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MY TOP-TEN BIOGRAPHICAL MOVIES!Jun 11 '06 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Biographical movies are my favorite genre. Here are some that I thought were unique and rewatchable. I am nosey. I much prefer a biography over any other type film. For me, not only are they more interesting as true stories but they also help me grow. These are some of my favorite biographies: 1. Raging Bull: (1980) Rated: R Director: Martin Scorcese Robert DeNiro portrays the Bronx-born, middleweight boxing champion, Jake La Motta, and his tumultuous life in the ring. His inability to trust his wife and his violent nature lose him his treasured family and friends. Through the trials of the disillusion and corruption of the boxing world, this boxer rises to stardom but, as a broken man, ends up doing pathetic stage acts in grungy New York nightclubs. Who does not admire Robert De Niro’s talent? He is an outstanding actor and I would watch any movie he starred in, including black & white ones. Outstanding performance! Supporting Cast: Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent 2. Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Rated: R Director: Sidney J. Furie Diana Ross performs as legendary blues/jazz singer, Billie Holliday, her fight with racism, her heroin and alcohol addiction which eventually led to her death at age 44. There is a little controversy over whether this tragic tale is all true but I love the film, the vulnerability that Diana displays and the effortless portrayals of Billie Holliday’s sultry music. Supporting cast: Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Paul Hampton 3. Ray (2004) Rated : PG13 Director: Taylor Hackford. Jamie Foxx plays the astonishing character of the late Ray Charles. This biography follows Charles through his onset of blindness at age seven, his drug addiction and struggle to overcome it to becoming the most beloved performer in the world. Jaime embodies Charles’ image, character and talent in a practically flawless performance. Supporting Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King 4. Braveheart (1995) Rated: R Director: Mel Gibson Mel Gibson plays the role of William Wallace, a bold Scotsman who became a legend in his own right, rallying his countrymen to fight for freedom in 14th century Scotland. Unfortunately, he was betrayed by his own greedy allies and was put to death by means of hanging, drawing and quartering, a horrific way to die. I love this mischevious character and Mel brings some added sex appeal and romance to this tale. Supporting cast: Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack 5. Monster (2003) Rated: R Director: Patty Jenkins. Who could forget the amazing transformation of Charlize Theron into a very convincing Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who brutally kills at least 6 men in Florida. Homeless and penniless, she befriends Selby who becomes her lesbian lover. Having been severely abused by men she has a distinct loathing for them. However, she snaps and goes on a killing rampage of her customers regardless of their behavior and is executed for her crimes. It is difficult not to have compassion for this character. Charlize’s portrayal is superb from beginning to end. Supporting cast: Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley 6. Out of Africa (1985) Rated: PG Director: Sydney Pollack. With a panoramic backdrop of Kenya, Meryl Streep performs as Danish Baroness, Karen Blixen who settles for a loveless marriage and a coffee plantation in 1914 Africa. After catching syphilis from her unfaithful husband, she gives in to her fate but finds herself enamored by the African wilderness and its people. She meets a big game hunter (Robert Redford) with whom she has a very passionate love affair who in the end is tragically killed in an airplane crash. I love the nature in and of this movie and the tradgedy of a newly found but lost love. The chemistry is obvious between Streep and Redford which makes this movie one in a million. Supporting cast: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Michael Kitchen, Malick Bowens 7. The Aviator (2004) Rated PG13 Director: Martin Scorsese. We follow the life of aviation pioneer, Howard Hughes who is portrayed by a chameleon-like Leonardo DiCaprio. A self-made millionaire, he goes to Hollywood and becomes a successful film maker and dabbles in affairs with Katherine Hepburn and Ava Gardner. A passionate engineer, he turns his focus back to aviation and builds the noted “Spruce Goose”. Designing and testing new airplanes and recklessy setting speed records, he gains many powerful enemies who try to thwart him. I found Di Caprio very convincing in incorporating Hughes’ eccentricity or was it insanity? I am not keen on the ending but this is a very intriguing character. Supporting cast: Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Gwen Stefani, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe 8. The Passion of the Christ (2004) Rated: R Director: Mel Gibson. Jim Caviezel gives stunning portrayal of Jesus Christ and his fate at the hands of a very inconsistent Pontius Pilate. The graphic violence of the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus is something I can barely watch. This movie reintroduced what had become a scene depicted only by decorative objects scattered throughout churches worldwide. It brought back the vile reality of just how cruel humankind can be and the sadistic pleasure it is capable of. Mel Gibson certainly did us a huge favor by creating this heart-wrenching epic that reminds us just how much Jesus suffered for us so that we may be saved from sin. Supporting cast: Monica Bellucci, Claudia Gerini, Maia Morgenstern, Sergio Rubini, Toni Bertorelli, Roberto Bestatazzoni, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo 9. The Miracle Worker (1979) Not Rated Director: Paul Aaron. Melissa Gilbert, a relatively meager actress of child stardom, plays the convincing role of Helen Keller, a deaf, blind and mute child. At the age of seven, Helen was void of communication until Annie Sullivan (Patty Duke Astin), a Boston teacher, came into her life. She and Helen developed a unique relationship through the trials and tribulations of a long but successful campaign to establish mutual communication. Annie was eventually successful and Helen graduated with honors from Ratcliffe. She then traveled the world raising funds for the blind. I was touched by the relationship formed in this film. Patty Duke Astin transformed as she played the strict but compassionate Annie. Supporting Cast: Diana Muldaur, Charles Siebert 10. Schindler's List (1993) Rated: R Director: Steven Spielberg. Liam Neeson depicts the character, Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi party in this black & white masterpiece. He was a war profiteer and a womanizer but he also saved the lives of more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust by using them as workers in his factory. This movie shows the vulnerability of these Jews who depended on Schindler for their lives. The end of this movie is the most moving when the survivors place rocks on Schindlers grave, a Jewish tradition of marking their visit. Supporting Cast: Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall Honorable Mentions: Malcolm X (1992) A Beautiful Mind-John Nash/mathemetician(2002) Boys Don’t Cry-Teena Brandon/teenager (2002) I walk the Line-Johnny Cash/legendary singer (2005) Finding Neverland-James Barrie/author of Peter Pan (2004), Cinderella Man-Jim Braddock/boxer (2005), The Hurricane-Rubin “Hurricane” Carter/boxer (1999), Gorillas in the Mist-Diane Fossey/anthropologist (1988), What’s Love Got To Do With It-Tina Turner/legendary singer(1993) I am sure I could think of many more I have watched over the years. These biographies, however, particularly affected me.  |
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