Directors-Actors
Chaplin
2 hours, 25 min.
Charlie Chaplin (Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin)
April 16, 1889 - December 25, 1977
He was born and raised in London, but then moved to the U.S. and
became one of the most important influences in Hollywood and the
silent film era.
The movie shows him starting out his acting career in England and then
follows him to California where he created one of the most famous
characters in film, The Tramp. The movie also shows how his life
was not problem-free and was at times controversial.
He was a master of his craft and made enduring masterpieces that
captured hearts, imagination, and his time in history.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Dan Aykroyd, and Geraldine Chaplin.
The Aviator
2 hour, 50 min.
Howard Hughes
December 24, 1905 - April 5, 1976
He was from Texas and became one of the richest peaple in the world by
becoming an extremely successful Hollywood director, engineer, pilot,
and business executive.
This movie shows how ambitious, diligent, and troubled he was. The
movie follows him through his film career while he simultaneously
achieved major accomplishments in aviation and the airline business.
He was the master of multi-tasking and he was determined to succeed in
every arena he entered, no matter the opposition that he faced.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and John C. Reilly.
James Dean
2 hours
James Dean
February 8, 1931 - September 30, 1955
He was an actor whose short but impactful career made him a cultural
icon, immortalized in the disillusioned tennage characters that he
brought to life.
The movie follows him through his life and career while attempting to
show what was going on behind the scenes. He was an enormously
influential actor who is even going to be in an upcoming movie even
though he died over 50 years ago.
Starring James Franco, Michael Moriarty, and Valentina Cervi.
Ed Wood
2 hours, 7 min.
Ed Wood
October 10, 1924 - December 10, 1978
He was a very unsuccessful director who is famous for being just that.
This movie shows his struggles as he attempts to build a career as a
director in Hollywood.
Starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Hitchcock
1 hour, 38 min.
Alfred Hitchcock (Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock)
August 13, 1899 - April 29, 1980
He was from England and became one of the most important directors in
film history and was a pioneer in the thriller genre and movie making
in general.
This movie focuses on him working on one of his greatest and one of the
most well-known movies ever, Psycho. He was a genius and the
film project that is at the center of this movie was a result of
his talent and determination in producing what he knew was great
quality work.
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, and Scarlett Johansson.
Painters
El Greco
1 hour, 59 min.
El Greco (Domenicos Theotokopoulos)
October 1, 1541 - April 7, 1614
He was one of the most famous painters of the Spanish Renaissance. His
nickname comes from the fact that he was from Greece. His art was
not so appreciated until long after his death, but his art is notable for
its amazing colors and shapes.
This movie is a fictional story about the great painter that attempts
to explore the mind behind the masterpieces.
Starring Nick Ashdon, Juan Diego Botto, and Laia Marull.
Artemisia
1 hour, 42 min.
Artemisia Gentileschi
July 8, 1593 - 1650s
She was an Italian painter during the Baroque period. She was also
one of the few female professionally recognized painters of that time.
The movie shows her entering a male dominanted profession but also
shows that she had as much talent, if not more, as any other painter
of her time. The movie centers on her relationship with another
painter that history records as beginning with her rape. The movie,
however, creates more of a love story in contrast to the historical
records.
Starring Valentina Cervi, Michel Serrault, and Miki Manojlovic.
Nightwatching
2 hours, 21 min.
Rembrandt
July 15, 1606 - October 4, 1669
He was a Dutch master during the Dutch Golden Age. He is famous for
his incredibly detailed portraits and biblical scenes capturing human
emotion, as well as his overall influence
on the art world and future artists.
This movie focuses on the creation of one of his most famous paintings,
The Night Watch. The painting shows his mastery of light and
shadow as well his talent for showing an incredible level of realism.
Starring Martin Freeman, Eva Birthistle, and Jodhi May.
Mr. Turner
2 hours, 34 min.
J.M.W. Turner
April 23, 1775 - December 19, 1851
He was a British painter who is famous for his landscape paintings in
which he captured the essence of nature that can give a person a
certain emotional response to the sight.
This movie focuses on the last third of the painter’s life, after he
has already achieved fame and become a master of his craft. The movie
shows how the artist reacted to various issues in his life.
