French & Indian War - American Revolution
The Last of the Mohicans
2 hours, 2 min.
1757 - Middle of the French and Indian War (7 Years War) - New York State
The French and Indian War was fought between Great Britain and France, and thus
included their colonies in North America and their Native American allies. The
war lasted from 1754 through 1763 and ended with a British victory. That
victory came with heavy debt, which was put on the colonies and led to
the frustration that would spark revolution. Many American leaders fought
in this war, such as George Washington.
This movie is based on a novel about Native Americans helping British
colonists in the middle of the war. It shows the English, French,
Native Americans on both sides, and citizens of the colonies during the war.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, and Russell Means.
The Patriot
2 hours, 55 min.
1775-1781 - American Revolutionary War - Southern Colonial America
The American Revolutionary War was fought between Great Britain and its 13 North
American colonies. The war lasted from 1775 through 1783 and ended with the
colonies being officially recognized as an independent nation.
This movie isn't based on any one true story, but it shows American militia
fighting British soldiers throughout the war. It also includes a few real
historical figures in real battles during the war.
Starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, and Jason Isaacs.
John Adams (HBO Series)
1 season, 7 episodes
1770-1826 - American Revolution and early American Government - Boston, Philadelphia,
Paris, Holland, London, New York
The American Revolution really began with events dating back to 1770 and the
frustration ultimately caused by the French and Indian War.
John Adams was involved with many of those events and had an extremely important
political role in establishing the U.S. as a stable and independent nation.
This miniseries, although not 100% accurate, provides amazing lessons in
early U.S. history ranging from the outrage of the colonists to the signing of the
Declaration of Independence to time of the 6th president. The series
expertly shows how difficult and revolutionary the acts of the founding
fathers truly were.
Starring Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, and Stephen Dillane.
Recommended Watching Group:
- -John Adams-
- Amistad - After Independence
- Lincoln - Civil War Era
After Independence
The Alamo
2 hours, 17 min.
1836 - Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution - Texas
As Americans expanded westward, some moved into present day Texas, which
was once part of Mexico. Texans (Native Texans and U.S. immigrants)
wanted to be independent of Mexico and so they rebelled.
This movie focuses on the Alamo, which was the site of a tragic battle
that sparked a fire in the Texan forces and led to Texan victory and
independence. Real historical figures are included as central characters
in the movie as they were central to the events in real life.
Starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, and Patrick Wilson.
Amistad
2 hours, 35 min.
1839-1841 - La Amistad Slave Revolt and Legal Case - Colonial Cuba, Connecticut, D.C.
The U.S. was formed with slavery as part of it. From 1808, the U.S. outlawed
its international slave trade but its domestic slavery remained intact. The
Amistad was a Spanish ship full of Africans that revolted against the crew.
The ship ended up in U.S. waters and then ensued a legal battle to decide
whether the Africans were Spanish property or free people.
This movie shows the revolt on the ship and focuses on the historical figures
that were central to the legal case all the way up through its appeal
in the Supreme Court argued by former president, John Quincy Adams for the
Africans.
Starring Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, and Anthony Hopkins.
Recommended Watching Group:
- John Adams - American Revolution
- -Amistad-
- Lincoln - Civil War Era
12 Years a Slave
2 hours, 14 min.
1841-1853 - A free man's experience being kidnapped and sold into slavery -
New York State, New Orleans, plantations in Louisiana
Slavery is a big part of U.S. history; it was, however, much more integral
and widespread in the Southern States than in the Northern States. This
difference contributed to the Civil War that was to come. Slavery is the
worst part of U.S. history. A man from New York named Solomon Northup
was kidnapped in and sold into slavery in the South. When he regained his
freedom, he wrote a memoir of his experience and ended it by writing
that if anything in the book was not accurate, it was "presenting to the
reader too prominently the bright side of the picture." (Northup, Solomon.
Twelve Years a Slave (First ed.). p. 321.).
This movie is an adaptation of Solomon Northup's memoir.
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong'o.
Civil War Era
Glory
2 hours, 2 min.
