It’s been a month of not leaving the house. Everything has pretty much been normal as of late, whatever normal tends to be these days anyway. In terms of life, I’m about 7000 words into a story I’m really passionate about but have no idea how to complete. And I really miss my friends and my tiny apartment in Bangkok. Privacy is a luxury, and I should’ve never taken it for granted.
Sob stories aside, the list for today is movies based on real life. While I’m not fond of documentaries (unless they’re produced by the WWE), I love biopics. To make a movie out of an event that took place or an actual person should tell you already that these stories were meant to be spread. As always, the list is mentioned below, keep scrolling for trailers and summaries. Also, while you’re here check out my comedies, romantic comedies, high school comedies, and thrillers posts.
- BlacKkKlansman
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Catch Me If You Can
- Changeling
- Coach Carter
- Dallas Buyer’s Club
- Dolemite Is My Name
- Eddie The Eagle
- Ford vs Ferrari
- Hustlers
- I, Tonya
- Legend
- Milk
- Rocketman
- Straight Outta Compton
- Tag
- The Blind Side
- The Butler
- The Fighter
- The Help
- The Last Full Measure
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- The Upside
- Unstoppable
- We Bought a Zoo
BlacKkKlansman
This follows the story of Ron Stallworth, who was the first African-American officer in the Colorado Police Department. The movie focuses on his investigation into the KKK and how he manages to join it, with help from his colleagues and take it down from the inside. If you have a moment, I recommend you read the book too. The story is so absurd and absolutely hilarious.
Bohemian Rhapsody
This movie revolves around the life of Freddie Mercury, of Queen: from his early life to his rise to fame and becoming a global sensation. This was once of those movies that had to be watched in the cinema because listening to those songs with surround sound was damn near celestial. But, I’m sure watching it in the comfort of your own home with the headphones on full should semble some sort of magic too.
Catch Me If You Can
Frank Abagnale is essentially a con artist who has scammed a ton of people to earn money; we’re not talking about petty change, he’s acquired millions of dollars. The word steal isn’t appropriate here because he was really smart in the way he did things. If there was ever a movie which made me want to become a criminal, it was this one. Also, this is my favorite Leo DiCaprio movie/role to date.
Changeling
Based on the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, this movie revolves around a mother whose only child goes missing. The police find a boy of a similar description and tries to convince her that it is her son. When she fights them and attempts to prove it’s not her child, they deem her delusional and admit her to a psychiatric ward. I was really really young when I watched this, but I can still remember Angelina Jolie’s acting so vividly. It’s haunting.
Coach Carter
This movie is based on a high school basketball coach named Ken Carter. In 1999 he suspended every player from his undefeated team due to their poor academic performance. He wants to teach his team to have aspirations and give them a life outside of basketball, one filled with opportunities.
Dallas Buyer’s Club
After being denied access to an HIV/AIDS medication trial, Ron Woodroof takes matters into his own hands. He figures out there are other drugs out there to treat himself and others like him, but they’re simply not FDA approved. He begins smuggling these drugs into the country and starts a membership-based distribution chain, which catches the attention of some major governing forces. Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for this role, and trust me when I say that it was very well deserved.
Dolemite Is My Name
A struggling comedian collects stories from the elders in his community and creates an outrageous character based on them. After this picks up and gains prominence he begins expanding his art through music, and eventually a self-produced movie. It’s so chaotically funny. Eddie Murphy has never let me down, and this movie is no exception.
Eddie The Eagle
This movie follows Eddie Edwards and his dream of taking part in the Olympics. After facing a myriad of obstacles and failing consistently, he becomes the first participant to represent Great Britain in ski-jumping at the Winter Olympics. Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman make an unlikely but fantastic duo, and it’s a wholesome watch.
Ford vs Ferrari
When Ford runs out of ways to come out on top of the market, they decide they want to form a racing team and go head to head with Ferrari. With the help with an American car designer, Carroll Shelby, and an impulsive British driver, Ken Miles they’re able to build a car that’s able to give Ferrari a run for their money at the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans.
Hustlers
After the 2008 economic collapse threatens the earnings and livelihoods of a group of strippers, they come up with different ways to draw in a new clientele and keep revenues high. If not for the plot, come for Jennifer Lopez’s 4-minute dance solo. It’s well worth it.
I, Tonya
This movie revolves around Tonya Harding, a prominent figure skater, who was the first American woman to complete a triple axel during a competition. It follows her life and career, focusing on the leadings and aftermath of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, allegedly orchestrated by her ex-husband. If you thought sports that involve sparkles and tutus weren’t cutthroat, think again.