Starring Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, and Marion Bailey.
At Eternity’s Gate
1 hour, 50 min.
Vincent van Gogh
March 30, 1853 - July 29 1890
He is famous for his portraits and landscapes, and easily recognized in
his self portrait. The painter infamously had mental issues and even
cut of his own ear. But through all his problems, he created some
amazing artworks characterized by great colors and
unforgettable brush strokes.
This movie focuses on the end of his life. The movie shows that art was
his life, but that his life was also full of problems that perhaps
is expressed in his art.
Starring Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, and Mads Mikkelsen.
Frida
2 hours, 3 min.
Frida Kahlo
July 6, 1907 - July 13, 1954
She was a Mexican artist who is probably most famous for her self-portraits
but who also created many paintings depicting her world with a few
fantastical elements. She was also a poltical and social activist who
has become an important figure in feminism and nationalist identity theory.
This movie follows her from the beginning of her art career and shows
her pretty interesting relationship with her artist husband. Like her
art, she was incredibly interesting and the movie succeeds in capturing
that.
Starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, and Geoffrey Rush.
Pollock
2 hours, 2 min.
Jackson Pollock
January 28, 1912 - August 11, 1956
He was an American painter whose art is best associated with the
Abstract movement. His art is unmistakably his and could be described
as drips, splashes, and chaotic.
The movie shows his early career through his death and all the
personal problems that he had in between while creating his unique
works in his unique method.
Starring Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, and Jennifer Connelly.
Big Eyes
1 hour, 46 min.
Margaret Keane
September 15, 1927 -
She is an American artist who is famous for the big eyes that she
paints on the subjects of her art.
The movie shows her develop through her career as an artist and focuses
on her relationship with her husband who took credit for her work until
a famous lawsuit ending with a paint-off to prove who the real artist is.
Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, and Danny Huston.
Basquiat
1 hour, 48 min.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
December 22, 1960 - August 12, 1988
He was an American artist whose works seem express many of the social issues
that surrounded the artist in 1970s and 80s New York.
This movie follows the artist through his development from graffiti art
on buildings to widely acclaimed artworks held in galleries.
Starring Jeffrey Wright, David Bowie, and Benicio del Toro.
Musicians
Amadeus
3 hours
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791
Classical
He was an Austrian composer; a prodigy and one of the most talented musicians and
musical composers ever, starting his amazing career when he was
around three years old. He is also probably the most popular classical
musician. His sister was also extremely talented and they performed
together when they were young. His sister was not allowed to continue
professionally due to the time’s customs. Mozart went on to become
the most talented composer of his time.
This movie shows a fictional story where Mozart has a professional
rivalry with another composer of his day. The movie shows that Mozart
was so talented that making music was like breathing to him. The movie
also includes much of Mozart’s music, which were all great successes during
his life.
Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, and Elizabeth Berridge.
Lady Sings the Blues
2 hours, 24 min.
Billie Holiday
April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959
Jazz
She was an American jazz singer whose singing style and songs are
ingrained in American history. She came up at a time in the U.S. when
it was harder for Black Americans to succeed. It was especially harder
for Black women. She had enough determination, and such a unique voice
and style, to become a successful singer and become a large influence
on jazz music and culture. Her song, Strange Fruit, captured
the racism in America, which made it controversial at the time and also
contributed to her fame. However, she also had personal issues in her
private life that affected her music towards the end of her life.
This movie is about Billie Holiday but it is not entirely fact based. The
movie is, however, realistic and captures much of the emotion felt in
Billie’s famous songs. In the film’s defense, her "autobiography" isn’t
entirely fact based either. But both are powerful records about an
important American singer who deserves the extra research to truly
know.
Starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, and Richard Pryor.
Bird
2 hours, 41 min.
Charlie Parker
August 29, 1920 - March 12, 1955
Jazz
He is widely considered to be the greatest jazz saxophone player ever.
He also pioneered the bebop style in jazz. He was undoubtedly a
musical genius, but he also had problems that he
had to struggle with throughout his career.
This movie shows his life, relationships, and influence on jazz music.
