Best Biopic

[arto_j]

The definition of a biopic is a bit hard to describe, it tells the story of the life of a person, who has really existed, either the entire life, or just a phase. Here is my list of the greatest biopics:

Man on the Moon
Ed Wood
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Nixon


Also, there are some newer ones, that I haven't seen yet, like A Beautiful Mind or Ali, that some might place high on their list.

I'll try and come up with some others too, I'll probably post back later, and add some other picks.

[Flagg]

Patton is my Favorite. Here are a few more-
1. The Doors(Jim Morrison)
2. The Greatest (Ali)
3. 61 (Roger Maris,Micky Mantle)
4. The Pride of the Yankees (Lou Gherig)

[Scarface989]

Ed Wood
PPL Vs. Larry Flynt
JFK
Citizen Kane (if it counts since it was inspired by William Hearst and is almost exactly like him)

[SubMethod]

Schindler's List(10/10). One of the best movies of allt time also. I think it still counts as a biopic because it tells about what Oscar Schindler did for as many Jews as he could.

[Jasonite]

I think the greatest fictional biopic is Citizen Kane.

The greatest true biopic is Lawrence of Arabia.

J

[ColinM]

Mine is probably A Beautiful Mind.

[The Other]

...

[Strider]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by The Other:
I second that. My favorite biopic is A Beautiful Mind as well.</font>

I agree. A Beautiful Mind is also my favorite biopic as well.

Strider

[ak]

As a matter of fact, A Beautiful Mind isn't that much of a biopic. Even Jennifer Connely went on to say in an interview this week, that's it's "fantasy" - Made up.

Empire film magazine had a really interesting article about it this week, stating the fact that - John Nash was bisexual, disappeared to Europe for a year and divorced his wife (re-marrying later in life), amongst a whole category of other things. The film merely sugar-coats his life (Yes, even the way they handled his mental problems in the film are sugar-coated).
This pisses me off royally.

As for best biopic? Well, biopics simply don't exist. Not in my mind anyways.

[This message has been edited by ak (edited 02-09-2002).]

[Strider]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ak:
As a matter of fact, A Beautiful Mind isn't that much of a biopic. Even Jennifer Connely went on to say in an interview this week, that's it's "fantasy" - Made up.

Empire film magazine had a really interesting article about it this week, stating the fact that - John Nash was bisexual, disappeared to Europe for a year and divorced his wife (re-marrying later in life), amongst a whole category of other things. The film merely sugar-coats his life (Yes, even the way they handled his mental problems in the film are sugar-coated).
This pisses me off royally.

As for best biopic? Well, biopics simply don't exist. Not in my mind anyways.

[This message has been edited by ak (edited 02-09-2002).]</font>

Well, you see, I knew all this going into the film. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the film.

Strider

[idealdiscountdude]

My Favorite Biopics:

Selena
Coal Miners Daughter
What's Love Got To Do With It
A Beautiful MInd

[The Other]

...

[The Other]

...

[idealdiscountdude]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by The Other:
I forgot about that one, 'dude'. That movie is really good. I'd rate it an 8/10. Angela Bassett and Lawrance Fishburne were both nominated for Oscars for their amazing performances. They were very good in this film.</font>

Yeah it's one of my favorite films, I give it 9/10. Angela Bassett was robbed of the Oscar that year!

[Dr Martin Luther Loomis]

SCHINDLER'S LIST
JFK
LABAMBA
THE BABE
MAN ON THE MOON
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLINT
ED WOOD

[Strider]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by idealdiscountdude:
My Favorite Biopics:

Selena
Coal Miners Daughter
What's Love Got To Do With It
A Beautiful MInd</font>

Good call on Selena, dude. That was a pretty good movie. I give it an 8/10.

Strider



[This message has been edited by Strider (edited 02-09-2002).]

[ColinM]

Selena is a good one. If it weren't for that movie, you would never have been able to convince me that Jennifer Lopez can actually act. I also give it an 8/10.

[jaymx]

Malcolm X.

I love that movie!!

[Strider]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by jaymx:
Malcolm X.

I love that movie!!</font>

Great call, jaymx. Damn! That was an excellent film. Denzel Washington was awesome in that film. He should've won that damn oscar for Best Actor that year.

Strider

[HannibalGuy]

Caligula

And what about Crumb even though it is a documentary.

[QUENTIN]

1.) Raging Bull -10/10
2.) Malcolm X -10/10
3.) GoodFellas -10/10
4.) Lawrence of Arabia -10/10
5.) Sid & Nancy -10/10 (fairy tale version or not Rotten)
6.) Drugstore Cowboy -10/10
7.) Bonnie & Clyde -10/10
8.) Dead Man Walking -10/10
9.) The People Vs. Larry Flynt -9/10
10.) Born On The Fourth of July -9/10

[Jasonite]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Strider:
Well, you see, I knew all this going into the film. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the film.

