Based on a true story (kind of)
Some films that I have seen that are (somewhat) based on true events. I have not included sports films.
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- DirectorMarvin J. ChomskyStarsHelmut BergerLinda BlairKirk DouglasIn 1976, terrorists hijack an Air France airplane, and divert it to Uganda, where they demand to exchange their hostages for fellow terrorists held in Israeli jails.A little too schmaltzy and overlong. Not as interesting as Raid on Entebbe.
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsPeter FinchCharles BronsonYaphet KottoTrue story of a daring Israeli commando assault on the Entebbe Airport in Uganda to free hostages of a terrorist hijacking.The best of the three films on the Entebbe rescue with an in-form Charles Bronson and a great performance from Peter Finch.
- DirectorMenahem GolanStarsYehoram GaonGila AlmagorAssi DayanIn July 1976, an Air France flight from Tel-Aviv to Paris via Athens was hijacked and forced to land in Entebbe, Uganda. The Jewish passengers were separated and held hostage in demand to release many terrorists held in Israeli prisons. After much debate, the Israeli government sent an elite commando unit to raid the airfield and release the hostages. This movie is based on the true facts and follows the events since the flight's take-off and until the hostages' return to Israel.This has the Israeli government's seal of approval but it isn't as engrossing as Raid on Entebbe.
- DirectorMichael AndersonStarsSteven BauerMichael YorkRobert JoyChronicles a Mossad team hand picked to hunt down the terrorists involved in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre of Israeli athletes.Solid made for Cable film with a great cast and lots of location work. Although based on the same book, this is better than Munich.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsEric BanaDaniel CraigMarie-Josée CrozeAfter the Black September capture and massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics, five men are chosen to eliminate the people responsible for that fateful day.This was good but not as well made as Sword of Gideon.
- DirectorLamont JohnsonStarsGordon PinsentChris WigginsDiana BarringtonA dramatized account of how the staff of the Canadian Embassy helped a group of American diplomats escape from Iran during the Iranian Revolution.Tense, character driven drama based on the escape of 6 Americans from Iran. I prefer this to Argo.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.Great start to the film but a ridiculously exaggerated, unreal ending spoiled it for me. I much prefer the more realistic Escape From Iran The Canadian Caper.
- DirectorR.G. SpringsteenStarsWerner KlempererRuta LeeDonald BukaWith the defeat of Germany that ends World War II in Europe, the Allies discover the true horror of more than six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis - and the fact that one of the architects of this unimaginable crime has escaped. Adolf Eichmann flees to Barcelona and Argentina and the Israeli agents are determined to bring him to justice.Really, really bad.
- DirectorPeter CollinsonStarsTopolNick MancusoJanet SuzmanA true-life political thriller that dramatizes the 1960 capture in Argentina of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, by the Israelis.Very tense and exciting with solid performances from Topol and Albert Burke. Great location filming in Spain doubling for Argentina.
- DirectorWilliam A. GrahamStarsRobert DuvallArliss HowardJeffrey TamborThe story of the 1960 hostile extraction of the Nazi war criminal, Adolf Eichmann, by the Mossad to Israeli justice.Ok film but much too slow and drawn out.
- DirectorPaul GrossStarsPaul GrossMichael GreyeyesJames KotThe lives of a troubled veteran, his nurse girlfriend and a naive boy intersect first in Alberta and then in Belgium during the bloody World War I battle of Passchendaele.A little corny but still very good with spectacular war scenes. Paul Gross is a little old for the role but he still pulls it off.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksBarkhad AbdiBarkhad AbdirahmanThe true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.Absolutely riveting film with a tour-de-force performance by Tom Hanks. The last hour is so intense you will not be able to breathe.
- DirectorMike NicholsStarsTom HanksJulia RobertsPhilip Seymour HoffmanA drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.Not too bad story but what is Julia Roberts doing in this?
- DirectorCaroline LinkStarsJuliane KöhlerMerab NinidzeMatthias HabichDue to Hitler's threat, Walter Redlich, a Jewish lawyer, immigrates to Kenya with his wife Jettel and daughter Regina. Things take a turn when the family is ordered to move by the British officers.Beautiful film with great performances.
- DirectorMohsen MakhmalbafStarsNelofer PaziraHassan TantaiIke OgutAfter an Afghanistan-born woman who lives in Canada receives a letter from her suicidal sister, she takes a perilous journey through Afghanistan to try to find her.Sad, sad film about people caught up in war and oppression. Will leave an impression on you for a long time.