The movie follows him from childhood to death, with all the jazz
in-between.
Starring Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, and Michael Zelniker.
Ray
2 hours, 58 min.
Ray Charles
September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004
Soul; R&B
He was a musical genius who spearheaded the Soul music genre in America and who
also had many hits sounding like R&B, country, and pop. In addition to
his amazing musical talent, he was blind since he was a child but still
played the piano, wrote and sang, and made sure to control his own music.
He was one of the biggest influences on music and culture in the 20th century.
This movie is about his life and follows him from a blinding child in the
South to a major musical success at major record companies. The movie
also shows his private life and the some of the serious issues that he
had to deal with involving trust in his relationships, control over his
music, and control over some personal problems. But through all the
obstacles life had, Ray Charles created amazing music.
STarring Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, and Clifton Powell.
Walk the Line
2 hours, 33 min.
Johnny Cash
Frebruary 26, 1932 - September 12, 2003
Country; Rock and Roll; Folk
He was a singer with a deep voice and deep music that ingrained intself
into various aspects of American culture. Born in the South during
the Great Depression, he became the first international country star.
He is in the Halls of Fame of three different music categories, he got
his own show on ABC, and sang about topics that were important, rather
than just popular. He is also well-known for his prison concerts and
Native American activism.
This movie follows him from the South to the military to international
fame. The movie focuses on his personal life, especially his relationship
with June Carter who he eventually married after singing with her for
many years. The movie also delves into other personal issues that he
faced and struggled with as his career grew.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, and Ginnifer Goodwin.
La Bamba
1 hour, 49 min.
Ritchie Valens
May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959
Rock and Roll
He was a young artist from California who achieved widespread
popularity before he finished high school. He also inspired generations of
Latin American singers to pursue careers in Rock and Roll. He was
undoubtedly a gifted young talent who unfortunately had his career and
his life cut too short.
This movie shows him develop his career from a casual guitar playing
singer who joins a garage band, to a national celebrity appearing
on television singing his hit songs. The title of the movie is the
name of one his most famous songs, which he adapted from a traditional
Mexican folk song into a Rock and Roll song. Fun fact: he didn’t
speak much spanish but he learned enough to sing the song. It’s a
great film that takes you all the way to the end - a very sad end;
the day the music died.
Starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, and Rosanna DeSoto.
Miles Ahead
1 hour, 40 min.
Miles Davis
May 26, 1926 - September 28, 1991
Jazz
He was a huge influence in Jazz as an amazingly successful trumpet
player with one of the longest, and thus one of the most impactful
careers in the genre. He began
his career in Charlie "Bird" Parker’s bebop group and then went on
to develop his own jazz styles and a career that was full of
musical innovation and timeless influence.
This movie jumps around his life but focuses on the personal issues
that he faced during his career. The movie is full of his music and
so gives you a chance to try get to know the artist and his work. The
main part of the movie centers on his hiatus from his career during the
1970s due to personal issues. The movie also shows his career from
before that period and then his attempts to get back in action and
continue his legendary work.
Starring Don Cheadle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Ewan McGregor.
Get on Up
2 hours, 19 min.
James Brown (Godfather of Soul)
May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006
Soul; Funk; R&B
He was an American cultural giant that specialized in James Brown music.
He didn’t wasn’t just a great artist, he was an innovator and he
created a new sound that became funk music and also became part of
America’s culture. His voice, songs, dances, costumes, messages,
and overall performances
influenced almost every artist and genre that came after him.
This movie goes through his life, his music, and the challenges that
he faced. He was also known as the hardest working man in show business
and this movie shows that he indeed demanded a lot from himself and everyone
that worked with him. That pressure certainly strained a lot of his
relationships, but all that work paid off. There’s a good chance
that you’ve heard his music in some form. In case you haven’t, this movie
will give you a good overview.
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, and Viola Davis.
Jersey Boys
2 hours, 14 min.
