Movies About Moving On

From Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13

Inception is a science fiction action film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows Dom Cobb and his team of experts as they attempt to plant an idea into the subconscious mind of a CEO in order to avert disaster. Cobb and his team use a special technology known as "extraction" to extract information from the subject's mind. In addition to extraction, they also use a more dangerous form of dream manipulation known as "inception" to implant the new idea. Cobb and his team must battle external forces, as well as their own personal demons, to succeed in their mission. In the end, they are successful, and the corporate world is changed forever.

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 science fiction romantic comedy-drama film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The film follows the relationship between Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) as they each undergo an irreversible medical procedure to erase all memories of their relationship from their minds. Throughout the film, the audience experiences Joel's memories as he struggles to keep them from being erased. As his memories are slowly wiped away, Joel begins to realize the importance of his relationship with Clementine, and decides to fight the procedure in order to keep them. Along the way, he discovers the power of true love and acceptance, and the joys and sorrows of life. Ultimately, the film serves as an ode to true love, despite its fragility and complexity.

From Marc Webb, starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz
Rated PG-13

500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Marc Webb and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. It is told mostly through flashback and follows the story of Tom Hansen (Levitt) and Summer Finn (Deschanel). Tom falls deeply in love with Summer and expects a perfect relationship, only to find out that Summer does not believe in true love. Tom is faced with the challenge of trying to win her heart and make their relationship work despite this difference in opinion. Throughout the 500 days, Tom experiences the trials and tribulations of a modern day relationship, ultimately finding himself in a place of self-discovery and realization.

From Richard Curtis, starring Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney
Rated R

Love Actually is a romantic comedy set in London during the weeks leading up to Christmas. It follows the intertwined stories of several couples and singles whose lives intersect during the holiday season. Through humorous and dramatic scenes, the characters explore the complexities of love in its various forms, including unrequited love, self-love and mature love. Among the characters are Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant), who is secretly in love with his housekeeper; Jamie (Colin Firth), who is desperately in love with his Portuguese housekeeper; Sarah (Laura Linney), a widow who is torn between her brother and her boss; and Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his stepson, who bond over the death of Daniel's wife. Through their stories, the film examines the power of love, both in the context of relationships and in the broader realm of life.

From Directors: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber, starring Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters, Elden Henson
Rated R

The Butterfly Effect is a 2004 American psychological thriller film directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber. The film follows a young man named Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) as he struggles to deal with his suppressed memories of traumatic events that occurred in his childhood. Evan discovers that he has the power to travel back in time and alter the events of his past, which have a drastic effect on his present life and the lives of those around him. As Evan continues to travel back and forth in time, reality starts to become increasingly distorted and events become more and more extreme. As the film progresses, Evan comes to terms with the reality of his situation and learns to accept the consequences of his actions.

From Adam Shankman, starring Mandy Moore, Shane West, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah
Rated PG

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Sean Patrick Thomas, Ellen Burstyn
Rated PG-13

From Sean Ellis, starring Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Michelle Ryan, Erica Ellis
Rated R

From Lasse Hallström, starring Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas
Rated PG-13