1862-1863 - Early Accomplishments of the Union's 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
- Boston, South Carolina
The American Civil War began in 1861 and was fought between the Northern States
and the Southern States. Slavery and the role of Black Americans in the U.S.
was a forefront issue of the conflict, but the war fought exclusively by
white soldiers until late 1862. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation,
which freed the slaves in the Southern States, the North began officially
recruiting Black soldiers. Among the first regiments of Black soldiers
was the 54th Massachusetts. Their actions erased doubt that Blacks could
valiantly fight in the war.
This movie shows part of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the
war, and then the creation of the 54th Massachusetts and their first battles.
Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman.
Free State of Jones
2 hours, 20 min.
1862-1865 - Southern Soldiers Rebelling Against the Confederacy - Jones County, Mississippi
The Civil War was fought mainly in the South because the Southern States were
trying to separate from the Union. The War weighed heavy on both sides, and even
today there is much debate about the main reason that the war was fought for.
Some things that are certain, however, are that the South passed a law that
allowed slave owners and their family to be exempt from military service if
they owned a certain number of slaves; the Confederate army was low on
supplies and unable to adequately support its soldiers; and many Southern
soldiers deserted the Confederacy that did not support them.
This movie mainly shows the story of Newton Knight, a southern soldier who left
the Confederate army and led a movement to form an independent community
in Mississippi that was not part of the Confederacy.
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Mahershala Ali.
Dances with Wolves
3 hours, 1 min.
1863 - The Western Frontier - Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado
Throughout U.S. history, the nation has had a complex and often tragic
relationship with Native Americans. As the U.S. expanded west, the
history of that relationship also expanded as the population and footprint
of the Native Americans tragically shrank. Even during the Civil War, the
U.S. was pushing westward.
This movie is based on a novel, but it shows life on the western frontier
during the Civil War and how certain Native American tribes lived during
U.S. expansion.
Starring Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, and Graham Greene.
Gangs of New York
2 hours, 48 min.
1863 - New York City Politics and Society During the War - Manhattan
While the Civil War was being fought, big city life went on. In
Manhattan there were many street gangs that made parts of the city sometimes
very violent and dangerous. There were also political bosses, such as Boss
Tweed of Tammany Hall, that controlled and corrupted the government. The city
also saw an immense wave of Irish immigrants during this time that led to
New York having a large Irish population that has contributed much to the
City's culture. With so much going on besides the War, the draft riots were
inevitable as New Yorkers were involved in their own wars.
This movie focuses on a fictional character, but shows how Manhattan was
during the Civil War years and also includes real historical figures as major
characters in the story that includes real events.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz.
Lincoln
2 hours, 30 min.
1865 - The Passage of the 13th Amendment at the End of the Civil War - D.C.
As the War was coming to an end, the role of Black Americans in the nation
was sure to be an issue especially with a Union victory over the Southern
States that relied on the enslavement of Blacks. The obvious, and best,
solution to the coming issue was an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to
outlaw slavery in the nation. This solution, however, was very
controversial and getting the amendment passed was very difficult.
This movie shows the challenges involved in passing the 13th amendment with
a focus on the efforts of President Lincoln and his staff.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Recommended Watching Group:
- John Adams - American Revolution
- Amistad - After Independence
- -Lincoln-
After Civil War
The Conspirator
2 hours, 3 min.
1865 - Immediate Aftermath of President Lincoln's Assassination - D.C.
After the Civil War ended with a Union victory, President Lincoln was
assassinated. The assassination was the product of a conspiracy to kill the
president and top cabinet members. After the plot was executed, most of the
conspirators were captured, tried, convicted, and hanged.
This movie shows the conspiracy and focuses on the trial and defense of
Mary Surratt, whose involvement in the conspiracy is still debated today.
Starring James McAvoy, Robin Wright, and Kevin Kline.
Recommended Watching Group:
- Lincoln - Civil War Era
- -The Conspirator-
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
2 hours, 13 min.
1870s-1890s - U.S. Policy and Treatment of Native Americans - South Dakota
U.S. expansion inevitably meant Native American containment - reservations.
Native Americans and their culture have continuously been erased through
U.S. growth that came with violence or with pressure for assimilation.
What happened to this population is a tragic but integral part of U.S.
history.