The Four Seasons
(Frankie Valli; Bob Gaudio; Tommy DeVito; Nick Massi)
1960 -
Pop Rock
These were just some guys from Jersey who came up during the doo-wop
era and sounded amazing together. The band was amazingly successful and
has had hits since it began in the 1960s. The members have changed over the
years, but the music has remained a big part of American culture. The
original members might not all be known by name, but the classic first
few songs probably are: "Sherry", "Big Girls Don’t Cry", and "Walk
Like A Man" are sure to ring a few bells. And if not, then play the
movie or one of the songs to hear Frankie Valli’s electrifying voice
and group’s eternal sound.
This movie goes through the creation of the band and shows how the
original members got together. The movie also shows the development
of the major hits and it follows the original members through their
success and their problems. It’s a very entertaining movie that’s got
good music and some interesting facts as part of the plot. For example, Joe Pesci the
actor was involved with group pretty early on.
Starring John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, and Vincent Piazza.
What’s Love Got to do With It
1 hour, 58 min.
Tina Turner (Anna Mae Bullock)
November 26, 1939 -
R&B; Pop; Soul; Rock and Roll
She’s a music legend and has been a pop culture giant since the 1950s.
She began her career performing with a man who became her husband and
then ex-husband, Ike Turner. They became extremely famous together as
Ike and Tina Turner. They divorced in the 70s and she broke out on
her own and has been incredibly successful. Her voice, dances, songs,
and image are all internationally recognized. She made many chart-topping
hits and has been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1991.
This movie is about Tina Turner and follows her from her childhood
through her career. The movie shows the course of her abusive relationship
with Ike and then her emergence as a successful solo artist after an initial
struggle.
Starring Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, and Khandi Alexander.
I’m Not There
2 hours, 15 min.
Bob Dylan
May 24, 1941 -
Folk; Country; Rock
He’s a major figure in American culture and his music from the 1960s
became an integral part of the anti-war, civil rights, and other
social and political movements of the time. His music and his lyrics
immensely influenced American culture and musical norms. His large
and varied body of work
has earned him a place in three music hall of fames, a Pulitzer
special citation prize, and a Nobel Prize in Literature.
This movie isn’t a regular biopic. It’s a movie about six different
people - all of whom are Bob Dylan at a certain stage in his life and
career. He’s a mysterious figure and the film does a great job at
portraying that by literally using different people and faces to
show how multifaceted he was and is.
Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin,
Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw.
The Doors
2 hours, 21 min.
Jim Morrison
December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971
Rock
He was the lead singer of the band that the movie is named after. He
made a huge impact on the music world and especially the Rock scene. His
wild performances, full of surprises, along with the band’s music made
him an icon of the 1960s. The Lizard King was known for his improptu poetry during
concerts as well. His image has become the standard image for the
idea of a rockstar. Accordingly, he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame, along with the rest of the band.
This movie is about the band but focuses on its lead singer. The movie
shows them all meeting in California and forming the band during the
60s. The movie also explores the use of drugs that was rampant in
American and in the band at the time. The film follows the lead
singer as he falls deeper into substance abuse and higher in fame. The
movie ends with the end of his life at the infamous age of 27 years old,
at which many artists have died.
Starring Val Kilmer, Kevin Dillon, and Meg Ryan.
Bohemian Rhapsody
2 hours, 13 min.
Freddie Mercury
September 5, 1946 - November 24, 1991
Rock
He was a British rockstar who was the lead singer of the band,
Queen, that
created some of the most well-known songs in the world: "We Are the
Champions", "We Will Rock You", and of course the title song, "Bohemian
Rhapsody". His trademark performances consisted of very theatrical
movements and costumes, which made each concert a very memorable
experience. He was a nearly unmatched live performer with a larger
than average vocal range that fit his larger than life presence on
stage and in music history.
The movie follows him from his time working at an airport to him and
the rest of Queen doing what is widely considered the greatest live
performances of all time at the Live Aid concert in 1985. The movie
shows the band’s creative process and the inevitable conflicts that
commonly follow success. The movie also goes into his private life
and the personal issues he had in his relationships and his health.
Queen’s manager and two members played in roles in the film’s production to
ensure that the film shows you Freddie Mercury.
Starring Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, and Gwilym Lee.
