Here are some of the lesser-known films that offer a chance to witness Sarah's craft and talent on the big screen:
1. "The Other Sister" (1999)
Carla Tate is a young woman with a learning disability, who returns home after years at a special school. Her overprotective mother, Elizabeth, struggles with Carla's desire for independence, especially when Carla falls in love with Danny, a young man with a similar disability.
The story twists and turns as Carla and Danny plan to get married against Elizabeth's wishes, leading to family confrontations and a struggle with understanding and acceptance.
2. "Down with Love" (2003)
Set in the 1960s, Barbara Novak pens a best-selling book encouraging women to ditch love and embrace independence. The men are rattled, especially playboy journalist Catcher Block, who plans to discredit her by making her fall in love with him.
It's a riotous psychological game filled with mistaken identities, secret alter-egos, and a lot of sexual tension. As Catcher's plan backfires and he finds himself genuinely falling for Barbara, the story spirals into a delightful mess of romance and revelations.
3. "The Notorious Bettie Page" (2005)
Step into the 1950s, where Bettie Page, a small-town girl, rises to fame as a model in New York City. It's a journey from innocence to icon, as Bettie becomes a celebrated pin-up girl and a target of a Senate investigation into obscenity.
The plot follows her career highs and lows, personal struggles, and the cultural taboos of the time.
4. "Griffin & Phoenix" (2006)
Griffin and Phoenix meet at a psychology class and quickly discover they share a terminal illness. What starts as a friendship blossoms into a deep love, as they decide to live their remaining days to the fullest.
They make a bucket list and start ticking off items, finding joy in the little things. As they grow closer, the harsh reality of their fate looms, but they still try to truly live when time is running out.
5. "The Spirit" (2008)
In a stylized, noir-esque city, rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the dead as The Spirit, a hero bent on fighting crime and the nefarious plans of his arch-nemesis, The Octopus. The Octopus seeks immortality and doesn't care who he destroys along the way.
The Spirit navigates a world of femme fatales, wise-cracking sidekicks, and shadowy villains.
6. "New Year's Eve" (2011)
Welcome to the intertwining lives of New Yorkers as they stumble through love, hope, forgiveness, and second chances on New Year's Eve. There's a rock star and his ex-girlfriend rekindling their romance, a secretary taking a leap of faith in love, and a nurse keeping company with a dying patient.
In a classic "Love Actually" fashion, each story weaves into the other, culminating in the grandeur of the Times Square ball drop.
7. "Blue Jay" (2016)
In "Blue Jay," Jim and Amanda, former high school sweethearts randomly bump into each other in their hometown grocery store. Both are dealing with their own personal struggles; Jim has returned to town to deal with his mother's estate, while Amanda is visiting her pregnant sister.
Deciding to catch up, they find themselves meandering through their old haunts, including their childhood homes and a diner they used to frequent.
8. "Rebel in the Rye" (2016)
The film follows the life of J.D. Salinger, particularly focusing on the years that lead up to the creation of his most famous work, "The Catcher in the Rye."
The film opens with Salinger, played by Nicholas Hoult, attending a writing course at Columbia University, where he's mentored by Whit Burnett, a professor who recognizes his talent and encourages him to pursue his passion for writing.
There are numerous rejections from publishers, horrors of World War II and, finally, literary fame with "The Catcher in the Rye," but the film shows how this success comes with its own set of challenges.
9. "The Goldfinch" (2019)
After surviving a terrorist bombing at an art museum that kills his mother, young Theo is adrift in a world of grief and guilt. He clings to a painting of a goldfinch, a reminder of that fateful day.
The plot follows Theo's tumultuous journey through adulthood, as the painting draws him into the criminal underworld. He navigates love, loss, and betrayal in a story that spans from the dusty antiques store in New York to the chilly streets of Amsterdam.
10. "Run" (2020)
Chloe, a teenager raised in total isolation by her mother Diane, starts to suspect her life might not be as it seems. As she uncovers disturbing secrets, she realizes her mother's overprotective care has sinister motives.
The plot thickens as Chloe's attempts to escape and uncover the truth lead discovering the dark sides of maternal love.