This movie is based on a novel that is largely based on
historical fact. The history captured by this movie includes key people
involved in U.S.-Native American policy as well as tragic events involving
important Native American figures.
Starring Aidan Quinn, August Schellenberg, and Anna Paquin.
There Will Be Blood
2 hours, 38 min.
1898-1927 - The Oil Industry's Early Days - New Mexico, California
The oil industry began in the U.S. after the Civil War and boomed into the
20th century. Oil companies led the U.S. economy to unprecedentedly
sophisticated and ambitious levels of capitalism. The people that led this
industry created businesses that grew in size from regional to national to international.
The Post Civil War period was full of American Dream stories of people making
riches, and oil was a main fuel of that dream. However, the early oil industry was
often characterized as ruthless and the epitome of competition.
This movie is based on this industry in that period of time and focuses
on a fictional, but characteristically strong-willed oil tycoon. The movie,
although a fictional story, references real events and entities that touched
the early 20th century oil industry.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, and Kevin J. O'Connor.
Legends of the Fall
2 hours, 13 min.
1890s-1930s - American Life in the West During the Early 20th Century - Montana
The period between the Civil War and up through World War I and Prohibition
was a subtly dynamic. People continued to move out West; U.S. pressure on
Native Americans did not stop; technology advanced; a major international
war was fought; alcohol was outlawed; crime flourished; and families grew.
This movie is based on a novel and fictional characters but capture real events
in U.S. history and how those events affected people who lived through them.
The majority of the story takes place in Montana, but the film follows main
characters from the turn of the 20th century West into World War I battles
and then back to Prohibition American. This is a good movie to transition
into the next time period in U.S. history because it involves a disillusioned
Civil War vet who raises his sons that end up fighting in WWI and
learn how to survive during Prohibition. The movie seamlessly connects
the Civil War with the 20th century.
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, and Aidan Quinn.
World War I and the Roaring 20s (Prohibition)
The Lost Battalion
1 hour, 32 min.
1918 - American Forces During World War I - France
The U.S. managed to stay out of WWI, The Great War, until 1918 after several
of its ships had been sunk by Germany and after receiving an intercepted a German telegram
to Mexico plotting an alliance to fight the U.S. America entered and largely
contributed to the end of the war. Many Americans died as a result of the
"full-frontal" attacks over the trenches, but the large amount of fresh
soldiers from the U.S. kept raising the pressure on Germany all the way to the end.
This movie focuses on the 77th Infantry Division that became known as the
Lost Battalion because they were surrounded by German forces and cut-off from
any allies. They held their position long enough to survive and allow other
American forces to break the German line. They never surrendered.
Starring Rick Schroder, Michael Brandon, and Jamie Harris.
Boardwalk Empire (HBO Series)
5 seasons, 56 episodes.
1920-1931 - Prohibition: Politics and Crime - Atlantic City, New York City, Chicago
The 1920s in the America is marked by the outlaw of alcohol consumption, which
directly led to the rise of organized crime with money made by the illegal
importation and sale of alcohol. Many fortunes were made during this decade,
as well as many criminal empires that survive today. The decade is also
characterized as the Roaring 20s because of the economic and cultural boom
experienced throughout the country.
This series perfectly captures that decade and includes many historical
figures of that era as main characters. It begins on the eve of Prohibition and
focuses on the people who had major roles in organizing criminal activity
based on defying prohibition, and ends during the Depression. This is a great
show to watch to get a sense of the events, music, culture, and people that
defined the decade.
Starring Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, and Michael Shannon.
Mobsters
1 hours, 44 min.
1920s-1931 - Origin of the Governing Structure of the American Mafia - New York City
Organized crime had a big role in U.S. history during the 20th century. The
exact importance of it and the real details are often debated, but the
organizations that make up the American Mafia exist and they did significantly
affect major U.S. cities throughout the 20th century.
This movie explores how the American Mafia, centered in New York, developed
from its old-world unstable one boss structure into the infamous Five Families
structure led by The Commission that has been immortalized in award winning films
and weel-documented in conviction winning federal investigations. The movie
focuses on the group of friends that established The Commission in 1931.
