With this in mind, this list considers some of the must-watch biopics.
These movies cut away the distance of history and make their protagonists feel immediate and relevant once more.
The finest of them manage to be hugely entertaining at the same time.
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Or are we fitted to the times we’re born into?
The film is intricate and meticulous, if occasionally a little dry.
This is an immersive, disciplined, and refreshingly cerebral historical drama, leaning into complexity rather than mythologizing.
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The director is utterly confident and assured here, as is his star.
Day-Lewis turns in a towering performance exuding gravitas, rightly earning him his third Best Actor Oscar.
It succeeds because Hoffman is so great.
As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.
Plymouth Rock landed on us.
This reflects Mishima’s own worldview, in which truth, fantasy, and delusion all coexisted.
This avant-garde structure works well, heightening the film’s impact.
Not for nothing, Schrader himself considers it to be his best work as a filmmaker.
“It’s the one I’d stand by,” he has said.
“As a screenwriter it’sTaxi Driver, but as a director it’sMishima.”
This approach subtly reinforces the paradox of his legacy.
I am a human being!
This film is deeply moving, particularly in the moments of quiet kindness, anchored by strong performances.
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The script is sensitive but clear-eyed about human cruelty.
Then there’sChristopher Tucker’s extraordinary prosthetic work, drawing on casts of the real Merrick’s body.
The elaborate makeup required hours to apply each day.
You never got me down.
He imagines Mozart as closer to a rock star than a relic of history.
It adds up to one of the most enjoyable period pieces ever.
And they wont understand it until theyve used it."
But this is also a very human tale about one man grappling with the implications of his actions.
Perhaps the most influential biopic ever,Lawrence of Arabiais an epic retelling of the life ofT.E.
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O’Toole brings complexity to Lawrence, portraying him as both heroic and deeply troubled.
That said,the real draw here is the visuals.
NEXT:10 Great Movies Recommended by Robert Eggers
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The story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
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