Shubhabrata Dutta
There’s something about movies based on true stories that makes them palpable and more attractive. References always work a great deal in transporting us into the world of the plot. If it is based on a true story, it provides a surreal feeling of getting to know real people from a specific period in history or experiencing a virtual first-hand experience of an actual event, whether a memorable one, a horrifying one, or a historical one. In this list, we bring you some great movies based on real stories available for streaming on HBO Max. Each of these showcases a unique event while throwing light on the sentiments and society of the time.
14. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ is the seventh installment in The Conjuring Universe. It blends facts and fiction- borrowing from the 1981 murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who killed his landlord but pled not guilty by reason of demonic possession, the first of its kind in the country, and incorporating a witch and a satanic curse. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, respectively. The film shows how the couple was involved in the case before it even was one. Directed by Michael Chaves, ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ co-stars Ruairi O’Connor, Eugenie Bondurant, Sarah Catherine, and Julian Hilliard. You can watch it here.
13. I, Tonya (2017)
‘I, Tonya’ is a biographical mockumentary drama based on the life and career of American figure skater Tonya Harding. It follows how Tonya (Margot Robbie) assisted her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan) in injuring her rival Nancy Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver) before the 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships and the Winter Olympics. Kerrigan was attacked by an assailant with a baton on her right leg. This would increase the chances of Tonya winning in both of them.
However, the film is based on the interviews of Tonya, who states that she didn’t know about the attack beforehand, and Jeff, and makes it clear that it is up to the viewers to believe them. Using dark comedy and fourth wall breaks, director Craig Gillespie gives us an intriguing view into the sportswoman’s life, right from her childhood, when she was tormented by her abusive mother, LaVona Golden (Allison Janney), to her present condition. She has been banned from skating forever and lives with her third husband and son, exploring other hobbies. ‘I, Tonya’ received several accolades, including a Best Actress nomination for Robbie at the 90th Academy Awards and the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Janney. You can watch the film here.
12 The Iron Claw (2023)
This compelling biographical sports drama is directed by Sean Durkin. It tells the story of the Von Erich family, a wrestling family hailing from Texas, and the Von Erich curse that cost the lives of five of Fritz Von Erich’s six sons. The five were aged between 6 and 33, and three of them died by killing themselves. All five died between 1959 and 1993.
The narrative shows Fritz Von Erich’s time as wrestling company owner, his sons’ times as wrestlers, their success, and their deaths are all addressed in the film in a powerful and moving manner. The title is taken from the signature move used by the Von Erichs inside the ring. The film’s cast includes Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons, all of whom play the Von Erich brothers, Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich, and Maura Tierney as Fritz’s wife, Doris Von Erich. You can watch ‘The Iron Claw’ here.
11. Something the Lord Made (2004)
‘Something the Lord Made,’ directed by Joseph Sargent, tells the tale of a miracle that would revolutionize saving lives forever. The movie explores the real-life relationship between Vivien Thomas and Alfred Blalock. Who are they? Blalock was a white cardiologist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine who hired an African-American named Thomas as a lab assistant in 1930, only to realize the latter’s acumen and hands-on talents. In 1941, Blalock brought Thomas to John Hopkins Hospital, where they together carried out the first successful surgery of the heart by treating Blue Baby Syndrome, thereby becoming the pioneers of and ushering in the bypass surgery era in medical treatment.
Alan Rickman plays the role of Alfred Blalock, and Mos Def plays Vivien Thomas. The movie is based on a Washington Post article, “Like Something the Lord Made” by Katie McCabe, and explores the 34-year partnership between the two guys till Blalock’s death in 1964. This is why such movies are important. We get to know about events that have shaped society to the point where it is today. And it is surreal to wonder how different things would be today if Blalock hadn’t brought Thomas to John Hopkins and made sure that the latter was allowed to work during a time when racism was everywhere. You can watch the movie here.