Starring Christian Slater; Patrick Dempsey; and Richard Grieco.
The Great Gatsby
2 hours, 23 min.
1922 - The Extravagance of the Roaring 20s - New York
This decade between WWI and the Depression was marked with economic and
cultural riches. The parties were legendary and the fortunes were amazing.
Of course, this was also the era of Prohibition and crime
was always at least in the shadows, especially if alcohol was in the spotlight.
This movie is based on a novel published during the 20s that captured the
extravagance of the decade.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan.
Changeling
2 hours, 22 min.
1928 - Wineville Chicken Coop Murders - Los Angeles and Riverside County, California
Not everything was booming and great during the Roaring 20s.
The Los Angeles Police Department had been getting very bad press and was
seen by many as extremely corrupt; young boys were disappearing; and unbeknownst to
all, there was a serial killer on the loose. The connection between all this
emerged in the search for Walter Collins, the missing son of Christine Collins. The LAPD,
desperate to get good press and resolve the case,
presented a boy to Christine Collins who was not her son, and the LAPD forced
her to accept him despite her objections. She was positive that this boy was
not her son and she had proof that would embarrass the LAPD. During those
days, the LAPD utilized "Code 12" lockups, which resulted in the commitment
of people who inconvenienced the police. The scandal unravelled and became public with the
stand in boy admitting that he was not the missing son and with an arrest of a serial
killer abducting boys in LA.
This movie shows this tragic true story and focuses on the efforts of
Christine Collins to find her missing son.
Starring Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, and Jeffrey Donovan.
The Untouchables
2 hours
1930-1932 - Capturing Al Capone - Chicago
During Prohibition, many criminal organizations formed and had powerful holds
on big cities all over the U.S. One of the most famous criminals of this time
period was Al Capone, the boss of the Chicago Outfit (section of the American
Mafia). Al Capone was designated Public Enemy Number 1 by various newspapers
following the bloody Valentine's Day Massacre of 7 rival gang members in broad
daylight. Although he was ultimately convicted of tax evasion, he was one
of the most violent criminals.
This movie shows Al Capone during his last years in power as Prohibition agent
and focus of the movie, Eliot Ness and his group of Untouchables rip apart
Capone's empire and help pave the way for Capone's conviction.
Starring Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery.
Lawless
1 hour, 56 min.
1931-1933 - Country Moonshine and Independent Bootlegging - Virginia
Organized crime like the mafia usually comes to mind when thinking about
illegal bootlegging during Prohibition. But the U.S. is a big country and
the illegal production and sale of alcohol happened everywhere and was
performed by all types of Americans. In Virginia, the Bondurant brothers
operated a very successful moonshine alcohol business during Prohibition.
This movie is based on a novel written by the grandson of one of the brothers
that describes his family's illicit activities during this time period.
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jessica Chastain.
Chaplin
2 hours, 25 min.
1920s (mainly) - Movies and the Film Industry - California
Charlie Chaplin is one of the most important figures in movie history.
His famous character, The Tramp, is instantly recognizable and his movies
are classics. He became internationally famous and rose to the top of the
film industry during the silent film era and made most of his well-known
movies during the 20s. Chaplin stubbornly continued making silent films
even when movies with sound became popular in the 30s. His work was still
considered masterful. Although Chaplin grew up in England, he rose to fame
in Hollywood and made films that were loved by the American people
(as well as people all over the world).
This movie is about Charlie Chaplin's life, which spanned from 1889 through
1977. The movie also spans as many time periods but his major work and
influence on the film industry was during the 20s and into the Great Depression.
This makes it a good transition movie into the next time period.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Paul Rhys, and Geraldine Chaplin.
The Great Depression
The Grapes of Wrath
2 hours, 9 min.
1930s (The Depression) - People Becoming Migrant Workers - Oklahoma, California
The Great Depression began in 1929 with a major stock
market crash. Many people lost a lot of money; many people also lost their
jobs, homes, and hope. Most people were not doing well, and that was the case
all over the world. To make matters worse, Middle America was experiencing a
dust-bowl - severe drought and huge blow to the agriculture industry. All of
this made people move to find work to try to survive. Although political
efforts to try to fix the economic issue began in 1933, the Depression lasted
until the start of World War II. So for the 1930s, basically a decade,
reality was often a tragedy.
