At first
glance, the category of “Movie Drama” brings to mind films with a good deal of
sorrow, regret, and emotional weight. However, there’s far more variety to
movie Drama’s then you may initially notice. Drama’s are an avenue that can
lead to stores of inspiration, or something uplifting, maybe even relatable,
and above all … they have a special human touch we can connect with on a
personal level. As such, my personal favorites of the Movie Drama category
really aren’t what I’d labile as “tear jerkers”. I certainly like films
with sobering moments, but I love it best when a Drama leaves me with a
positive outlook. Sometimes, a good Drama can motivate me to push myself, while
other times, they can leave me feeling warm or touched. With all that firmly
established … here are my own personal top 10 Favorite movie Drama’s.
#10 Apollo
13 (1995)
In this historical drama, three Astronauts are on their way to
the moon, but their expedition is abruptly called off when an oxygen tank explodes.
Stranded in space orbit, tensions within the crew arise, and numerous technical
problems threaten the survival of the astronauts, as well as a safe return
home. Director Ron Howard simply hit it out of the park when he brought the
tragic failure of the Apollo 13 space mission to the theater.
#9 Amadeus
(1984)
Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture … it’s the
story of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart … his life, and classic music. Mozart
needs no introduction, as he’s one of the most legendary music composers to
ever live, and this film gives us a peek behind the curtain of his life, the
struggles he endured to bring his music to the stage, and his rivalry with
fellow composer Antonio Salieri.
Arguably one of the more epic and theatrical
movie drama’s, “Amadeus” highlights the influence, both positive and
negative, of the renowned artist, resulting in an experience that’s just as
entertaining, as it is powerful. With its lavish set design, absorbing
atmosphere, and classical music heard throughout, this is one of those films
that just feels “perfect”. Granted, there’s some debate on the historical
accuracies of the film, but it’s such an engaging character study of the man,
and the performances are so sharp that it largely makes-up for any faults in
the historical presentation. Then again, the movie is presented as historical
fiction, which makes it easier to appreciate it as simply a good story as is.
Like any one of Mozart’s classic songs, “Amadeus” is a work of art, with
engaging character arcs at the center.
#8 It’s a
Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s the classic everyone loves watching around the
Christmas season … but it’s so much more than that. It’s the timeless story
about how one man’s ordinary life could have such a huge impact on the lives of
others, which is just as inspiring as it is enduring.
Local Banker George
Bailey is a man with great ambitions, but his commitment to helping the people
of his tiny town always seem to keep him from fulfilling his dreams. In the
end, this film reminds us what a wonderful and beautiful life we truly do have,
even if we don’t see our dreams through to the end. A life in service to others
is still a rewarding one, and George certainly gets his due at the end. With a
solid direction from Frank Capra, an outstanding lead performance from James
Stewart, and a brilliant premise, “It’s a Wonderful Life” still proves
to be a near flawless film, and has a little something for everyone. Being
honest, I never even look at this film as one to be tied to the Christmas
season … it’s simply a great movie that can be viewed any time of the year, and
resonate with anyone weather they celebrate Christmas or not.
#7 Rocky
(1976)
Small-town, down-on-his-luck boxer Rocky Balboa is arbitrarily chosen
to take on the running heavyweight champion, but can this nobody rise to the
challenge and become a somebody?
While the plot of “Rocky” is formulaic
and admittedly predictable, a down to earth tone, air-tight script, relatable
characters, and an iconic leading performance from Sylvester Stallone all
add-up to something special. It’s a movie that’s been celebrated over the years
as one of the all-time great underdog stories, and it’s still being used as the
main template for sports Drama’s to draw inspiration from. When it comes to a
conventional “hero archetype”, I’m always drawn to the underdog the most. The
hero’s that rise to the challenge, the ones that face all odds, and for me,
Rocky will always be the pinnacle underdog hero. This is a character that
inspires me to do more with myself, to break out, and make a difference. Even
if it’s something small, Rocky has always encouraged me to stick to my passions,
and follow them through to the end.
#6 The
Mortal Storm (1940)
#5 Slumdog
Millionaire (2008)
When a young Indian Teen is accused of cheating on “Who
Want’s to Be a Millionaire”, it sends us on a trip down his troubled memory
lane, and we discover that beyond having an exceptionally rough life of going
from the slums to the streets, he also has a great memory that allowed uniquely
specific details of culture, literature and history to stick with him. Thus,
with his stored-up knowledge, he went on the game show in an effort to be
spotted by a young woman he’s madly in love with … and one who’s had an equally
difficult life-journey.