- DirectorDon SiegelStarsClint EastwoodPatrick McGoohanRoberts BlossomAlcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possibly successful attempt at escaping from one of the most infamous prisons in the world.Clint Eastwood is too good to play the lead. Patrick McGoohan too over the top. This is what happens when Hollywood does what it likes. Still, there are some tense moments in the film.
- DirectorBob RafelsonStarsPatrick BerginIain GlenRichard E. GrantThe legendary true-story of Capt. Richard Francis Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke's tumultuous expedition to find the source of the Nile river.Solid period piece.
- DirectorMahesh MathaiStarsKay Kay MenonNethra RaghuramanZeenat AmanA newlywed couple's lives are changed during the lethal gas tragedy in Bhopal, India in 1984.Gut-wrenching film on the Bhopal disaster. The only negative: What in heck is a Bollywood musical number doing in this?
- DirectorDick LowryStarsRonny CoxBruce GreenwoodMichael GrossFlorida 1985: A series of brutal robberies and murders keeps the F.B.I busy. Although all crimes seem to be comitted by the same group, they can't hunt them down. The experienced officer Ben Grogan and his youngest colleague Gordon finally have to rely on their luck when they set up a trap. The chase results in a massacre...Intense to the extreme. The final shootout with the FBI is as gritty as you can get.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsJohn Phillip LawDon StroudBarry PrimusThe story of Manfred von Richthofen, the German air ace during World War I and his struggle with the enemy aces and some jealous German officers.Aerial combats are great but the acting is weak. Too bad.
- DirectorBrian GilbertStarsSally FieldAlfred MolinaSheila RosenthalAn American woman trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutal husband must find a way for her and her daughter to escape.Sally Field is great in this.
- DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsTina FeyMargot RobbieMartin FreemanA journalist recounts her wartime coverage in Afghanistan.This film does not know if it wants to be a comedy or a drama. Consequently, it falls flat and never gets us involved. Disappointing. Tina Fey is ok but can't save the movie. Billy Bob Thornton is about the only actor who pulls his weight. Don't bother with this one.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsTom HanksAaron EckhartLaura LinneyWhen pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger lands his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew, some consider him a hero while others think he was reckless.Terrific recreation of the 2009 landing on the Hudson river. Hanks is amazing as always and he is backed by a great supporting cast including Aaron Eckhart as the first officer. The crash scenes are tense and the rescue well set up. Overall top marks to Clint Eastwood and company.
- DirectorClaude FournierStarsDonald SutherlandGordon TootoosisChief Dan GeorgeBased on an actual event, this is the tragic story of Saskatchewan fugitive Almighty Voice, a Cree Indian who is arrested for stealing government livestock out of desperate hunger.The true story this film tries to tell is very interesting and significant in the history of Canada. Unfortunately, the filmmakers decided to focus on the sensational and let their imaginations run wild which ruins the movie. Donald Sutherland does what he can with the poor script but he can't save this fiasco. The Saskatchewan landscapes are beautiful, thankfully.
- DirectorPhillip BorsosStarsDonald SutherlandHelen MirrenHelen ShaverCanadian surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune (Donald Sutherland) journeys 1,500 miles into China to reach Mao Zedong's eighth route Army in the Wu Tai mountains where he will build hospitals, provide care, and train medics. Flashbacks narrate the earlier events of his life: a bout with tuberculosis at the Trudeau sanatorium; the self-administration of an experimental pneumothorax; the invention of operative instruments; his fascination with Socialism; a journey into medical Russia; and the founding of a mobile plasma-transfusion unit in war-torn Spain. Bethune twice married and twice divorced his wife Frances (Dame Helen Mirren), who chooses abortion over child-rearing in her unstable marriage. By 1939, Bethune had been dismissed from his Montreal Hospital for taking unconventional risks, and from his volunteer position in Spain for his chronic problems of drinking and womanizing. As his friend states: "China was all that was left." Even there, Bethune confidently ignores the advice of Chinese officials until heavy casualties make him realize his mistake and lead him to a spectacular apology.Terrific biopic with a spectacular performance by Donald Sutherland as Dr. Norman Bethune. The story is epic in nature and the location filming in China adds greatly to the overall experience. Not to be missed.
- DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsRobert Downey Jr.Geraldine ChaplinPaul RhysAn elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.Robert Downey Jr. is actually not bad as Chaplin but I got the feeling that they were more interested in showing all the sleazy parts of his life and focus less on his brilliant cinematic career. This could have been so much better had they dealt more with the film making process.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsJim CaviezelSean PennNick NolteAdaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.One of the greatest war films of all time. Terence Malick's direction is sublime. The acting is mostly top notch and the location filming epic. Not to be missed.
- DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsPierce BrosnanStewart BickVlasta VranaThe story of the life and work of the Canadian fur trapper-turned-conservationist who claimed to be an aboriginal North American.Overly schmaltzy biopic which only covers a small part of Grey Owl's life. A lot of this film feels forced. At least the landscapes(Chelsea Quebec doubling for Northern Saskatchewan) are beautiful. Your enjoyment depends a great deal how much you like Pierce Brosnan.
- DirectorDaniel RobyStarsAntoine BertrandGuillaume CyrRose-Maïté ErkorekaBiopic of Louis Cyr, strongest man in the world at the end of the 19th Century.Very good effort. The historical reconstruction is well done. The story fairly interesting.
- DirectorStephen HopkinsStarsGeoffrey RushCharlize TheronEmily WatsonThe feature adaptation of Roger Lewis' book about the actor best remembered as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies.Geoffrey Rush is simply amazing in this but like most biopics, they have tried to cram too much into this. The focus on Sellers' troubled romances is given too much screen time. The whole bit about what happened during the shooting of Casino Royale should have been a lot better. Instead it falls flat. I have mixed feelings about this one.
- DirectorClyde BruckmanBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonMarion MackGlen CavenderAfter being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through enemy lines.Keaton has taken the best parts of the true story and molded it into his film which is a masterpiece. He has changed the focus to have the Confederacy as the heroes but this does not diminish the greatness of the film. Definitely not to be missed.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksCatherine Zeta-JonesChi McBrideAn Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there.This film does not come close to telling the true story it was inspired by. Instead, it is a completely Hollywood re-imagining of the premise. As such it works extremely well . This is in no small part because of the winning performance by Tom Hanks.
- DirectorPaul CowanStarsR.H. ThomsonDavid LowePaul BandeyA film about the Paris Peace Conference that negotiated the end of World War I with the Versailles Treaty.Ok, this is mostly a documentary but there are enough historical recreations of the most important moments that justify me adding it to this list. A terrific docu-drama on an important moment in the history of the modern world.
- StarsSam NeillMichael BryantNorman RodwayA dramatization of the missions and adventures of the greatest spy in British history.Sam Neill is great in this. Some of his adventures strain credibility somewhat but overall this works.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMark RylanceAlan AldaDuring the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.Brilliant recreation of the cold war era with a tense script and great performances all around. A must see if you are interested in the history of the cold war.
- DirectorCameron CroweStarsMatt DamonScarlett JohanssonThomas Haden ChurchSet in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.This story gets the Disney treatment and is fine for what it is-a film for the entire family.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsRussell CroweEd HarrisJennifer ConnellyA mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.I get the feeling that they changed this story a great deal. Did not really enjoy this one.
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsF. Murray AbrahamTom HulceElizabeth BerridgeThe life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.Simply brilliant biopic.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsBryan CranstonDiane LaneHelen MirrenIn 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.This film gets the movie-of-the-week treatment. Bryan Cranston is great but the film feels rushed.
- DirectorTom HooperStarsColin FirthGeoffrey RushHelena Bonham CarterThe story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.Terrific film with a tour-de-force performance by Helena Bonham Carter. Colin Firth is also great. A real feel for the era.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsAnthony HopkinsJohn HurtAnne BancroftA Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.Sensitive portrayal of the subject. A real underplayed film. John Hurt is simply sublime in the title role.
- DirectorArthur PennStarsWarren BeattyFaye DunawayMichael J. PollardBored waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.Warren Beatty really surprised me in this. He turned the character into a three dimensional person and not a caricature. Great cast and real feel for the 1930s.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroCathy MoriartyJoe PesciThe life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.Intense to the extreme like a punch to the gut. Terrific cast.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppMartin LandauSarah Jessica ParkerAmbitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.Very, very funny biopic which never takes itself seriously. Martin Landau steals the show here.
- DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsBen KingsleyJohn GielgudRohini HattangadiThe life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.Sweeping epic film that is unforgettable.
- DirectorLuis ValdezStarsLou Diamond PhillipsEsai MoralesRosanna DeSotoBiographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.Ok for what it is. A good film to see on a rainy day.
