Movies About Ponzi Schemes

From Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara
Rated PG-13

The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon. The story follows Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars after a powerful dust storm forces his crew to evacuate during a mission to the red planet. Watney is presumed dead and must figure out a way to survive while NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to rescue him. With limited resources and time running out, Watney must rely on his resourcefulness, wit, and spirit to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and survive long enough for the rescue mission to reach him.

From Alex Gibney, starring Paul Haggis, Jason Beghe, Spanky Taylor, David Miscavige
Rated Not Rated

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a 2015 documentary film that examines the controversies and history of the Church of Scientology. Directed by Alex Gibney, the film is based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lawrence Wright. It focuses on the experiences of eight former members of the church, including high-profile former members such as actor and screenwriter Paul Haggis and ex-Scientology executive Marty Rathbun, detailing their reasons for joining, their subsequent disillusionment and their eventual exodus from the organization. The film also looks at the church's historical relationship with celebrities and its purported harassment of those who have spoken out against it. The documentary presents a critical view of the church, exploring allegations of physical and mental abuse and exploitation of its members, along with its secretive and oppressive nature.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins
Rated R

The Hateful Eight is a 2015 western thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film follows a group of eight strangers who take shelter at a stagecoach stopover during a blizzard. As the tensions rise, it becomes increasingly clear that each of the eight have hidden agendas and are potentially harboring sinister secrets. With their lives at stake, they must work together to survive the storm and uncover the truth behind their presence. The star-studded cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Walton Goggins, and Michael Madsen. The Hateful Eight is an intense, action-packed drama that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

From Ciro Guerra, starring Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolívar, Brionne Davis
Rated Not Rated

Embrace of the Serpent is a 2015 Colombian drama film directed by Ciro Guerra, and inspired by the real-life journals of two explorers, Theodor Koch-Grünberg and Richard Evans Schultes, who journeyed through the Colombian Amazon during the 20th century in search of a sacred plant. The film follows two parallel stories, one in 1909 and one in 1940, both featuring a shaman who guides the explorers on their quest. Along the way, they encounter various perils, such as disease, slave hunters and the ravages of colonialism. Through these experiences, they gain greater insight into the cultures of the Amazon, as well as their own place in the world and the importance of protecting the rainforest. The film emphasizes the need to preserve the fragile beauty and wisdom of these cultures before they are lost forever.

From Cary Joji Fukunaga, starring Abraham Attah, Emmanuel Affadzi, Ricky Adelayitor, Andrew Adote
Rated TV-MA

Beasts of No Nation is a 2015 war drama film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala. It follows the story of Agu, a young boy from an unnamed West African country who is forced to join a group of mercenary fighters after civil war destroys his village and family. The film follows Agu’s journey as he struggles to come to terms with the violence and trauma of war, and his attempts to find a way to survive. Along the way, he encounters Commandant, the ruthless leader of his group of fighters, who attempts to instill his violent and often unpredictable worldview onto Agu. The film examines the effects of war on children, and the complexity of morality in a conflict zone. It received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Idris Elba).

From Anna Muylaert, starring Regina Casé, Helena Albergaria, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila
Rated R

The Second Mother is a Brazilian comedy-drama film about Val, a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy family in São Paulo. Despite her long-term service, Val is still treated as an outsider by her employers, who fail to recognize her as part of the family. When Val's estranged daughter Jéssica arrives from the northeast looking for a job, the already strained dynamics of the house become even more complicated. Val must decide whether to treat her own daughter as an employee, or to stand up to her employers and recognize her as a daughter. In the end, Val manages to bridge the divide between the family and her own, creating a newfound sense of understanding and acceptance.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal
Rated R

Sicario is an action-packed crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve and released in 2015. It stars Emily Blunt as FBI agent Kate Macer, who is enlisted by a mysterious government official (Josh Brolin) to help the U.S. government in a high-stakes mission to take down a powerful Mexican drug cartel. With the help of a mysterious consultant (Benicio Del Toro) and a team of highly trained soldiers, Kate finds herself in a dangerous and violent world, caught in a web of political intrigue and corruption. As the mission progresses and Kate's moral ideals are tested, she is forced to make difficult choices that will ultimately determine her fate.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan
Rated PG-13

Bridge of Spies is a 2015 historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks. It tells the story of Brooklyn lawyer James B. Donovan (Hanks), who is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help negotiate the release of a captured American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers. Donovan must travel to East Berlin to negotiate with a KGB agent, and struggles to overcome the distrust between the two sides. In the end, Donovan manages to secure a prisoner exchange, and achieves an unlikely victory in Cold War diplomacy. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

From Sebastian Schipper, starring Laia Costa, Frederick Lau, Franz Rogowski, Burak Yigit
Rated Not Rated

Victoria is a unique film in that it was shot in a single, continuous take. It follows the story of a young Spanish woman named Victoria, who has moved to Berlin in order to find a new life. After a night of partying with some local Berliners, she ends up joining them on a mission to help a friend in need. The group soon finds themselves embroiled in a criminal underworld, and they must stick together if they are to survive the night. Victoria is a thrilling film that captures the tension and intensity of living life on the edge.

From Brett Morgen, starring Kurt Cobain, Wendy O'Connor, Don Cobain, Jenny Cobain
Rated TV-MA

Cobain: Montage of Heck is a 2015 documentary film directed by Brett Morgen. The film follows the life of Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and songwriter of the seminal grunge band Nirvana. Using a variety of archival footage, home movies, and interviews, the film chronicles Cobain’s rise to fame and his struggles with depression, drug addiction, and fame. The film also features an in-depth look at his relationships with his family, friends, and fellow musicians. Through interviews with friends, family members, and Cobain’s former bandmates, the film offers a unique insight into one of the most influential musicians of the 1990s.

From Stig Björkman, starring Ingrid Bergman, Alicia Vikander, Pia Lindström, Roberto Rossellini
Rated Not Rated

From László Nemes, starring Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn, Todd Charmont
Rated R

From Benjamin Statler, starring Daniel Roebuck, Sarah Scott, August Emerson, Tyler Bryan
Rated Not Rated

From Jacques Audiard, starring Jesuthasan Antonythasan, Kalieaswari Srinivasan, Claudine Vinasithamby, Vincent Rottiers
Rated R

From Pablo Larraín, starring Alfredo Castro, Roberto Farías, Antonia Zegers, Marcelo Alonso
Rated Not Rated

From Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman
Rated R

From Jayro Bustamante, starring María Mercedes Coroy, María Telón, Manuel Antún, Justo Lorenzo
Rated Not Rated

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Christian Friedel, Katharina Schüttler, Burghart Klaußner, Johann von Bülow
Rated R

From Zhangke Jia, starring Tao Zhao, Yi Zhang, Jing Dong Liang, Zijian Dong
Rated Not Rated

From John Maclean, starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Caren Pistorius, Aorere Paki, Jeffrey Thomas
Rated R

From Scott Cooper, starring Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton
Rated R

From Robert Eggers, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Julian Richings
Rated R

From Apichatpong Weerasethakul, starring Jenjira Pongpas, Banlop Lomnoi, Jarinpattra Rueangram, Petcharat Chaiburi
Rated Unrated

From James Vanderbilt, starring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss
Rated R

From Lorenzo Vigas, starring Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla, Catherina Cardozo
Rated Unrated