This was yet another winner of eight Academy Awards,
including best Picture, and it’s always stuck with me as a decade favorite. Few
other movies mix relentless and intense emotion, while also being extremely
entertaining and fun to watch, quiet like “Slumdog Millionaire”. While
set in the real world, and featuring genuine real-world drama, the story is
structured like a fantasy, as the events are woven around varying emotions and
feelings, rather than logic or plausibility. The structure works largely thanks
to Director Danny Boyle’s visually stylized direction, which gives the film a
“fantastical” personality. The film is also structured with a great deal of
comedy, and we find ourselves drawn to the characters through some genuinely
funny circumstances. Yet, the comedy never over steps its bounds, so we can
still appreciate the more tragic and heartbreaking elements. With a talented
ensemble cast, a rousing musical score by A. R. Rahman, an engaging character
journey, and you get a movie experience that’s every bit as exciting as it is
emotionally resonate.
#4 12
Angry Men (1957)
When a young man is accused of murder, he faces the
death sentence, and his only hope lies with the final verdict of twelve Jury
members.
Most of them believe he’s guilty of his charge, but one single man
played by Henry Fonda believes the boy may be innocent, and is determined to
convince his peers the same. This is one of those incredible cases in which a
movie gives you so much with so little. The whole film is set in this one
location, with just these twelve characters, and it is a deeply thrilling
experience. There’s no action, no layered plot, just these twelve guys debating
if one man should either live or die. The dialog, the staging, the
performances, the varying peaks and valleys, the direction, and progression of
the arguments … it all just clicks in this perfectly executed masterpiece. It’s
the textbook definition of “less is more”, and in my opinion, I’d call “12
Angry Men” one of the top three greatest ensemble movies ever made.
#3 The
Truman Show (1998)
Truman Burbank lives in a picture-perfect world, with
a lovely wife, nice neighbors, and the material trappings of a good job. Yet,
despite having what seems like a perfect life on the surface, Truman wants to
challenge himself and push his limits, only to find himself more and more
trapped in his perfect world. The real truth is that Truman’s life is a fake,
as he’s the victim of a reality TV series that’s been broadcasting his life
sense birth … which he’s been unaware of.
#2 To
Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Here’s a story told from the perspective of a
little girl named Scout Finch. Her father Atticus is a well-respected layer,
but opinions on him get increasingly less favorable as he defends a black man
against fabricated rape charges. Suddenly, the girls cheerful outlook on life
gets challenged, as both the trial and ensuing events expose her to the evils
of both racism and stereotyping.
In general, I know there’s really no such
thing as a perfect movie … but never the less … “To Kill a Mockingbird”
is absolutely a film that I’d label as “Perfect”. It’s the gold-standard of a
“Message Movie” done right, as the social themes presented are meaningful, but
it’s never at the expense of the gripping drama between these characters.
Seeing racism unfold through the eyes of a confused and innocent child help
give this movie a distinct strength and quality. Everything else from the
direction, to the atmosphere, and especially the performances are all top-tear
material. The cast all-around is fantastic, but it’s Gregory Peak in the role
of Atticus Finch who leaves me speechless. His closing argument alone is one of
the all-time great movie speeches, and personally one of my favorite individual
scenes. It’s all around a powerful movie, with timely themes, great characters,
and always leaves an impact every time I watch it.
Before I crown my Number One favorite, here are some quick Honorable
Mentions …
The Grapes of Wrath
One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Mr. Smith
Goes to Washington
Citizen
Kane
Vertigo
#1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Andy Dufresne
is accused of killing both his wife, and a man she was secretly having an
affair with … as such, he’s sentenced for life in Shawshank prison. While
there, he makes friends with inmate named “Red”, and the two make the most of
their life behind prison walls. In some respects, they improve on the lives of
both themselves, and all their fellow, hard as nails inmates. They only need to
weather the harsh treatment of a wicked captain of the Guards, and a slimy
Warden who aims to break everyone’s spirits with false hope.
For me, when it
comes to Drama’s that tackle themes of hope, despair, and strong friendships
forged in the face of adversity and harsh reality, nothing has left quiet an
impression, or felt as human as “The Shawshank Redemption”. Tim Robbins
and Morgan Freeman have dynamite chemistry on screen, and both deliver what I
believe to be their best performances in this film. Bob Gunton and Clancy Brown
also make for an imposing pair of human villains. Despite being an adaption
from a Steven King novel, this is very different from his line of work, and is
absolutely my favorite of his book to film adaptions. All around it’s a tale of
how strong friendships can help keep hope alive when all the odds seem stacked
against you. It also explores the humanity in people who are at fault for doing
some terrible things in their life-time, and it makes the characters all the
more interesting to analyze and explore. It’s one of those simple, yet powerful
experiences that just leaves me feeling warm and inspired. The context can be
harsh and unpleasant, and yet, it’s somehow an instant feel-good movie whenever
I watch it. For all this and more, “The Shawshank Redemption” has
remained one of my favorite movies, and it absolutely takes the cake as my
personal favorite movie Drama.
Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!