This movie is based on a novel written by John Steinbeck, one of the greatest
writers about the Depression. It focuses on a family from Oklahoma that is
forced to move to California hoping to find work as are so many others.
Starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, and John Carradine.
Of Mice and Men
1 hour, 55 min.
1930s (The Depression) - Migrant Workers - California
This movie is based on another novel written by John Steinbeck. The movie
focuses on two migrant workers in California moving around, trying to find
work to try to survive even though life was often tragic.
Starring Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, and Ray Walston.
Public Enemies
2 hours, 23 min.
1933-1934 - Depression Era Crime and the FBI - Illinois, Indiana
As the Depression wore on, so did crime. The crimes that fascinated the
American people the most were bank robberies. Armed bank robbers, such
as John Dillinger rose to national fame. In
an era when reality was often tragic, these criminals provided some form
of entertainment and even inspiration, which led to their popularity.
Their popularity probably only increased when the U.S. government really
began cracking down on crime and officially established the Federal Bureau
of Investigation. It had national jurisdiction and sought to
tackle the high profile crimes that most concerned the FBI's leader,
J. Edgar Hoover.
This movie focuses on the final years of John Dillinger, one of the most
popular bank robbers in American history, and the FBI hunt for him.
Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard.
To Kill a Mockingbird
2 hours, 10 min.
1930s - The Deep South: Race, Law, and Class - Alabama
The Depression affected just about everyone, but the U.S. South had still
been struggling from the Civil War. On top of the economic issues, the South
was in a constant racial conflict state. There was widespread activity by
the Ku Klux Klan terror group, as well as local laws (jim crow) that ensured
racial segregation and that Blacks were worse off than Whites.
This movie is based on one of the most famous novels in America and has the
same title. It shows the 1930s South, Southerners, Southern culture, race relations
and economic struggle. The story is most known for racial conflict that
centers on a Black man who is accused of a crime and unlikely to receive a fair
trial. The story has inspired many generations of Americans to enter the law.
Starring Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, and Phillip Alford.
Hyde Park on Hudson
1 hour, 35 min.
1939 - FDR Hosting the King of England Right Before WWII - New York State
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had been working throughout the 30s on
economic policies to get America out of the Depression. Meanwhile, in Europe,
fascist regimes were rising and keen on expanding; all signs pointed to
another world war. The U.S., however, was very intent on remaining neutral
and not enter another major international war. Britain knew that it needed
allies just as it needed allies in the First World War. The American
people wanted nothing to do with another European war, but FDR and others
sensed that the rising German threat might eventually threaten the U.S. regardless.
The first step on the path to America joining the war was to make sure that
the nation could truly have a good, or special relationship with its main
ally, the United Kingdom. Playing the long game, FDR invited the British
monarchs to his house in the Hudson Valley in New York and had hotdogs and beer.
More than just a BBQ, this was showing America that the U.K. was a real ally,
worthy of support.
This movie centers on the historic visit, which FDR meticulously planned to
ensure that U.S.-U.K. relations strengthened so that the U.S. could support
the U.K. in the next war. The movie mainly shows the relationship between
FDR and his distant cousin who was one of his closest friends. This is a
good transition movie as the U.K. declared war on Germany 3 months after the
visit and the U.S. eventually also entered WWII allied with the U.K.
Starring Bill Murray, Laura Linney, and Samuel West.
World War II
Pearl Harbor
3 hours, 4 min.
1941 - The Attack on Pearl Harbor - Hawaii
World War II officially began in 1939, but the U.S. was able to stay out of it,
for the most part, until December 7th, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy"
as FDR labeled it. At this point, the U.K. was left nearly alone in its fight
against Germany in Western Europe and a British defeat would clearly have left
the U.S. alone in a war that would certainly have spread across the Atlantic.
Germany, Japan, and Italy made a pact to support each other militarily if any nation
attacked one of them. The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Japan to weaken
them. Then came the surprise attack on the American base in Hawaii, Pearl
Harbor in which thousands of Americans died. The U.S. declared war on Japan,
and so went to war against Germany and Italy as well.
