Whether these films flew under your radar before or not, they certainly warrant a watch (or a re-watch).
1. "Beyond Borders" (2003) London's high society meets the gritty reality of war-torn nations. That's the stage for "Beyond Borders," a drama that pulls us into the life of a socialite whose life shifts course after a fateful encounter at a charitable event. She throws herself into humanitarian aid, traversing deserts and war zones, where she crosses paths with a renegade doctor, Clive Owen's character.
Together, they journey through the world's most dangerous places, each mission more perilous than the last, as they try to bring a sliver of hope to those caught in the crossfire of global conflicts.
2. "The Boys Are Back" (2009) Set against the Australian vineyard vistas, "The Boys Are Back" introduces us to a sports writer who finds himself in a sudden and tragic single-parenting gig.
This chap has to figure out how to juggle his grief, a career that keeps him on the move, and the ever-so-complex world of parenting two boys from different marriages. The younger, a curious and free-spirited tyke, still lives in blissful innocence, while the elder one carries a chip on his shoulder the size of Ayers Rock.
3. "Shadow Dancer" (2012) It's 1990s Belfast. We follow a single mother deeply entangled in the IRA who's caught between a rock and a hard place when British intelligence corners her with a proposition she can't refuse – become an informant or lose everything. The movie's like a tightrope walk over a moral quagmire, with every step ratcheting up the tension.
4. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (2003) Imagine a man who's left his dark past behind for a life of seclusion in the wilderness. That's until the untimely death of his brother lures him back into London's gritty underworld. It's a revenge tale, but don't expect the usual guns-blazing type.
It's more of a slow burn, with a detective story vibe, as our main man pieces together the puzzle of his brother's last days. The city's no longer the place he knew, and as he digs deeper, the web of old associates and shady dealings gets stickier.
5. "The International" (2009) "The International" pits an Interpol agent and a Manhattan assistant district attorney against a bank that's a front for illegal arms dealing. The plot trots around the planet – from Berlin to Milan to New York – with our protagonists always one step behind their slippery corporate nemeses.
The movie taps into that 2008 financial crisis vibe, where big banks were the big bads, and it doesn't let up until the final, explosive conclusion.
6. "Duplicity" (2009) Two ridiculously good-looking spies (played by Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) turn their back on government work for the high-stakes battlefield of corporate America. It's all about the razor-sharp wit and palpable chemistry between our two leads as they engage in a dangerous flirtation and competition. They plot to pull off a major con against rival pharmaceutical companies.
The movie's a twisting maze of double-crosses, with each corporate titan trying to outmaneuver the other in the race for a lucrative product.
7. "The Confirmation" (2016) Imagine a down-on-his-luck dad who's just trying to make his scheduled weekend with his son count. In "The Confirmation," that's what we've got, with a father who's recently sober and a son who's smart beyond his years. A build-a-relationship weekend takes a spin when the dad's toolbox gets stolen. Cue a quest that's more than just about finding tools; it's about laying the groundwork for trust and rapport.
They encounter a motley crew of small-town characters – each interaction more colorful than the last – while they track down the thief.
8. "Greenfingers" (2000) The unlikely setting of a prison garden becomes the stage for redemption and, you guessed it, flower competitions. Our leading man is a hardened inmate who discovers his green thumb thanks to a rehabilitation program.
The plot plants its roots in the camaraderie among the inmates-turned-gardeners as they cultivate not just plants but new identities. The prison's walls can't contain the bloom of their aspirations as they dream of winning the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show.
9. "Close My Eyes" (1991) Brother and sister become entangled in a taboo relationship. The movie's set in the simmering heat of a London summer, which perfectly mirrors the intense and illicit passion at the film's heart. Their bond is more than sibling love; it's a secret affair that defies social norms and threatens to unravel their lives as well as the lives of those around them.
As the stakes get higher and the consequences more dire, the film paints a compelling portrait of desire and desperation.
