American cinema is widely regarded as one of the finest cinema on the face of the Earth, along with French and Indian. Hollywood stories are often entertainment-based, but from time to time see some best inspiring stories, who collect critical acclaim around the world. Here are the author’s favorite inspiring movies from the La La Land….
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies. Source: Columbia Pictures
“Andy Dufresne, who crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side”
“The Shawshank Redemption” is widely regarded as the best movie ever made. It was an adaption of Stephen King’s novel “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” The film stars Tim Robbins as Andy Dufrense, who was accused of murdering his wife and her lover. Dufrense was given a life sentence, to be served in the notorious Shwashank prison in Maine. The rest is the story of Dufrense struggles inside the prison, dealing with crooked officials and friendship with Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, played by Morgan Freeman, who also served as the narrator. Every word out of his mouth will have you nodding your head in agreement. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 1994, the most for a Stephen King film adaptation, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Freeman, without winning in any category. In 1999, film critic Roger Ebert listed Shawshank on his list of The Great Movies. It has been #1 on IMDb’s user-generated Top 250 since 2008, when it surpassed The Godfather.
Dufrensne’s story is considered one of the most inspiring stories ever and is loved throughout the world. This film is a must watch for everyone.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Oh Captain! My Captain! Source: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
Starring the legendary late Robin Williams as John Keating, and one of the first appearances by Ethan Hawke, this movie is set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative Vermont boarding school Welton Academy. Williams plays an unusual but effective English teacher, who inspires his students to challenge the status quo, and “make their lives extraordinary.” The film received critical acclaim and was a box office success. The film also deals with teen love, corruption and suicide. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, and César Award and David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Film. Schulman received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his work. After Robin Williams’ death in August 2014, fans of his work used social media to pay tribute to him with photo and video reenactments of the film’s final “O Captain! My Captain!” scene, one of his finest performances.
The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)
The world is your oyster. It’s up to you to find the pearls.
Source: Sony Pictures
“Hey. Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. All right?”
The Pursuit of Happiness, or as it is stylized “The Pursuit of Happyness” tells the true story of the struggles stockbroker Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith and his son, played by Smith’s son Jaden. The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, in May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller, and then was adapted to a cinematic version by director Gabriele Muccino.
In 1981, as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son. Towards the end of the film, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend. The unusual spelling of the film’s title comes from a mural that Gardner sees on the wall outside the daycare facility his son attends. He complains to the owner of the daycare that “happiness” is incorrectly spelled as “happyness” and needs to be changed.
The film was received generally positively by critics, with Smith receiving widespread acclaim for his performance.
Rocky (1976)
“You, me, or nobody is gonna hit us as hard as life.” Source: United Artists
“It ain’t about how hard you get hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”
This evergreen movie, a true American classic, was technically Sylvester Stallone’s rise to fame. The film was praised by critics and audience alike, and spawned 5 more sequels and a spin-off. Rocky Balboa is a small-time boxer who seems to be going nowhere in life, as he works day-in and day-out as a collector for a loan shark and fights in sleazy clubs for low-paid reward, until boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) chooses him to fight against him in a championship bout. Rocky is a true underdog story and one of the most inspiring sports film ever made. It motivates you to reach a little higher and to never give up on your dreams.
Rocky received positive reviews at the time of its release. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 4 out of 4 stars and said that Stallone reminded him of “the young Marlon Brando. Early screenings around Hollywood stunned everyone and audeinecces went out of their minds. Rocky Balboa was an unlikely hero. After going full fifteen rounds with the champ, he does not get the belt, but gets the girl. Rocky received ten Oscar nominations in nine categories at the 49th Academy Awards, winning three: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing. The famous scene of Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become a cultural icon, with the steps acquiring the vernacular title of “Rocky Steps.”
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself.
Source: Miramax Films
“You’ll always have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to”
Once again starring Robin Williams in an unforgettable and inspiring role, Good Will Hunting was written by young minds of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who also starred in the titular role. the film follows 20-year-old Will Hunting, an unrecognized genius who, after assaulting a police officer, becomes a client of a therapist and studies advanced mathematics with a renowned professor. Through his therapy sessions, Will re-evaluates his relationships with his best friend, his girlfriend and himself, facing the significant task of confronting his past and thinking about his future.
Good Will Hunting received strongly positive reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 97%, based on 70 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “It follows a predictable narrative arc, but Good Will Hunting adds enough quirks to the journey — and is loaded with enough powerful performances — that it remains an entertaining, emotionally rich drama. The film won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay at the 70th Academy Awards. Affleck and Damon also took away a Golden Globe for their screenplay.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Run Forrest, Run!
Source: Paramount Pictures
“My momma always said, Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Starring the phoenix-like Tom Hanks, this is one of the most inspiring movies ever made. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name by Winston Groom. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film goes through the lifetime of Forrest Gump, who suffers from some sort of learning disability and has a diminished intellect. Despite his misfortune, Forrest plays college football, meets the president, serves in the army during the Vietnam War, gets awarded the Medal of Honor, gets into the “shrimp business”, deals with substance abuse and suicidal tendencies, represents his country in ping-pong tournaments, invests in Apple Inc., becomes a millionaire, inspires John Lennon to make his hit single “Imagine”, all while pining for the love of his life, his childhood friend Jenny.
Forrest Gump is a celebration of life, and it’s been awhile since the movie was released, but we haven’t had a movie that offered so much and generally managed to deliver on all counts after it’s release in 1994. It is both heart-warming and inspiring. Be ready to let out a few tears, especially when Forrest wonders if his son is “like” him.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
We Are Infinite.
Source: Summit Entertainment
“That one moment when you know you’re not a sad story, you are alive”
Based on the 1999 epistolary novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky, the film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. It is a coming of age drama, but it will leave you inspired and motivated to live life happily, and handling problems like depression, and coping with sexual abuse, homosexuality and first love. It is a heartfelt and strong adaption of Chbosky’s novel, and does not fail to give a lasting impression.
Logan Lerman plays Charlie Kelmeckis, a troubled and introvert teen with a lot of hidden guilt. He is helped by his friends Sam and Patrick, who have their fair share of problems too, played by Emma Watson and Ezra Miller.
The film received mainly positive reviews. The lead cast also received positive notices. Miller, Watson and Chbosky won various awards for their efforts.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is not your typical teen movie. It has a lot of heart, and it deals with sensitive issues way better than other attempts at the same. David Bowie’s hit “Heroes” perfectly summed up the film’s climax, as many troubled teenagers cited the movie as an inspiration to get out of their problems and start living their lives as it was meant to be. Happily.
Honorable Mentions:
The Blind Side (2009), Braveheart (1995), Remember The Titans (2000), 127 Hours (2010), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Theory Of Everything (2014), Creed (2015), Eat, Pray, Love (2010) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1995).
Did we miss a film? Mention it below. 🙂
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