This movie focuses on fictional characters in the U.S. military right before
America's entry into the war. Their lives in the movie center around the
attack on Pearl Harbor, as they are each shown to have been right in the middle
of it all.
Starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale.
The Tuskegee Airmen
1 hour, 46 min.
1941-1945 - First Black Military Pilot Group - Alabama, North Africa, Italy, Germany
Racism has been a constant theme throughout American history, and that did
not really change during WWII. Black soldiers were discriminated against and
returned home to be subject to the racist jim crow laws. But during the war,
Black Americans were able to show the rest of the U.S. that they were more
than capable of fighting in the military and more than deserving of respect.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black American military pilots and they
played a key role in U.S. history and in WWII.
This movie shows the Tuskegee Airmen being formed as a project all the way
to the pilots serving integral functions in the war.
Starring Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Patton
2 hours, 52 min.
1943-1945 - General Patton's WWII Experience - North Africa, Mediterranean, Europe
General Patton was a huge American figure in WWII. He was a skilled general
who had many successful missions, but he was also very set in his ways and,
in some cases, held back by himself or at least his words. His WWII
experiences include very important battles and one major, albeit fake,
military operation. It's easy to say that he has a significant role in
U.S. history.
This movie focuses on Patton's time in the final years of the War.
Starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, and Michael Bates.
The Great Escape
2 hours, 52 min.
1943-1944 - Prisoner of War Camps in Nazi Germany - Poland
During any war, there are prisoners. During WWII, the Nazis took many Allied
prisoners representing many nationalities and they placed them all in
various prisoner camps. One prisoner camp in particular has been the subject
of multiple movies because of the escapes and attempted escapes that took
place. The Stalag Luft III had sandy soil, which made tunnelling very difficult.
However, this didn't stop Allied forces from planning and performing escape
operations.
This movie focuses on the second escape, which took place in 1944. The movie
overplays the American role, as no American actually participated in the
actual escape because the Germans moved the Americans out before the tunnels
were completed. But the movie does show the POW camp and the effort that went
into this famous Allies escape.
Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough.
Saving Private Ryan
2 hours, 50 min.
1944 - Invasion of Normandy and A Journey Through War-Torn France - WWII France
At this point in the war, Germany had taken over most of Europe and had a tight
hold on France. The English Channel was a major defense for the U.K. and it
gave the Allies time to plan one of the biggest seaborne invasions in history.
Operation Overlord, Operation Neptune, or D-Day was planned in such secrecy
that other fake operations were also planned to avoid the truth of the
invasion from being discovered. The result was the successful invasion of
the beaches of Normandy and then the liberation of France from Nazi rule.
This changed the tide of the war and helped lead to Germany's defeat.
This movie opens with a dramatic showing of the D-Day invasion. The film's
plot centers on a group of soldiers making their way through the dangers
of Nazi occupied France and searching for a Private Ryan.
Starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, and Matt Damon.
Flags of Our Fathers
2 hours, 15 min.
1945 - The Battle of Iwo Jima - Japan
One of the most famous photographs from WWII is of a group of American soldiers raising
the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Marines and
the Navy landed on the volcano island of Iwo Jima and, after a very violent
and deadly period of fighting, won the island from Japan. This victory helped
the U.S. plan future invasions of Japanese islands leading up to the atomic
bombs being dropped and the war ending.
This movie focuses on the soldiers at the Battle of Iwo Jima who raised the
flag.
Starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, and Adam Beach.
We recommend watching Letters from Iwo Jima as well because these two films
were made together and each shows either the American or Japanese perspective
of the battle.
42
2 hours, 8 min.
1945-1947 - The Integration of Baseball - America
This isn't exactly a war movie, but it deals with an important fight in
American history that took place immediately after the war.
Baseball is
America's pastime. The sport is immersed in American culture and any story
about the U.S. would be incomplete without including it. Like many
things in U.S. history, race was a big issue in Baseball: there were two
separate leagues for White players and for Non-White players. That all
changed with Jackie Robinson who wore number 42, which is now retired in all
of Baseball- no one else can wear this number in his honor.
This movie is about Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League
Baseball and thus ending the sport's history of segregation.