10. Jackie (2016)
‘Jackie’ is the first film in Pablo Larraín’s trilogy of 20th-century iconic women. It was followed by ‘Spencer’ (focusing on Princess Diana) and ‘Maria’ (focusing on American-Greek opera singer Maria Callas). It centers on Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of former US President John F. Kennedy, focusing on the events in the wake of the latter’s assassination in 1963. The way in which the lady managed the grief of losing her husband, took care of her children, and maintained her demeanor in the days following the incident is compellingly shown in the film, with special thanks going to Natalie Portman’s performance as the titular personality. The film partly borrows from Theodore H. White’s Life magazine interview with Jackie Kennedy in November 1963. If the history of American politics interests you, this film will do you a good job. It can be streamed here.
9. Reality (2023)
What makes ‘Reality’ so striking is that it is based on the transcript of an interrogation, and we have to hand it to director/co-writer Tina Satter and co-writer James Paul Dallas for pulling it off. The movie depicts the words exchanged between Reality Winner, an NSA translator, and FBI agents R. Wallace Taylor and Justin C. Garrick after the two arrested her on June 3, 2017. She was charged with leaking classified NSA (National Security Agency) intel to an online publication. The documents leaked had proof of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and stated that it aimed to spark discord in the country by compromising Hillary Clinton’s campaign and, by extension, boosting Donald Trump’s chances of winning the presidential elections.
This supposedly led to U.S. President Trump firing FBI director James Comey on May 9, 2017, an event also shown in the film via news coverage. The movie delves deep into the conversation and tries to show as accurately as possible how the interrogation may have proceeded. Sydney Sweeney plays the role of Reality Winner in an authentic manner (like someone who has leaked secrets is expected to behave), with Josh Hamilton as Garrick and Marchánt Davis as Taylor. As for Reality Winner, she was sentenced to prison on August 23, 2018, was moved to a transitional facility in San Antonio, Texas, on June 2, 2021, on account of good behavior, and will be on probation until November 2024. You may watch ‘Reality’ here.
8. The Tale (2018)
Jennifer Fox has written and directed ‘The Tale’ based on her own experiences of child sexual abuse at the hands of an Olympic gold medalist and how she came to terms with it. The film features Laura Dern as Fox, who recollects her childhood experience of being involved in a sexual relationship with a much older man. Upon further analysis and interrogation that resulted from a letter she wrote as a kid, she realizes how she was groomed and sexually exploited. Jumping to and fro between past and present, ‘The Tale’ is a sensitive drama that addresses the topic with grace and strength. It received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie. You can watch it here.
7. King Richard (2021)
It is a dream come true for Richard Williams, father of world-famous tennis stars cum sisters Serena Williams and Venus Williams. And ‘King Richard,’ directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, aptly shows how Richard ensured it did. In the movie, we see how Richard (Will Smith) prepares a 78-page plan for his daughters, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), even before they are born. Whether you like it or not, the two sisters did acquire their father’s thirst to succeed and trained against all odds to become world champions. But this movie isn’t just about them.
It is about the whole Williams family and all that they went through together to give shape to their hope. ‘King Richard’ is a story of courage, hard work, faith, and family. Will Smith’s performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 2022 Academy Awards. The film also got a Best Picture nomination, a Best Original Screenplay nomination, and three other nominations. You can check out the film here.
6. Joy (2015)
In a performance that made her the youngest person in history to receive four Oscar nominations, Jennifer Lawrence stars as millionaire entrepreneur Joy Mangano in David O. Russell’s ‘Joy.’ How Mangano fought numerous battles, personal and professional, and established a business empire to become a matriarch in her own right has been showcased in the film in a captivating and inspiring manner. Co-starring Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper, ‘Joy’ is as much a film about the intricacies of business as it is the portrait of a successful businessperson. You can watch it here.
