restrained backdrop

Movies with restrained vibe

The Rebound

551. The Rebound

Romance Comedy Romantic Comedy High-Concept Comedy
6.3

20091h 35min

United States

Director: Bart Freundlich

Upon discovering her husband's infidelity, Sandy leaves the suburbs and moves into the city. There, she befriends Aram, a guy whose wife only married him so she could get a green card. Sandy hires Aram to be her nanny, and it isn't long until Aram and Sandy find out they get along wonderfully and start to date. But is their relationship real or is it, in fact, just a rebound for both of them?

Themes

Age-gap romance, Caregiving as catalyst, Infidelity aftermath, Green-card motivation, Single motherhood resilience, Professional advancement and romance

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

(500) Days of Summer

552. (500) Days of Summer

Comedy Drama Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
7.6

20091h 35min

United States

Director: Marc Webb

In a love story told out of order, every day becomes a clue. A greeting-card writer rewinds and fast-forwards through 500 days with Summer, hunting for the exact moments their romance fractures, even as his obsession drags him further from the life he once dreamed of.

Themes

Career vs romance, Self-discovery through adversity, Depression and resilience, Romantic incompatibility, Unclear commitments, Idealism vs reality

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Adam

553. Adam

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Bittersweet Romance
7.1

20091h 39min

United States

Director: Max Mayer

Adam, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth.

Themes

Relationship boundaries, Autism isolation, Space exploration fixation, Upstairs neighbor romance, Asperger syndrome stigma, Children's book author

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

My Sister's Keeper

554. My Sister's Keeper

Drama Tragic Drama
7.3

20091h 49min

United States

Director: Nick Cassavetes

Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. The parents' desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone's perceptions of love and loyalty and give new meaning to the definition of healing.

Themes

Medical decision making, Bodily autonomy under duress, Sibling dynamics under illness, Family loyalty vs individual rights, Legal intervention in family, Ethical dilemmas in care

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Agora

555. Agora

Adventure Drama History Historical Drama Historical Event
7.1

20092h 7min

Spain

Director: Alejandro Amenábar

A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.

Themes

Clashing belief systems, Power dynamics within empire, Intellectual defiance under oppression, Master-servant tension, Misogyny under persecution, Intellectual inquiry restricted

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

City of Life and Death

556. City of Life and Death

Drama History War Historical Drama Historical Event
7.7

20092h 12min

China, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Lu Chuan

In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

Themes

Survival under occupation, Duty versus humanity, Safety zones under pressure, War crimes against civilians, Gendered vulnerability in war, Moral ambiguity in soldiers

Available on

Kanopy
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Damned United

557. The Damned United

Drama History Historical Drama
7.5

20091h 37min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Tom Hooper

Taking over Leeds United, Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor.

Themes

Abrasive management style, 1970s leadership clash, Cup competition pressure, Squad rebuilding under pressure, Board risk management, Sports controversy impact

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Sin Nombre

558. Sin Nombre

Drama Action Thriller Crime Coming-of-Age Drama
7.5

20091h 36min

Mexico, United States

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Sayra, a Honduran teen, hungers for a better life. Her chance for one comes when she is reunited with her long-estranged father, who intends to emigrate to Mexico and then enter the United States. Sayra's life collides with a pair of Mexican gangmembers who have boarded the same American-bound train.

Themes

Survival under coercion, Violence and control, Migration and border danger, Family separation and resilience, Gang loyalty and initiation, Pursuit and risk

Available on

Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Young Victoria

559. The Young Victoria

Drama History Romance Historical Drama Passionate Romance
7.2

20091h 45min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

As the only legitimate heir of England's King William, teenage Victoria gets caught up in the political machinations of her own family. Victoria's mother wants her to sign a regency order, while her Belgian uncle schemes to arrange a marriage between the future monarch and Prince Albert, the man who will become the love of her life.

Themes

Family political bargaining, Marital alliance strategy, Succession under pressure, Autonomy vs influence, Public scrutiny and reform, Institutional independence

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Prayers for Bobby

560. Prayers for Bobby

Drama History TV Movie Tragic Drama True-Story TV Movie
8.0

20091h 29min

United States

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Bobby Griffith was his mother's favorite son, the perfect all-American boy growing up under deeply religious influences in Walnut Creek, California. Bobby was also gay. Struggling with a conflict no one knew of, much less understood, Bobby finally came out to his family.

Themes

Grief and coping, Coming out under pressure, Religious intolerance, Parental influence on sexuality, Advocacy after loss, Homophobia in faith communities

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Hulu
Hoopla
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.