Legend
Set in 1960s, this movie follows the lives of the Kray Twins, Ronald and Reggie. Being two of the most feared and notorious gangsters in London at the time, this movie shadows the investigation which leads to their imprisonment. It’s narrated in the voice of Frances Shea, Reggie’s wife. There’s two Tom Hardy’s and one Taron Egerton in this movie. You don’t need any other reason to watch it.
Milk
This movie showcases the life of Harvey Milk and his numerous campaigns to becoming a state supervisor, and thereby becoming the first openly gay man elected into major office in the United States. This movie touched my actual soul. I cried so many times and it really resonated with me. It’s powerful and so relevant.
Rocketman
This movie takes on the life of Elton John and his rise to fame. It’s a fantasy musical that shows us the highest and lowest points of his life in the most beautiful way possible. With some of his best songs being covered by the exceptionally talented Taron Egerton, this movie had me dancing in my seat on multiple occasions. Or literally every time they sang a song.
Straight Outta Compton
Revolving around the hip hop group NWA, featuring artists in the likes of Ice Cube, Eazy E, and Dr. Dre, this movie showcases the trials and tribulations these individuals had to overcome to rise to fame. Their records created controversies due to their brash lyrics which particularly challenged those in authority and their treatments of African Americans in the community. Watching this movie showed me that a) shit that happened 20 years ago is still very much relevant today, and b) my music library has zero variety.
Tag
This movie is about a game of tag that has been going on for 30 years between a group of four friends. One of them has never been tagged and since he’s about to get married, the other three think they have a chance of getting him because he’d be otherwise preoccupied. This movie is hilarious because it’s a comedy that’s shot like an action movie so it’s pretty entertaining to witness.
The Blind Side
This movie follows a white family adopting a homeless African American teenager and helping him with academics as well as training him for football. This is a bad explanation of a brilliant movie and I do apologize. I’ve watched this maybe once or twice but if I close my eyes I can still hear Sandra Bullock’s pep talks. At least three of them.
The Butler
This movie is based on real-life accounts from Cecil Gaines, who was the head butler in the White House from 1952 to 1986. He served under eight presidents and had a front-row seat to see how the political and racial climate in America changed through the years. The magnitude of what this movie deals with and the message it conveys is powerful and so inspiring. It was shot so well with an inside perspective and it was a very interesting and educational watch.
The Fighter
Mickey Ward comes from a family of boxing. His mother is his manager and his older brother, who is his trainer, was a once promising boxer himself. Despite all his hard work and dedication to the sport, he has a tremendous losing streak and after his last fight nearly kills him, he decides to call it quits. This movie follows him getting a second chance and doing this his way for a change.
The Help
An aspiring writer decides to give a voice to the black maids of Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s by publishing a collection of stories that expose the racism and prejudice they face while working under white families. The movie focuses on two maids, in particular, Minny and Aibileen, portrayed by the best of the best, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. The story in itself is so relevant and gripping, and definitely something everyone should watch because it’s not a perspective that is often represented.
The Last Full Measure
This movie follows the attempt to get a Medal of Honor for William H. Pittensberg, whose actions saved the lives of many U.S. troops during the Vietnam War. A young staff member of the Pentagon, who is amidst a promotion gets drawn into investigating this case and uncovers some hidden information that could directly affect his superiors and his career if it comes out. I’m not one to enjoy war movies but this one literally took my breath away. Sebastian Stan was born to be a leading man, and this movie proves it.
The Pursuit of Happyness
After losing all his life savings, getting kicked out of his apartment, and having his wife leave him, Chris Garder must carry on and face his challenges head on for the sake of his young son. He takes up an unpaid internship at a brokerage firm and works hard to create a better life for his family, while showing his child that even though times get rough, there’s always a silver lining.
The Upside
Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic who has given up on life and Dell is a parolee desperate for a job. By some twist of fate, he gets hired to become a caretaker and while their cultures clash at first they become really accustomed to one another. Despite being from vastly different backgrounds and having separate views on life, they find common ground and Dell teaches Phillip how to enjoy life to the fullest again.
Unstoppable
A small misdirect leads to an unmanned freight train hurtling at unsettling speed towards a densely populated town. Two men, an engineer and a conductor who happen to be in the same route must race to stop the train before it reaches the town and potentially derails. I remember watching this at the cinema and I almost fell off my chair. That’s how much on edge I was.
We Bought a Zoo
It’s the story of how a family of three, grieving the loss of their mother unintentionally comes into the possession of a run-down zoo that’s in dire need of maintenance. At the risk of losing all his assets, the dad pours everything he has into bringing the zoo up to its former glory while at the same time helping his kids work through emotional obstacles. It’s wholesome, beautiful and so fun at the same time. You definitely see some familiar faces, and if the movie doesn’t make you smile, you’re probably watching it wrong.
No conclusion, but I just want to say I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Keep it tight, lads.
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