- DirectorAlan ParkerStarsBrad DavisIrene MiracleBo HopkinsBilly Hayes, an American college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison.I read the book and the movie does not do it justice. Too many things have been changed. Nonetheless this is a very harrowing story.
- DirectorBennett MillerStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanClifton Collins Jr.Catherine KeenerIn 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.Seymour Philip Hoffman is sublime as Truman Capote.
- DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsJames McAvoyForest WhitakerGillian AndersonBased on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s.Intense film with a great performance by Forest Whitaker. The film builds suspense slowly but ultimately delivers.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsRobin WilliamsForest WhitakerTom T. TranIn 1965, an unorthodox and irreverent DJ named Adrian Cronauer begins to shake up things when he is assigned to the U.S. Armed Services radio station in Vietnam.Robin Williams overacts to the maximum in this but it is funny.
- DirectorSacha GervasiStarsAnthony HopkinsHelen MirrenScarlett JohanssonThe relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho (1960) in 1959 is explored.Strictly by-the-numbers biopic that follows Hitchcock`s career. Not as strong as it could have been but helped greatly by Scarlet Johansson's performance as Janet Leigh.
- DirectorJim McBrideStarsDennis QuaidWinona RyderJohn DoeThe life and career of wildly controversial rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis.Not bad.
- DirectorWalter SallesStarsGael García BernalRodrigo de la SernaMía MaestroErnesto Guevara de la Serna, popularly known as Che, along with his friend Alberto Granado, decides to take a road trip across South America. His experiences on the journey transform him.Beautiful, sensitive, nuanced film. Not to me missed.
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsDavid StrathairnGeorge ClooneyPatricia ClarksonBroadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.Terrific feel for the 1950s. This and great performances makes this rise above most films that attempt to recreate the era.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsRichard FarnsworthSissy SpacekJane Galloway HeitzAn old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.This is all about Richard Farnsworth's performance. Beautiful, layered film that is understated throughout.
- DirectorAllen CoulterStarsAdrien BrodyBen AffleckDiane LaneA detective examines the mysterious death of George Reeves, the star of the television series Adventures of Superman (1952).Odd film that contains some great moments and solid performances throughout.
- DirectorLouis MalleStarsAndre GregoryWallace ShawnJean LenauerTwo old friends meet for dinner; as one tells anecdotes detailing his experiences, the other notices their differing worldviews.The title tells it all. Many, many subtle moments throughout. A refreshing treat to watch.
- DirectorSam PeckinpahStarsJames CoburnKris KristoffersonRichard JaeckelPat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid.The famous story gets the Hollywood treatment and that is not a good thing. Why are Americans so interested in making criminals look good? I did not connect with this at all.
- DirectorMichael AptedStarsSigourney WeaverBryan BrownJulie HarrisThe story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.Did not care for this film. Dian Fossey is portrayed as some kind of neurotic woman who fawns over pictures of her gorillas. Seriously? They missed the boat on this one.
- DirectorJohn MaddenStarsJudi DenchBilly ConnollyGeoffrey PalmerWhen Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert dies, she finds solace in her trusted servant, Mr. John Brown, but their relationship also brings scandal and turmoil.Judi Dench is terrific as always but the revelation here is Billy Connolly. Great film.
- DirectorMichael ReevesStarsVincent PriceIan OgilvyRupert DaviesA young soldier seeks to put an end to the evils caused by a vicious witch-hunter when the latter terrorizes his fiancée and kills her uncle.Tour de force performance by Vincent Price as the title character. Oppressive film about a very dark period in England`s history. The contrast between the idyllic countrysides and the brutality perpetrated by the witch finder is remarkable. Not for the weak of heart but a terrific piece of film making.
- DirectorBob FosseStarsMariel HemingwayEric RobertsCliff RobertsonA successful young model finds trouble when her obsessive manager-turned-husband becomes dangerously jealous.Sad, sad film. Unfortunately you will feel like you need a shower after watching this.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsJames StewartMurray HamiltonPatricia SmithCharles 'Slim' Lindbergh struggles to finance and design an airplane that will make his New York to Paris flight the first solo transatlantic crossing.James Stewart is great in this. Well made.
- DirectorRoger ChristianStarsTchéky KaryoF. Murray AbrahamRutger HauerNostradamus (1503-66) was a French doctor, astrologer and seer during the Inquisition, successful in treating patients during an outbreak of plague.I was expecting a very silly film and I got a silly film. Very poorly made.
