relentless backdrop

Movies with relentless vibe

Bread and Roses

1241. Bread and Roses

Comedy Drama Political Drama Workplace Comedy
7.0

20001h 50min

United Kingdom, Germany

Director: Ken Loach

Maya is a quick-witted young woman who comes over the Mexican border without papers and makes her way to the LA home of her older sister Rosa. Rosa gets Maya a job as a janitor: a non-union janitorial service has the contract, the foul-mouthed supervisor can fire workers on a whim, and the service-workers' union has assigned organizer Sam Shapiro to bring its "justice for janitors" campaign to the building. Sam finds Maya a willing listener, she's also attracted to him. Rosa resists, she has an ailing husband to consider. The workers try for public support; management intimidates workers to divide and conquer. Rosa and Maya as well as workers and management may be set to collide.

Themes

Class inequality, Labor solidarity, Union organizing, Immigrant labor rights, Employer intimidation, Workplace exploitation

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total
MUBI
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

One Hundred Steps

1242. One Hundred Steps

Drama History Historical Drama Political History
7.5

20001h 54min

Italy

Director: Marco Tullio Giordana

Peppino Impastato is a quick-witted lad growing up in 1970s Sicily. Despite hailing from a family with Mafia ties and living just one hundred steps from the house of local boss Tano Badalamenti, Peppino decides to expose the Mafia by using a pirate radio station to broadcast his political pronouncements in the form of ironic humour.

Themes

Anti-mafia resistance, Political radicalization, Media exposure of crime, Family complicity with crime, Public protest and memory, Activism under threat

Available on

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

Under Suspicion

1243. Under Suspicion

Thriller Crime Drama Investigation Suspense Police Procedural
6.4

20001h 50min

United States

Director: Stephen Hopkins

A lawyer is asked to come to the police station to clear up a few loose ends in his witness report of a foul murder. "This will only take ten minutes", they say, but it turns out to be one loose end after another, and the ten minutes he is away from his speech become longer and longer.

Themes

Betrayal and loyalty, Moral ambiguity in justice, Family secrets and scandal, Deception under interrogation, Public scrutiny and rumor, Fabricating stories under pressure

Available on

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

Harry knew Michel in high school; they meet again by accident, Harry inserts himself in Michel's life... and things take a sinister turn.

Themes

Outsider intrusion, Family pressure and control, Trauma and writing as response, Moral ambiguity in relationships, Secrecy and deceit, Manipulation through hospitality

Available on

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

Shaft

1245. Shaft

Action Adventure Crime Thriller Organized Crime
6.0

20001h 39min

Germany, United States

Director: John Singleton

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.

Themes

Racially motivated violence, Wealth and influence, Corruption and power dynamics, Vigilantism vs justice, Witness manipulation, Organized crime networks

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gangster No. 1

1246. Gangster No. 1

Action Drama Thriller Crime Organized Crime
6.7

20001h 43min

Germany, Ireland

Director: Paul McGuigan

An old gangster is advised that Freddie Mays would leave jail after thirty years in prison. His mood changes and he recalls when he was a young punk and who joined Freddie's gang—a man he both envied and ultimately betrayed.

Themes

Revenge and consequences, Loyalty under pressure, Betrayal within crime networks, Rise and fall of crime, Leadership through violence, Prison as turning point

Available on

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

Gone in Sixty Seconds

1247. Gone in Sixty Seconds

Action Crime Thriller Vehicle-Driven Action Heist
6.5

20001h 58min

United States

Director: Dominic Sena

Upon learning that he has to come out of retirement to steal 50 cars in one night to save his brother Kip's life, former car thief Randall "Memphis" Raines enlists help from a few "boost happy" pals to accomplish a seemingly impossible feat. From countless car chases to relentless cops, the high-octane excitement builds as Randall swerves around more than a few roadblocks to keep Kip alive.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Risk and improvisation, Trust under deception, Family stakes, Crime and pursuit, Mentorship influence

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gladiator

1248. Gladiator

Action Drama Adventure Epic Action Historical Drama
8.5

20002h 35min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Ridley Scott

After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.

Themes

Spectacle as control, Military power legitimacy, Loyalty under duress, Emperor succession tensions

Available on

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

The Yards

1249. The Yards

Crime Drama Thriller Organized Crime Investigation Suspense
6.4

20001h 55min

United States

Director: James Gray

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Urban contract corruption, Competition with minority firms, Power struggles in business, Crime in infrastructure, Betrayal within alliances

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hoopla
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

U-571

1250. U-571

War Action Adventure World War II Military Action
6.6

20001h 56min

United States, France

Director: Jonathan Mostow

In the midst of World War II, the battle under the sea rages and the Nazis have the upper hand as the Allies are unable to crack their war codes. However, after a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, the Allies realise this is their chance to seize the 'enigma coding machine'.

Themes

Leadership under pressure, Wartime deception, Alliance risk, Clandestine operations, Moral ambiguity of war, Trust under fire, Code secrecy

Available on

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