Strider</font>

Well that's fine Strider, so you can say it's a good movie, but it canNOT be a good biopic, because if you evaluate it on the level of an account of this person's life it's only superficially similar at best. Doesn't really surprise me when you have Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay.

J

[Strider]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Jasonite:
Well that's fine Strider, so you can say it's a good movie, but it canNOT be a good biopic, because if you evaluate it on the level of an account of this person's life it's only superficially similar at best. Doesn't really surprise me when you have Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay.</font>

True. It may not be that much of biopic, but it is based on some true events of John Nash, and because of that, that's enough for me to consider it somewhat of a biopic.

Strider

[ColinM]

I think it's fair to call it a biopic. I mean, no biopic is completely accurate.

[Fergus]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by QUENTIN:
1.) Raging Bull -10/10
2.) Malcolm X -10/10
3.) GoodFellas -10/10
4.) Lawrence of Arabia -10/10
5.) Sid & Nancy -10/10 (fairy tale version or not Rotten)
6.) Drugstore Cowboy -10/10
7.) Bonnie & Clyde -10/10
8.) Dead Man Walking -10/10
9.) The People Vs. Larry Flynt -9/10
10.) Born On The Fourth of July -9/10
</font>

I had always wondered Quentin if you had seen this. The one you are Really missing, as is everyone else that posted on this thread, Bob Fosse's Lenny. It hit me better than even Malcolm X and Raging Bull, although those are superb ones as well.

The best biopic is Lenny, and if anyone hasn't seen it, I HIGHLY suggest it, because it is one of the best films I have ever seen, although, don't watch it with what I said in mind, go in with the expectation that is should be good, that should further the impact. You got a great list there Quentin, but of course, you already knew that. Haven't seen Larry Flynt, Dead Man, or Sid and Nancy. What do you mean in the parenthesis?, I don't get it.

Man on the Moon was one of the worst biopics I have ever seen in my life. Lawrence of Arabia is a hard one to like, if you aren't a fan of epic films, I just couldn't get into it, but that's my problem. And I never knew Drugstore Cowboy was a biopic.

[This message has been edited by Fergus (edited 02-10-2002).]

[QUENTIN]

Lenny showcases my favorite performance from Dustin Hoffman, one of the best of the decade, and an extraordinary performance by Valerie Perrine. It also revolved around a tale that I find extremely interesting (especially after reading "How To Talk Dirty and Influence People") and all in all, the film is one of my best of the 70's. It's lack of mention was a mere oversight, I'd place it at #7, behind Cowboy but above Bonnie & Clyde.

As for my parenthetical remark on Sid & Nancy, Johnny Rotten, front man for The Sex Pistols has frequently called Sid & Nancy a "fairy tale account" of the events, and claims the film is shit. In my opinion, whether it portrayed Vicious and Spungen's relationship how Rotten remembers it or not, it is a great film.

Drugstore Cowboy is based on James Fogle's autobiographical tale of drug addiction.

It is obvious from my high ranking on the list, but I seriously suggest Dead Man Walking, The People Vs. Larry Flynt, and Sid & Nancy to you Fergus. They are films that I think you, more than most, would certainly enjoy.

[This message has been edited by QUENTIN (edited 02-11-2002).]

[Jasonite]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ColinM:
I think it's fair to call it a biopic. I mean, no biopic is completely accurate.</font>

Sure, you can call it a biopic, but I was saying you can't call it a good one. I'm not even convinced that Goodfellas is a biopic.

J

[This message has been edited by Jasonite (edited 02-11-2002).]

[Fergus]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by QUENTIN:
Lenny showcases my favorite performance from Dustin Hoffman, one of the best of the decade, and an extraordinary performance by Valerie Perrine. It also revolved around a tale that I find extremely interesting (especially after reading "How To Talk Dirty and Influence People") and all in all, the film is one of my best of the 70's. It's lack of mention was a mere oversight, I'd place it at #7, behind Cowboy but above Bonnie & Clyde.

As for my parenthetical remark on Sid & Nancy, Johnny Rotten, front man for The Sex Pistols has frequently called Sid & Nancy a "fairy tale account" of the events, and claims the film is shit. In my opinion, whether it portrayed Vicious and Spungen's relationship how Rotten remembers it or not, it is a great film.

Drugstore Cowboy is based on James Fogle's autobiographical tale of drug addiction.