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, and Alan Tudyk.
Cold War
The Good Shepherd
2 hours, 48 min.
1939-1961 - Early Days of the CIA - America, Europe, Latin America
During WWII, the need for a government agency dealing with foreign
intelligence became extremely important. So during the war, FDR created
the Office of Strategic Services. After WWII, the Cold War began and pitted
the U.S. against the Soviet Union as the two former allies competed to be the dominant
influence in the world. There was no direct warfare between these two
nations but there was very high tension, which promoted the need for
further development of intelligence agencies and so the CIA was born.
This movie is about the origins of the CIA and its early missions and
founders. This movie has, however, been criticized by actual CIA members
for its apparent lack of exact historical accuracy.
Starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, and Robert De Niro.
Good Night, and Good Luck
1 hour, 33 min.
1953 - The Red Scare - America
Early in the Cold War there was an atmosphere that was very anti-Soviet Union
and everything associated with it, especially communism. To be labeled a
communist in American during this time was an extremely bad thing. The
expanding spy industry only heightened the tension. There were baseless
accusations and widespread scare tactics, commonly associated with Senator Joe
McCarthy - McCarthyism. Real debate and political challenges were
difficult because of the climate of fear.
This movie is about the media fighting back against the climate of fear
and trying to inform and educate the American public. This fight helped
preserve a free American democracy and bring an end to the tense climate
of baseless fear.
Starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, and Robert Downey, Jr.
Bridge of Spies
2 hours, 22 min.
1957-1960 - Spies and Politics in the Cold War - New York, Berlin
Espionage was indescribably important during the Cold War, for both sides.
Inevitably, spies were captured on both sides and occasionally there would
be prisoner swaps while the U.S. and the Soviet Union worked their way
around increasingly complex geopolitics. The Soviet Union was building
its iron curtain and literally building the Berlin Wall to separate the city
between its East and West sections, which were controlled by opposing Cold
War powers.
This movie shows a real spy prisoner exchange between the two nations that takes
place in Berlin while the Wall is being built. The movie focuses on the
lawyer on the U.S. side who was central to the swap's success.
Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, and Amy Ryan.
Hidden Figures
2 hours, 7 min.
1961-1962 - The Space Race - Virginia
The Cold War is often characterized with a nuclear arms race as the U.S. and
the Soviet Union both increased development of nuclear weapons. The War also
caused the Space Race in which both countries competed to have people
successfully travel into outer space and even land on the moon. All of this
was a competition of technology, which could not have been won without major
human contributions, i.e., intellect. Getting to space, and then to the moon,
involved incredible mathematic and scientific skill from Americans; White and
Black.
This movie is about the incredible minds behind the early successes of the
U.S. space program. These people had often been overlooked because of their
race and gender, but they were very integral to the U.S. getting to space and
landing a man on the moon by the end of the 60s.
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe.
Recommended Watching Group:
- -Hidden Figures-
- First Man - 1960s
Thirteen Days
2 hours, 25 min.
1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis - Washington D.C., Cuba
This was arguably the very height of the Cold War. The Soviet Union was
placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, which is extremely close to the U.S. This
was closest the world ever got to nuclear war; it was the closest the Cold
War ever got to being a real war. This crisis lasted 13 days and was one of
the most stressful periods in history.
This movie shows President John F. Kennedy and his staff at the White House
handling the crisis all the way through.
Starring Bruce Greenwood, Kevin Costner, and Steven Culp.
1960s: Space, Civil Rights, and Vietnam
All the Way
2 hours, 12 min.
1963-1964 - JFK's Assassination, LBJ's Presidency, and the Civil Rights Act - D.C.
One of the most famous days in American history is November 22, 1963: the day
President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Immediately after, Vice
President Johnson was sworn in as President Lyndon B. Johnson. He had a year
before the next election and in that year he ventured to get the Civil Rights
Act passed, deal with a fracturing Democratic party, and deal with escalations
in U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Then he sought to be elected President in
1964 with the slogan, "All the Way with LBJ" and a highly controversial
commercial. Much of what happened during LBJ's presidency set the course
for the 60s.