5. The Revenant (2015)
The film that brought Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award for Best Actor, ‘The Revenant’ is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and is partly based on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel ‘The Revenant’ which itself is based on John G. Neihardt’s 1915 epic poem ‘The Song of Hugh Glass.’
The film is set in 1823 and follows frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio), who is abandoned, in a half-buried position, by his company after he is almost killed by a grizzly bear. This they are convinced to do by a guy named John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), who even kills Glass’s son because they are in enemy territory and can be attacked at any moment by the Arikara war parties, Native Indians of present-day North Dakota. The film then follows a badly wounded Glass, who somehow pulls himself out of the grave and begins his journey back to the fort, bent on revenge against Fitzgerald for killing his son. A visual spectacle by all means, ‘The Revenant’ is a unique Western drama worthy of high praise. You can watch it here.
4. Bad Education (2019)
This Cory Finley directorial tells the story of the biggest public school embezzlement in American history, at the Roslyn Union Free School District, Long Island, which came to light in 2004. Based on the 2004 New York magazine article “The Bad Superintendent” by Robert Kolker, the narrative shows how student reporter Rachel Bhargava (fictional counterpart of Rebekah Rombom, the editor-in-chief of the Roslyn High School newspaper, who found the discrepancies) discovered the misappropriation of school funds while researching for an article.
The embezzlement is eventually revealed to be over $11 million, the biggest school theft in the nation’s history. It was carried out by school district superintendent Dr. Frank Tassone and assistant superintendent Pam Gluckin. Featuring stellar performances by Hugh Jackman as Frank Tassone and Allison Janney as Pam Gluckin, ‘Bad Education’ is a must-watch true-story drama. It co-stars Geraldine Viswanathan as Rachel Bhargava, along with Annaleigh Ashford and Ray Romano. You can watch it here.
3. Fruitvale Station (2013)
This biographical drama is Ryan Coogler’s feature directorial debut. It is based on the events surrounding the death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, an African-American, who was killed by police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, on January 1, 2009. While Grant’s name is left unchanged, the cops’ names are different. ‘Fruitvale Station’ shows the last day in the life of Grant, including the fight that broke out between him and a guy he knew from prison, where he did time for gun possession, and his subsequent death. The film also shows the aftermath of his death, including riots and protests after the video of him being shot goes viral. Michael B. Jordan plays the role of Oscar Grant. The cast also includes Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, and Chad Michael Murray. You can watch ‘Fruitvale Station’ here.
2. 42 (2013)
Brian Helgeland’s biographical drama ’42’ is about the life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. In 1947, Robinson broke the sport’s color barrier by playing first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in Major League Baseball. The film delves into racism in America during the time and how sports, too, was affected by it. Amid that, some people supported Robinson and his talent, which ultimately landed him a position within the Brooklyn Dodgers, though it came at a price, one of restraint when provoked. Robinson eventually fought his way forward and became one of the greatest baseball players of all time, etching his name in the Baseball Hall of Fame and immortalizing his jersey number “42.” In the film, Chadwick Boseman’s performance as Jackie Robinson earned him critical acclaim and many accolades. The film itself was praised for its story and the way it depicted the sportsman’s life during a tense period in American history. You can watch ’42’ here.
1. 127 Hours (2010)
Based on canyoneer Aron Ralston’s memoir ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place,’ ‘127 Hours’ covers the titular amount of time Aron spent in a slot canyon in 2003 with his right arm stuck under a boulder. Directed by Danny Boyle, the film shows how Aron’s love for climbing canyons and mountains takes a dark turn after he slips and gets stuck under a boulder. How he gets himself out of the situation while keeping himself alive has been depicted in a nerve-wracking manner that is bound to make you feel his pain. James Franco’s portrayal of Aron Ralston is brilliant, and he manages to tap into the different emotions his character feels while trying to get himself out and grappling with the possibility of death. Nominated for 6 Oscars, 8 BAFTAs, and 3 Golden Globes, ‘127 Hours’ is a must-watch true-story based drama. You can stream it here.
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