The story we all know. When white text appears on the screen stating that the film is “Based on Actual Events”, we can assume that there is at most 30% truth in it. However, films that draw inspiration from non-fictional reality have always veered more and more between pure and hard biopics and more or less fictional extrapolations. However, nothing beats the joy of discovering a story that has its roots, at least partially, in “real life”. So of course, for the sake of it, we might as well just crack open a book, but we also have every right to sit in front of a screen and passively let these soft rays of blue light tell us a story. Famous historical tales or mind-blowing scenarios, weirder than any fantasy, here are 10 of our favorites from movies inspired by true events to stream without restraint.
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10. Tick, Tick… BOOM! (2021)
Andrew Garfield belting out the song, what more could you ask for? In the directorial debut of Broadway icon Lin Manuel Miranda, the actor plays Jonathan Larson, the musical’s producer. Rent which broke all attendance records in the late 1990s. Tick, Tick… BOOM! is a musical, but the film mainly focuses on the series of failures Larson faces before her grand victory. Furthermore, the making of the film does not show Rent, and focuses on the music that the composer wanted to compose even before he had thought about his future success. Larsen never got a chance to witness the victory Rent, and the specter of his tragic demise looms over the film on the night of the preview. But instead of plunging it into noxious atmosphere, it only reinforces its message: take life as it is, not as it is. to be able To be in a fictional future.
Watch on Netflix.
9. The Big Short: The Heist of the Century (2015)
If the financial crash of 2008 has gone over your head, don’t panic. the big short Does it exist to convince you (or say so that it still goes over your head, but a little less – no small victory). For this in-depth look at the history of the housing bubble burst that changed the face of the world, Adam McKay leans on this book. The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine Michael Lewis, and does not hesitate to use bizarre techniques: his characters, for example, happily break the fourth wall, or Margot Robbie leaves herself in the shower to explain to dummies about the principle of “short selling”, or commutation in business English. Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt (and the still-little-known Jeremy Strong) play these men who all made fortunes by losing money, while Christian Bale, in his part, embodies the man who predicted the fall. Well, the movie is pretty confusing and, to be honest, we’re not ready to swear on our hearts that you’ll be able to explain what’s what. commutation After watching, but it’s still a lot of fun!
Watch on Netflix and Prime Video.
8. the limelight (2015)
the subject of the limelight Incredibly scary. We follow Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Michael Keaton as investigative reporters. Boston Globe- 2003 Pulitzer Prize Winner , which exposed widespread sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Massachusetts. A revelation that created a domino effect and exposed countless similar crimes within the Church around the world. Disgusting finds, unfortunately, are still relevant. The film shows the difficult daily work of a journalist, which includes months of wasted work trying to follow up false leads, among unfriendly interlocutors, and the psychological difficulties of being so close to the horror. It is, above all else, a film full of humanity, especially in the way it looks at the victims.
For viewing on VOD.
7. queens (2019)
queens It was criminally overlooked during awards season in 2020, and don’t even get us started on Jennifer Lopez’s lack of Best Actress Oscar nominations. The film tells the story of a gang of strippers who pull off a scam to extort money from their wealthy clients, bankers and CEOs. The cast also brings together Constance Wu, Keke Palmer, and Lili Reinhart, and we even get cameos from Cardi B and Lizzo. While some films based on true stories are inspired by biographies or collective cultural memory, queens Taken from a 2015 article, The Hustlers at Scores, featured in the magazine New York and Jessica Pressler (played by Julia Stiles in the film) was signed. If the story is heavily embellished to make it more cinematic, queens Definitely deserves a spot on this list, right up front for Lopez’s fabulous fur coat and bikini combo.
Watch on Prime Video.
6. Lion (2016)
Lion The most deeply human story (and most heartbreaking: bring an XL box of tissues). Dev Patel plays Saru Brearley, a young Indian who is adopted by an Australian couple (played by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). As a young man, Saru desperately tries to remember and locate his hometown using Google Earth, in hopes of eventually reuniting with his family. An obsessive, slow and painful process that would eventually wear him down. No spoilers, but as mentioned above, be prepared to shed a stream of tears. Saru’s Incredible Story, Excerpted From His Book i wanted to find my motherA brilliant exploration of the idea of identity and motherhood in all its forms.
For viewing on VOD.
5. Erin Brockovich, Alone Against All (2000)
do we really need to specify it Erin Brockovich Is it a great movie? As proof, we want an Oscar for Julia Roberts. The star plays a stranded single mother who confronts a gas and electricity conglomerate that intentionally poisons the residents of a small Californian town with contaminated wastewater. On its own, it would receive several hundred million in compensation for its customers who have suffered from tumors caused by this toxic waste. Julia Roberts shines in the role of Brockovich, a character with an explosive temper who must finally control the anger and frustration she needs to accept herself. A classic underdog story that spreads its wings, and all the excitement that comes with it.
For viewing on VOD.
4. blackkklansman (2018)
blackkklansman should be placed in the category of stories so insane you’d think they were invented. As the title suggests, the film chronicles the adventures of a black policeman who infiltrates the Klu Klux Klan. John David Washington plays Ron Stallworth, who identifies himself as white on the phone with the local KKK branch, but is forced to enlist the help of fellow Jew, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), when he needs to meet the group in person. This situation will obviously create tension and suspicion. directed by Spike Lee, blackkklansman manages to find a difficult balance between political action and comedy, where each laugh feels like a blow to the stomach.
Watch on Prime Video.
3. Forgers of Manhattan (2018)
Forgers of Manhattan brings together all the components of true storry Successful: A shot of history you never knew existed, a pinch of crime, and a generous dose of awkward friendship. Melissa McCarthy plays Lee Israel, a struggling biographer who tries to revive her career by forging letters from dead authors and playwrights. Richard E Grant plays Jack Hawke, a friend she must reluctantly welcome into her life. From the scandal to the short episode, which is little change from the over-the-top chilling crimes usually brought to the screen, it nevertheless spawned a massive FBI operation. However, the heart of the film lies elsewhere, the story of a small life of a very lonely woman who is afraid of relationships and intimacy. Both McCarthy and Grant were nominated for Oscars for their respective career-defining roles.
Watch it on Disney+.
2. Proud (2014)
The best adaptations of real events are often recorded in short stories that are woven within a larger story. The great British miners’ strike of 1984 is already a story in itself, but Proud The focus is on a specific episode that occurred in this context, the unlikely relationship between Welsh minors and LGBTQ+ activists. Constrained and forced by events, a colorful LGBTQ+ group and the residents of a small village stunned by the strike form an alliance. The friendship would be born against a background of generalized prejudice, both on the side of minors when public opinion began to change, and on the side of activists when the AIDS crisis peaked. It’s impossible not to be swayed by this casual and brilliant tale where humanity finds common points, presented by an impeccable cast from Bill Nighy to Dominic West, through Andrew Scott or George Mackay.
To watch on MyCanal.
1. stop me if You Can (2002)
The problem when you’re one of the most famous directors in the world is that some of your most successful works can easily be sidelined when you look at your corpus. This is a rarely cited case stop me if You CanUndoubtedly, one of Steven Spielberg’s best films, which brings together Leonardo DiCaprio, then young girls at the end of their prime, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken and Amy Adams (then very young). The film tells the (almost) completely true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a young conman who constantly assumed new identities while cashing counterfeit checks in the 1960s and 1970s. He was pursued by the FBI for years, before being caught much later, even while he was working with them (the federal agency still refuses to comment on the subject to this day). elegant and sexy in its old case, stop me if You Can One of the most captivating cat and mouse games ever brought to the screen.
Watch on Netflix.
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