Top 25 Biographical Films

25. Talk To Me (2007)
Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. was of little social importance through the first portions of his life. Working as a prison DJ during his sentence for minor crimes, Petey's luck changes when he has a chance run in with real radio producer Dewey Hughes. Offering a job to shut him up Petey eventually shakes up the entire DC area with his bawdy humor and outrageous antics. As the seriousness of the Civil rights sweeps the capital city, Petey bridges the gap between local celebrity to civil right icon. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Don Cheadle as Petey this movie is part low key biography part civil rights morality play.

24. Man On the Moon (1999)
Jim Carrey stars as avant-garde comic Andy Kaufman in this uneven but lovable biopic. Those familiar with Kaufman no doubt remember him from the popular 70's sitcom Taxi but few have ever delved into his troubled life, tortured soul or dangerously funny comedy like director Milos Forman and writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. From his rocky start in night club comedy to his sudden downfall and premature death, Andy Kaufman still immortalizes the soul of a comic who lives in his own world.

23. Monster (2003)
The true callous mind of a serial killer is revealed in Monster based on the life of Aileen Wuornos who killed seven men in Florida. Working as a prostitute to support her girlfriend and constant drug use, Aileen took out her frustrations on the men she slept with, many of them violent and unfeeling. Charlize Theron eventually took home the Oscar that year for her disturbing portrayal.

22. Kinsey (2004)
The life and times of the founder of human sexuality research gets the starring treatment from Hollywood in Kinsey. Dr. Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson) becomes curious about the subject of sex when questioned by newlywed students and begins his research into human sexuality to the disgust of many of his peers. Criticized by moralists and and McCarthy era dissenters, Kinsey's research laid the groundwork for the sexual revolution of the 1960's.

21. Cry Freedom (1987)
Richard Attenborough directs his second of three biographical films this time focusing on the life and tragic death of South African anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko. Told from the perspective of British journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) Biko's message of racial pride becomes a danger to the Afrikaan regime leading to his demise. Woods must then race against time to get the manuscript of his accounts published before the government shuts him down. A young Denzel Washington was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Steve Biko kick starting his fledgling career.

20. Raging Bull (1980)
Based on the life of Middleweight boxing champion Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta, Martin Scorsese illustrates a tragic character who looses everything through his own volatility and at the end of the film looks for redemption with no avail. considered one of Scorsese's finest works and Robert DeNiro's finest performances, Raging Bull is hauntingly tragic and intense.

19. Mongol (2007)
Released in 2007 by Russian director Sergei Bodrov, Mongol aims to tell the legend of the rise of Genghis Khan. Not much is known about the great conqueror who once ruled most of the known world. This ends up working to the advantage of Bodrov who weaves an intricate tale of a young boy who raises above a tradition of anarchy and tribalism to be with the one he loves while gaining followers due to his compassion. Alluringly shot in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan Mongol is chalked full of cinematic beauty.

18. Patton (1970)
Controversial figure General George S. Patton becomes the focus of Franklin J. Schaffner's uncompromising biopic. From the first monologue, performed amicably by George C. Scott as the titular WWII General, the audience is captured by a man truly enamored by the honors of war. Is Patton a bloodthirsty tyrant or a noble warrior out of step with the modern world; the film ultimately leave those questions to you.

17. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Frank Abagnale Jr. was at one time the most infamous conman to grace the FBI conscience. Before he was 21 years old, Abagnale managed to forge 2.5 Million dollars worth of fake checks and managed to successfully impersonate a doctor, lawyer and Airline pilot. played deftly by Leonardo DiCaprio and costarring Tom Hanks as humorless FBI agent Carl Hanratty tasked with bringing him in, Catch Me If You Can is a fun film about breaking the rules, living the dream and living with the consequences.

16. Amadeus (1984)
The life of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is recalled from the perspective of jealous contemporary Antonio Salieri. Convinced that Mozart's talent is divine though confused that God would choose such a vulgar man as his vessel, Salieri plots his vengeance against God and the good-humored composer. Starring Tom Hulce as Amadeus and F. Murray Abraham who won and Oscar as Salieri, Amadeus, like Mozart's concertos, transcends art, storytelling and the human heart.

15. American Splendor (2003)
Harvey Pekar has lived a life of seclusion working as a clerk at a VA hospital, but after a chance encounter with cartoonist Robert Crumb, Harvey decides to create his own semi-biographical comic series that becomes a cult phenomena. Starring Paul Giamatti as the young Harvey Pekar and Harvey Pekar who plays his older self, American Splendor is a odd but rewarding movie about a blue-collar schlub who becomes a celebrity.

14. The Pianist (2002)
The amazing story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman who ultimately became the only member of his family to survive WWII Warsaw. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, Wladyslaw and his family live their lives in the Jewish ghetto awaiting the worst. With the help of friends, family, strangers and his own talents, Szpilman escapes the concentration camps and lives to tell his tale of human survival in the face of evil.

13. Finding Neverland (2004)
A universal story of childhood innocence told from the perspective of J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. Inspired by the Davies family, a group of forlorn children growing up without a father, Barrie creates what would become his opus. Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Dustin Hoffman, Finding Neverland is a drama that even the kids might enjoy.