- DirectorPhillip BorsosStarsRichard FarnsworthJackie BurroughsKen PogueWhen an aging, but gentlemanly stagecoach robber is released from prison, he decides to go to Canada to become a train robber.Once again Richard Farnsworth makes this good film that much better. Wayne Robson is also quite good in this. A nice feel for the period.
- DirectorFrançois GirardStarsColm FeoreDerek KeurvorstKatya LadanA collection of vignettes highlighting different aspects of the life, work, and character of the acclaimed Canadian classical pianist.Innovative biopic with a fantastic performance by Colm Feore as Gould. Excellent all around.
- DirectorRené Cardona Jr.StarsStuart WhitmanGene BarryJohn IrelandReverend Jim Jones, the priest of an independent church in the South American country Guyana, orders his followers to commit suicide. But not all of them follow him blindly and begin to think on their own.Absolute garbage. How dare they make this travesty?
- DirectorMelville ShavelsonStarsKirk DouglasJohn WayneFrank SinatraIn 1947, following the U.N. decision to split British Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, a former U.S. Army officer is recruited by the Jews to reorganize the Haganah.Schmaltzy to the extreme film on the creation of Israel. Too bad, the true story of Mickey Marcus is amazing. Instead we get something akin to a TV movie. Even John Wayne looks uncomfortable in this.
- DirectorGillo PontecorvoStarsBrahim HadjadjJean MartinYacef SaadiIn the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.Amazing that there is no newsreel footage in this. The documentary style really sets this apart from other similar films. There are some moments of sheer agony in this film (the drunk man attacked by the young kids, the young boy attacked at the race track ,etc.). Your enjoyment of the film will be greatly affected by how much you believe in armed revolutions.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsJohn MillsEric PortmanChristopher RhodesAllied prisoners - British, Dutch, French and Polish - pool their resources to plan numerous escapes from the "escape-proof" German P.O.W. camp housed in a Medieval castle known as "Colditz".Gritty war drama with a terrific cast. A tense, well acted, well made film.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsFionn WhiteheadBarry KeoghanMark RylanceAllied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.Epic in scope and presentation, this film does a great job in showing just how massive the evacuation of Dunkirk really was. Unfortunately, I never got attached to any of the characters(except maybe the Spitfire pilot) so I did not enjoy this as much as I should have. Still, it has some amazing moments.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsMel GibsonMark LeeBill KerrTwo Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.Spectacular film on the Australians who fought at Gallipoli during World War One. The film builds up slowly, introducing us to the characters and their lives. The battle scenes only take place in the last 30 minutes of the film. Beautiful cinematography, a great script and genuine performances all contribute to making this one of the best war films ever. My only quibble: The electronic music we get on occasion, while beautiful, is out of place in this. Otherwise, an absolute must see.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchAli FazalTim Pigott-SmithQueen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.Dame Judi Dench is simply amazing in this her second time as Queen Victoria. The art design and period reconstruction are very well done but...I get the feeling that we are watching a whitewashed version of history. The hypocrisy of the entire Royal entourage leads to quite a few funny moments in the film but it all feels like the screen writers are re-writing history. Worth seeing for Dame Judi's incredible performance and Eddie Izzard's turn as her son, the future King of England, but the entire film has to be taken with a grain of salt.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsDana AndrewsGene TierneyJune HavocThe story of Soviet cypher-clerk Igor Gouzenko who was posted to the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa,Canada in 1943 and defected in 1945 to reveal the extent of Soviet espionage activities directed against Canada.A fictionalized version of the Gouzenko Affair is very well made. Exteriors were shot in Ottawa, which lends an air of authenticity to the film. It is tense and the atmosphere is just right. They play a little fast and loose with the facts but that is to be expected. Acting is a little over the top in some cases. Well worth seeing.
- DirectorJeff NicholsStarsRuth NeggaJoel EdgertonWill DaltonThe story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court's historic 1967 decision.Beautifully made movie.
- DirectorPaul SchraderStarsGreg KinnearWillem DafoeMaria BelloThe life of TV star Bob Crane and his strange friendship with electronics expert John Henry Carpenter.This is a fascinating film but it focuses primarily on all the sleazy aspects of Bob Crane's life. You will feel you need a shower after watching this but it is very well done. Willem Dafoe is quite brilliant in this as a slimy creep who befriends Crane and introduces him to videotaped sexual escapades.
- DirectorBill PohladStarsJohn CusackPaul DanoElizabeth BanksIn the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 80s, he's a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy.Very harrowing biopic of the mental illness struggles suffered by Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys). Very well made but tough to watch.