Best Biographical Movies - Part 11

Posted on 1 Oct 00:00

This eleventh article of this series on biographical movies discusses seven more of the best biographical movies.

1.  Deliver Us From Evil (2006)

Plot:  This movie follows a priest, Oliver O'Grady, through his life. Oliver confesses that between the 1970s and 1990s when he was serving in the North Californian region, he did molest and rape approximately twenty-five children. Oliver's crimes eventually came to light, and he was convicted. He was sent to prison, where he served seven years in prison. After that, Oliver was deported to Ireland. Director, Amy J. Berg, visited Oliver in Ireland, where she interviewed him. From the film, it is clear that the church was aware of the crimes committed by Oliver but hid them to protect Oliver and the church. The movie also chronicles court trials and interviews with various people, including activists and theologians.

Director: Amy J. Berg.

Main Cast: Oliver O'Grady, Thomas P. Doyle, Ann Marie Jyono, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jyono, Adam and Becky M, Nancy Sloan,and Dr. Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea.

Commercial Performance: This film grossed $327,205 in the US.  Its international box office is unknown.

Awards and Nominations: Critics gave this film positive reviews. During the 2006 Los Angeles Festival that took place in Los Angeles, the movie was nominated for and won the Best Documentary Feature Award. The Academy Awards also it for the Best Documentary Feature Award.


2.  42 Up (1999)

Plot: Seven years prior to this film, Michael Apted had interviewed a group of British-born adults (every seven years since the age of seven). Now at age 42 Michael interviews them again. They relate the changes that have taken place in their lives over the past seven years. This time, two of the adults refuse the interview while the others agree. At this point, career changes have occurred, getting better for some while getting worse for others. Their marriages have also changed, some marriages are strong, others are shaky, others have ended, and some have just begun. Some must to deal with the death of a parent and the bearing of children. Others also face health challenges while others do fairly well at 42.

Director:  Michael Apted.

Main Cast:  All but two of the 14 subjects.

Commercial Performance: Unknown.

Awards and Nominations: The BAFTA Awards awarded the film the Best Photography (Factual) that was given to cinematographer, George Jesse Turner. During the 1998 Awards Circuit Community Awards, the film was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature ACCA Award.


3.  Cocaine Cowboys (2006)

Plot: This film portrays one of the greatest drug related events in history. It depicts how cocaine and the Miami war of drugs rose and fell again and Miami, Florida became the flooded with cocaine. This occurred between the 1970s and 1980s. In creating the film, the film's production team had to interview many  people to make this movie. These included gangsters, lawyers, journalists, and drug smugglers, and many others.

Director:  Billy Corben.

Main Cast: Former drug traffickers, Jon Roberts and Mickey Munday, and former hitman, Jorge "Rivi" Ayala.

Commercial Performance: Unknown.

Awards and Nominations: None.


4.  The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

Plot: This film focuses on LA's glam heavy metal scene of heavy metals in the late 1980s, specifically, 1987 through 1988. The film interviews both established and unknown musicians. Most of the people who are interviewed are very candid about struggling with their careers. However, most are optimistic that stardom awaits them. The challenge is that they lack a backup plan in case their plans for stardom backfires.

Director: Penelope Spheeris.

Main Cast: Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison, Aerosmith, Kiss, Motörhead, Megadeth, Faster Pussycat, and Lizzy Borden.

Commercial Performance: In its production, the team spent $500,000. However, its market earnings were only $373,743.

Awards and Nominations: This film was critically acclaimed despite its poor commercial performance. It won the MTV Movie Awards for Best Documentary Feature.


5.  George Harrison: Living in The Material World (2011)

Plot: This film is about George Harrison, of the famous Beatles. It begins by featuring his early life in Liverpool and then spans beyond the Beatlemania scene. The film also explores George's journeys to India, where the Krishna's  Conscientiousness movement affects his music career. The film also looks at the relationships between the members of the Beatles and its affect on their careers. The movie also chronicles interviews and footage by some of the friends of George Harrison, like Dhani Harrison (his son) and Olivia Harrison (the widow of George Harrison).

Director: the film was directed by Martin Scorsese.

Main Cast: George Harrison, Neil Aspinall, John Barham, Jane Birkin, Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton and many others.

Commercial Performance: Unknown.

Awards and Nominations: This film was critically acclaimed. It received two awards; Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Documentary Feature and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. The movie also received numerous nominations, such as those on Picture Editing, Outstanding Cinematography, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.


6.  The Five Obstructions (2003)

Plot: The Five Obstructions is a blend of documentary film and experimental films by directors, lars von Trier and Jorgen Leth. The movie is a remake of the film entitled 'The Perfect Human'. This film basically explores how easily those who victimize others in the name of righteousness become victims of their own self-righteousness. It features five different episodes, and Trier offered a prescription for each. 

Director: Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth.

Main Cast: Lars von Trier, Jørgen Leth, Claus Nissen, Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez, and Patrick Bauchau.

Commercial Performance: Unknown.

Awards and Nominations:  Unknown.


7.  Comedian (2002)

Plot: This  film’s central focus is comedian Jerry Seinfield. It explores the other side of stand-up comedy; the preparation, politics, nerves, creativity, and so on. The film contrasts Jerry to stand-up struggling comedian, Orny Adams. While Jerry is successful and widely known, Orny works in the marketing and business industry while working on his comedy career.

Director: Jerry Seinfeld.

Main Cast: Jerry Seinfeld and Orny Adams.

Commercial Performance: It is one of the successful documentary films. It grossed $2,752,000 after its premiere. Its budget is unknown.

Awards and Nominations: This film was well-received by critics. Rotten Tomatoes awarded this film an average rating of 82%, while Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B grade.

 


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