12. The Elephant Man (1980)
Dr. Frederick Treves works as a surgeon in the prestigious London Hospital and discovers John Merrick a deformed man held captive and living as a side-show freak. Treves soon discovers that under John's deformities lies an intelligent mind and gentle soul. Starring John Hurt as John and Anthony Hopkins as the good doctor, The Elephant Man benefits from David Lynch's strong direction.

11. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Russell Crowe stars as John Nash, a brilliant but socially inept mathematician suffering from schizophrenia. The film ultimately won Best Picture at the Academy Awards but not without much controvercy. Many believed the screenplay was a big departure from the truth completely excluding Nash's extramarital affairs. Still Ron Howard's sure hand makes A Beautiful Mind a beautiful movie about a brilliant man overcoming adversity.

10. The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
A simple movie as far as plot goes, The World's Fastest Indian is about an overly friendly New Zealander Burt Munro who, journeys to the salt flats of Utah to test drive his 1920 motorcycle to beat the land speed record. Along the way he meets a brier patch of odd characters who help him achieve his dream. Anthony Hopkins plays the zealous Munro with exuberance to spare.

9. Malcolm X (1992)
Controversial film director Spike Lee attempts to recount the life of equally controversial civil rights leader Malcolm X. Denzel Washington deftly plays X with aplomb and fairly accurately portrays his early life as a Harlem hooligan, his later life as a polarizing public figure and ultimately his life as an imperfect man looking for redemption.

8. Schindler's List (1993)
Spielberg soars at the helm of this biopic set in WWII Germany. Neither an amoral Nazi or a moralist dissenter, Oskar Schindler proves himself both as a German entrepreneur to the Reich and a savior to a group of Jewish families who work at his factory. Liam Neeson takes the acting challenge of a lifetime making one of cinema histories most heartfelt speeches at the end of the movie. Definably on the shortlist for one of the best films ever made and required watching for anyone with a pulse.

7. Rudy (1994)
A straightforward story of triumph and overcoming adversity, Rudy is a must see for sports aficionados. Born of a working-class background and lacking the grades, funds or physicality to achieve his dream of joining the Notre Dame's famed Fighting Irish football team, Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger nevertheless gives it the old college try to the behest of his family and friends. What Rudy lacks in strength and stature he more than makes up for in heart in this truly beautiful movie about holding on to your dreams, no matter what.

6. Quills (2000)
Doug Wright's captivating play of the same name gets a much needed adaptation with the help of Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix. After the French Revolution, the infamous Marquis de Sade is sequestered to the confines of an insane asylum run by the genteel Abbe du Coulmier. But after the Marquis manages to publish his prurient works, the humorless Dr. Royer-Collard (played by Michael Caine) is brought in to put a stop to it. Witty, dark and sexually palpable, Quills is a must-see.

5. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Though bringing the word biography to its logical limit, Shakespeare in Love nevertheless conjures a stirring love story inspired by the life of the most famous playwright of the English language. Suffering from a bad case of writers block, young William Shakespeare unknowingly auditions young Viola (played by Gwyneth Paltrow in drag) for a part in his newest play. Eventually the two become entangled in a steamy love affair that inspires Shakespeare to write his most famous love story.

4. Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
Robin Williams gives arguably his best performance ever in this epic comedy that takes place during the Vietnam War. Adrian Cronauer is a talented disc jockey who is assigned to Ho Chi Minh City to provide quality radio entertainment to war weary troops. To his superiors dismay Cronauer boosts morale with his off-kilter humor and (gasp) rock music. Fulled with both humor and tribulation, Good Morning Vietnam is truly one of the exceptional movies that has everything.

3. Gandhi (1982)
Epic in magnitude and breathtakingly beautiful, Gandhi is the amazingly true story of pacifist revolutionary leader Mahatma Gandhi. This movie follows his early life as a lawyer and activist in South Africa to his revolutionary fight for Indian independence. His pacifism and will to maintain peace secured his place in world history and the film Gandhi is a comprehensive tale of the man behind the legend.

2. The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Though men like Schindler and Gandhi gave us hope, people like Larry Flynt are simply more interesting. Becoming a self-made night club owner, Larry Flynt envisioned an empire he would eventually gain as a revolutionary pornographer. Owner and proprietor of Hustler magazine, Larry Flynt became highly vilified by "decent" Americans evoking the wrath of televangelist Jerry Falwell. But behind Flynt's malicious glee laid the heart of a truly tortured soul.

1. Ed Wood (1994)
There is a poetic justice in bestowing best biography status to a movie about the worst director ever. Edward D. Wood Jr. played with confidence by Johnny Depp is a struggling director for stage and screen who lives to see his shoddy work presented to the masses. Displaying a permanently shiny disposition Ed crosses paths with his hero, Dracula himself Bela Lugosi played by Martin Landau who won an Oscar for his role. Hard up for cash and addicted to drugs, Bela begins to make appearances in Wood's films along with a regular cast of renegade misfits. Directed by Tim Burton, Ed Wood is funny, sad and incredibly weird but a marvelous biography that is a must see for anyone who loves movies.