelviolence |
Jack Mosley, a burnt-out detective, is assigned the unenviable task of transporting a fast-talking convict from jail to a courthouse 16 blocks away. However, along the way he learns that the man is supposed to testify against Mosley's colleagues, and the entire NYPD wants him dead. Mosley must choos …e between loyalty to his colleagues and protecting the witness, and never has such a short distance seemed so long... (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionfriendshipmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | evidence tamperingloyaltycorrupt copwitnessshootinggunviolence |
In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal wh …o has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they have penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy - and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save themselves. But is either willing to turn on their friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover? (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionracismrobberyprisonmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | murder witnessprideshot in the facecorrupt copwitnessracial slurstabbingshootingshot in the chestviolencegun |
Orin Boyd (Seagal) is a Detroit cop who doesn't follow rules. After he saved the Vice President by violating every order he received he is transferred to one of the worst precincts in the city. There he quickly encounters some corrupt cops selling heroin to drug dealers. The problem is, it's very di …fficult to tell who is the bad guy and who you can trust. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionprisonmurder |
| Locations: | urban settingbar |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | framed for murdermiscarriage of justiceframe upcorrupt copracial slurshot in the chestbased on novelviolence |
Terry Malloy dreams about being a prize fighter, while tending his pigeons and running errands at the docks for Johnny Friendly, the corrupt boss of the dockers union. Terry witnesses a murder by two of Johnny's thugs, and later meets the dead man's sister and feels responsible for his death. She in …troduces him to Father Barry, who tries to force him to provide information for the courts that will smash the dock racketeers. (Read More)
| Themes: | murder |
| Locations: | courtroomurban settingbar |
| Story: | new jerseyboxerloyaltyhatewitnessgun |
An elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta can no longer drive. Her son insists she allow him to hire a driver, which in the 1950s meant a black man. She resists any change in her life but, Hoke, the driver is hired by her son. She refuses to allow him to drive her anywhere at first, but Hoke slowly …wins her over with his native good graces. The movie is directly taken from a stage play and does show it. It covers over twenty years of the pair's life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences. (Read More)
| Themes: | racismfriendship |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1950s1940s1960s1970s |
| Story: | illiteracyracial slur |
It's 1949 Los Angeles, and gangster Mickey Cohen has moved in, with the intention of controlling all criminal activity in the city. He has bought local judges and police, and no one is willing to cross him or testify against him. Everyone except Sergeant John O'Mara, a former World War II soldier, w …hose goal is to settle with his family in a peaceful Los Angeles. Police Chief William Parker decides to form a special unit whose mission is to take down Cohen, and chooses O'Mara to lead the unit. O'Mara chooses 4 cops and asks another cop and vet, Jerry Wooters to join him but Wooters is not interested. But when he witnesses the murder of a young boy by Cohen's people, he joins them, and they decide to take apart Cohen's organization. Cohen wonders if a rival is going after him, but eventually he realizes it's the cops. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionprisonmurder |
| Locations: | bar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1940s |
| Story: | based on bookmedia coverageboxercorrupt copwitnessjudgeshot in the chestviolence |
Over a thirty-six hour period in Los Angeles, a handful of disparate people's lives intertwine as they deal with the tense race relations that belie life in the city. Among the players are: the Caucasian district attorney, who uses race as a political card; his Caucasian wife, who, having recently b …een carjacked by two black men, believes that her stereotypical views of non-whites is justified and cannot be considered racism; the two black carjackers who use their race both to their advantage and as an excuse; partnered Caucasian police constables, one who is a racist and uses his authority to harass non-whites, and the other who hates his partner because of those racist views, but who may have the same underlying values in his subconscious; a black film director and his black wife, who believes her husband doesn't support their black background enough, especially in light of an incident with the racist white cop; partnered police detectives and sometimes lovers, one Hispanic female and the other black male, the latter who is dealing with a drugged out mother that feels he isn't concerned enough about taking care of family; an East Asian man who is run over but who is hiding some valuable cargo in the back of his van; a Persian store owner, who feels he isn't getting satisfaction from American society when his store is robbed time and time again; and a Hispanic locksmith, who just wants to keep his family, especially his young daughter, safe in a seemingly unsafe world. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionracismrobberymurder |
| Locations: | urban setting |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Story: | self defenseattorneycompassioncorrupt cophatewitnessshootingshot in the chestgun |
On November 22, 1963, president John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested for the crime and subsequently shot by Jack Ruby, supposedly avenging the president's death. An investigation concludes that Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby acted alone in their respective crimes …, but Louisiana district attorney Jim Garrison is skeptical. Assembling a trusted group of people, Garrison conducts his own investigation, bringing about backlash from powerful government and political figures. (Read More)
| Themes: | prisonmurder |
| Locations: | courtroom |
| Period: | 1960s |
| Story: | based on bookbased on multiple worksattorneywitnessracial slurbased on novel |
An ex-con, fresh out of prison, goes to L.A. to try to learn who murdered his daughter. However, he quickly finds that he is completely out of place with no understanding of the culture he finds. His investigations are helped by another ex-con. Together they learn that his daughter had been having a …n affair with a record producer, who is presently having an affair with another young woman. An aging actress, who also knew his daughter, forces him to look at his own failures as a father. The movie does focus on the drama of the situation and the inter-relationships of the characters and seldom slips into an action piece. (Read More)
| Themes: | robberyprisonmurderfriendship |
| Locations: | courtroombar |
| Characters: | police |
| Period: | 1960s |
| Story: | convicted felonracial slurjudgestabbingshootingviolencegun |
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs in …to the United States. As a result, his product is superior to what is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position. It is also the story of a dedicated and honest policeman, Richie Roberts, who heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government. Based on a true story. (Read More)
| Themes: | police corruptionmurder |
| Locations: | courtroomurban setting |
| Characters: | african americanpolice |
| Period: | 1960s1970s |
| Story: | ghettonew jerseyracial slurshootingshot in the chestviolence |
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