The Jacksons: An American Dream
5 hours
The Jackson 5; Michael Jackson
1965-1989; August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009
Pop; Soul; R&B
The Jackson 5 was a pop group made up of the Jackson siblings whose
songs sound through many documentaries on the 1960s and in many
children’s movies and shows. At least one of their songs probably
plays in some educational videos ("ABC"). The brothers are also in
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The youngest member of the band was Michael. He became not just the
most famous of the family, but one of the most famous people in the
world and is known as the King of Pop. His songs, dances, image, and
pretty much everything about him is eternally ingrained in the world’s
pop culture.
This is a two part miniseries that focuses on the Jackson 5 and their
parents in the first part and then on Michael Jackson’s career in the
second. The miniseries goes into the rehearsals, performances,
struggles, issues, and success that the family of artists went through
during their careers.
Starring Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Angela Bassett, and Wylie Draper.
Selena
2 hours, 8 min.
Selena
April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995
Tejano; Pop; R&B
She was an female American singer who successfully broke into the male
dominated genre of Tejano music. Her success made the genre a majorly
popular music style in America. Fun fact: she only spoke English but
learned Spanish for her songs and then became fluent. She became
well-known for her music and also for her fashion and dancing. Even
though she died young, she still had a huge impact on Latin and
American culture.
This movie follows Selena’s career from its beginning when she was
part of her father’s family band. The movie goes through her career and
her incredible rise to fame all the way to her life’s unfortunate and senseless
end.
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, and Jon Seda.
Straight Outta Compton
2 hours, 47 min.
N.W.A. ("Niggaz Wit Attitudes")
1987-1991
Rap; West Coast Hip Hop
They are one of the most famous rappers in hip hop history and also
one of the most influential. They popularized gangster rap, which
included lyrics explicitly directed against heavy policing and heavily critical
of police and racism and American society. All of that made the group,
and their music very controversial, but also very important. They
were even elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their music
was called many things but above all it was honest and it resonated with
millions.
This movie shows the beginning of N.W.A. and focuses on three of the
founding members: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. The movie shows the
issues that followed the group’s success and how these issues sparked the
even more successful solo careers of the founding members who have left
a major impact on hip hop and the entertainment industry.
Starring O’Shea Jackson, Corey Hawkins, and Jason Mitchell.
All Eyez on Me
2 hours, 20 min.
Tupac Shakur
June 16, 1971 - September 13, 1996
Rap; West Coast Hip Hop
He was one of the most influential and important rappers of all time.
He rapped about social issues and had a sound that was uniquely Tupac.
His lyrics reached the hearts and minds of every listener and went
beyond beats, rhymes, and even surpassed the rap that captured honest
emotion. Tupac made poetry that captured everything. Also in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he is still believed by some to have survived
a tragic shooting in 1996. The multiple albums that came out after his
death probably bolstered that theory. He is, however, widely considered
to be the greatest rapper of all time.
This movie follows Tupac from his Black Panther Party filled childhood
that came with his parents to Los Angeles where he enters the hip hop
world and becomes one of the greatest rappers of all time. The movie
shows his time in Art school where he meets Jada Pinkett and then his
time as a rapper where is at first friends with East Coast rapper,
Biggie Smalls. The movie also shows the East/West rivalry and the
tension in hip hop at the time.
Starring Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, and Kat Graham.
Notorious
2 hours, 9 min.
Biggie Smalls (The Notorious B.I.G.)
May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997
Rap; East Coast Hip Hop
His name only understates his role in hip hop and his influence as a
rapper. Rivaled only by Tupac, Biggie is also considered to be the
greatest rapper ever. His music is incredibly easy to listen to and his
story telling skills were unmatched. He was the leader of East Coast
hip hop and is also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His career
coincided with Tupac’s and they were faces of each side of the East/West
feud that included violent songs attacking each side and culminated in
the violent ends of each artist. He was a master of flow and his
songs will always come on the radio because people will listen.
This movie follows Biggie from his childhood in Brooklyn and his
young life in crime to his success as a rapper. The movie shows the
Coast rivalry and the various issues in his personal life and the
relationships involved. The movie goes all the way to the tragic end
of Biggie’s life in a shooting in L.A. But his music is now classic
and will always be played.
Starring Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, and Derek Luke.