CaptainD’s Top Ten Dramas
Apr 06 '08 (Updated Nov 03 '08)
The Bottom Line My Top Ten Dramas, hopefully including some you've never seen.
In my list of top ten dramas, I’ve tried to choose films that aren’t on any of my other top ten lists (though some will be in my Top Ten by Year lists), and hopefully include a few you won’t have seen - or even heard of (though I‘m sure you’ll have seen some of them). I’ve not necessarily opted for films that are based on true stories, though there are some of those in my list. Choosing exactly what is a “Drama” as opposed to “Thriller” is a bit tricky, but I’ve focused on those that put intensity of emotion before thrills and spills. I’ve managed to whittle them down to just 10, which was a pretty tough task!
CaptainD’s Top Ten Dramas
Hotel Rwanda - Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo put in remarkable performances as Paul and Tatiana Rusesabagina, hotel owners in Rwanda when all hell breaks loose due to tribal violence. I don’t know if anyone could watch this film and remain unmoved.
The Constant Gardener - also set (mostly) in Africa but fictional (based on a John le Carre novel), this one takes a while to get going but the last half of the film is among the most powerful pieces of film-making that I’ve ever witnessed. Ralph Feinnes and Rachel Weisz star in this one. The ending will leave you speechless.
Apollo 13 - set in space it may be, but there’s rarely been a more compelling drama than Ron Howard’s retelling of the space mission that went wrong, and the attempt to bring the astronauts home…
Cheyenne Warrior - despite being made for TV, this movie was a sensitive and touching protrayal of a relationship between widowed Rebecca Carver (Kelly Preston) and wounded Cheyenne Warrior Hawk (Pato Hoffmann). The unfussy directing by Mark Griffiths ensures that it continues to tug on your heartstrings.
On a similar vein, Dances With Wolves was a slightly overlong, occasionally weird, but nevertheless very powerful drama about Lt John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) and his sojourn into the furthest outposts of the wild west. Costner has rarely been better than in this film. Mary McDonell provides the love interest as “Stands With A Fist”, a white woman brought up by an American Indian tribe. Thoughtful and moving, though often too slow. It took 7 Oscars and was nominated for 5 more.
Amazing Grace - incredibly powerful drama about the efforts in England to get the slave trade abolished (released on the 200th anniversary of the act abolishing it being passed). Ioan Gruffudd stars as William Wilberforce, whose life becomes devoted to getting the slave trade abolished, and also features Benedict Cumberbatch as Pitt the Younger, who also wants the trade stopped but puts his political career first - though not entirely abandoning the cause. Michael Apted’s direction keeps this moving and refuses to let the message get in the way of the film - with the result that the message comes across even more strongly.
Ladies in Lavender - apart from an unforgettable music score (violin played by Joshua Bell) and having Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith as stars, this tale of a stranger washing up on the shorelines of Cromwall, shortly before the onset of World War II. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the pre-war tension and suspicion of foreigners is captured perfectly. Absorbing despite never moving at a fast pace.
Gosford Park - though this is often billed as a murder mystery, this is really a complex period drama more than anything else. There are so many characters and subplots interacting that it can be difficult to work out quite what’s going on and you need to watch it at least two or three times to be sure you’ve got all the major story elements worked out. I thoroughly recommend this film if you like the occasional challenging movie. A tremendous ensemble cast and good period detail round off a fascinating film.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape - how do you live with an autistic family member? That’s what this movie attempts to answer, with Johnny Depp (Gilbert Grape) mainly charged with looking after Arnie (played by Leonardo de Caprio, who gives an absolutely incredible performance). When love and other complications arise, however, giving his brother the love and support that he needs becomes nearly impossible. A really excellent film.
First Do No Harm - the idea of watching a medical drama based on a true story would normally have me running for the hills, but this one is actually very good. Directed with unaccustomed gravity by “Airplane” creator Jim Abrahams (whose own son suffers from epilepsy and went on the keterogenic diet shown in the movie), it stars reliable tear-jerker Meryl Streep as the mother of a young boy with epilepsy, whose doctors seem to be doing more harm than good.. Soemtimes harrowing but ultimately rewarding reviewing.
For some more great films, see my Top Ten Movies of All Time - an incredibly difficult list to compile!
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