It is obvious from my high ranking on the list, but I seriously suggest Dead Man Walking, The People Vs. Larry Flynt, and Sid & Nancy to you Fergus. They are films that I think you, more than most, would certainly enjoy. </font>

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for replying; I appreciate it. I'm glad to see that you saw Lenny, what's your guess as to how many have seen it? Muchly agree with you on that one. I was never aware that Drugstore Cowboy was actually a bio, my fault for not paying attention to the credits. Interesting little tidbit about Sid and Nancy, I'll keep that in mind. I have been able to see Dead Man, as, it is available to me, by means which I do not care to disclose(la biblioteca),but I just haven't had time, or you can put any one of the billions of excuses possible to think up, for me not having seen it yet. Sid and Larry Flynt, however, have been on a list of many, but they just haven't gotten their chance yet. I will see them eventually, thanks for the recommendation.

[This message has been edited by Fergus (edited 02-11-2002).]

[SIREN30]

I really like ELIZABETH, THE PRIVATE LIVE OF KING HENRY VIII, PATTON, SCHINDLER'S LIST, LUST FOR LIFE, and BRAVEHEART. But I'm sure there are mor that I just can't think of...

[QUENTIN]

BUMP

Saw Lawrence of Arabia yesterday on the big screen at the AFI Silver (an essential experience for any film buff) and felt the need to update this:

1.) Raging Bull (Jake LaMotta)
2.) GoodFellas (Henry Hill)
3.) Citizen Kane (William Randolph Hearst)
4.) Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (Robert Parker & Henry Longbaugh)
5.) Malcolm X (Malcolm X)
6.) Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence)
7.) The Passion of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc)
8.) Drugstore Cowboy (Jim Fogle)
9.) Sid & Nancy (Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen)
10.) Napoleon (Napoleon Bonaparte)

[Tonkuro]

Selena
La Vie En Rose
...Does Amadeus Count?

[Le_Big_Mac]

1. Goodfellas
2. Citizen Kane
3. Raging Bull
4. Ed Wood
5. The Passion of Joan of Arc
6. Schindler's List
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. Bonnie & Clyde
9. Serpico
10. Ivan the Terrible Part I

[athf1980]

Goodfellas

[darknite125]

Control
Ed Wood

[toast4u]

Immortal Beloved
Control

[ilovemovies]

1. Schindler's List
2. JFK
3. Malcolm X
4. Goodfellas
5. Cinderella Man
6. Born on the Fourth of July
7. The Aviator
8. The Insider
9. The People Vs Larry Flynt
10. Thirteen Days

[poopontheshoes7]

Goodfellas, Ed Wood, Schindlers List, and Walk The Line are my favorites.

[dannywalker17]

3.) Citizen Kane (William Randolph Hearst)

That's a bit of a stretch, isn't it? By that reasoning, would Tropic Thunder be a biopic of Russell Crowe?


Here's my list including the latest, MILK.

1. The Passion of the Christ (Jesus)
2. Into the Wild (Christopher McCandless)
3. Braveheart (William Wallace)
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Robert Ford/Jesse James)
5. Milk (Harvey Milk)
6. Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth I)
7. A Beautiful Mind (John Nash)
8. Rudy (Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger)
9. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Queen Elizabeth I)
10. Walk the Line (Johnny Cash)
11. Finding Neverland (J.M. Barrie)
12. The Aviator (Howard Hughes)
13. Catch Me If You Can (Frank Abagnale, Jr.)
14. Hollywoodland (George Reeves)
15. Luther (Martin Luther)

Still Need to See: Schindler's List, Malcolm X, Patton, Nixon, Ed Wood, JFK, Lawrence of Arabia

[Major Mojo]

does "Mommy Dearest" count?

[Briare Rabbit]

-American Hot Wax (Alan Freed)
-Silkwood (Karen Silkwood)
-Walk the Line (Johnny Cash and June Carter)
-Kinsey (Alfred Kinsey)
-Control (Ian Curtis)
-Pollock (Jackson Pollock)
-Changeling (Christine Collins)
-Nixon (Richard Nixon)
-The Hoax (Clifford Irving)
-The Story of Louis Pasteur (Louis Pasteur)
-Patton (George S Patton)
-Yankee Doodle Dandy (George M Cohan)
-Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow)
-Waterloo (Napoleon)
-Infamous/Capote (Truman Capote)
-Raging Bull (Jake LaMotta)
-The Elephant Man (John Merrick)
-Cry Freedom (Donald Woods and Steve Biko)
-Jarhead (Anthony Swofford)
-Amazing Grace (William Wilberforce)

[Tony_Montana]

Goodfellas
Malcolm X
Patton
Braveheart (sorta, heavily fictionalised...)
Bonnie and Clyde
Cinderella Man
Schindler's List
Casino
American Gangster
Donnie Brasco

[bonoferox]

Schindler's List
Ed Wood
Man on the Moon
Aviator
Hollywoodland