This movie is about LBJ's presidency from the moment it began all the way to
him winning the 1964 election. The movie centers on LBJ and the politics
that surrounded his presidency.
Starring Bryan Cranston, Anthony Mackie, and Frank Langella.
Selma
2 hours, 8 min.
1964-1965 - Voting Rights Marches - Alabama
The 1960s was one of the most progressive and productive eras for Black civil rights
in the U.S. This decade brought the convergence of major new laws, landmark Supreme Court
cases, and influential leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
As new laws were passed to enforce the amendments that were passed during the
Civil War, the people still needed to fight to exercise those rights in States
like Alabama that had politicians who were very opposed to change.
This movie focuses on MLK's organization of the Selma to Montgomery voting
rights marches and shows the struggle that Black Americans had in trying to
exercise their voting rights.
Starring David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, and Carmen Ejogo.
Platoon
2 hours
1967 - Vietnam War - Vietnam
The Cold War affected the whole world, and in Vietnam it split the country
into a communist backed North against a U.S. backed South. The Cold War
tensions led to increasing U.S. military involvement in certain countries
to contain the spread of communism. With the Vietnamese fighting a sort of
civil war, the U.S. initially only provided support for the South. But this
eventually led to a large commitment of U.S. soldiers. This war was highly
controversial and many Americans felt that the war was meaningless, wasteful,
and a perpetuation of corruption. There was a draft and there were many
draft dodgers and then deserters. Many soldiers were also either dying
or returning home with post traumatic stress disorder and no effective care
being provided. The war unpopular among soldiers and the American public.
This movie is based on director Oliver Stone's experience in the Vietnam
War as an infantryman.
Starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen.
We recommend watching Born on the Fourth of July and
Heaven & Earth as well because these are also movies
that Oliver Stone made about the Vietnam War and they touch on different aspects
of it.
Loving
2 hours, 3min.
1958-1967 - Interracial Marriage in America - Virginia, D.C.
The U.S. has a history full of racial issues. Many of these issues have
varied depending on the State, but they have still been national concerns.
One in particular was interracial marriage, which many States prohibited and
the police in those States were sure to enforce those laws.
This movie is about the couple behind the landmark legal case where the
Supreme Court held that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were
unconstitutional. This meant that no State could prevent two people of
different races from getting married. It's incredible that this had to
happen, but it's also wonderful that it did.
Starring Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, and Marton Csokas.
First Man
2 hours, 21 min.
1961-1969 - The Moon Landing - Houston, D.C. Moon
The Space Race was a big part of the Cold War, and it only escalated after
the Soviet Union managed to send a person into orbit. JFK set a goal in the
early 60s for the U.S. to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
On July 20, 1969, that goal was achieved after a lot of training on the part
of the astronauts and a lot of computations on the part of everyone else at
NASA.
This movie is about Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon. The
movie focuses on his NASA experience during the decade leading up to the
moon landing.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Claie Foy, and Jason Clarke.
Recommended Watching Group:
- Hidden Figures - Cold War
- -First Man-
Woodstock
3 hours, 5 min.
1969 - Woodstock - Upstate New York
The 1960s was a generation of change in every aspect of American life. One
of the hallmarks of the decade was the counterculture movement and the
hippies that made it. Woodstock was the cap on the culture of the decade.
It's hard to overstate its significance on American culture. It was a
3 day concert that was very important for the history of rock music.
It was also a huge music festival that lasted for 3 days and has become synonymous with the
generation that attended it.
This movie is actually a documentary about the festival because there is
simply no substitute for the experience.
Directed by Michael Wadleigh; Edited by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker.
Ali
2 hours, 37 min.
1964-1974 - Muhammad Ali - America
Ali was a boxer; not just any boxer though, he won the heavyweight
championship when he was just 22. Ali was an American during the Vietnam
War and was being drafted; he didn't run, but he refused to be drafted and
was convicted of draft evasion and lost his boxing titles. He appealed
this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction.
Ali was muslim; friends with Malcolm X and even changed his name from
Cassius Clay. Ali was a boxer; he gained his title back, but he also
fought for his rights and inspired millions with his powerful words and
actions. Ali is a monumental figure in American culture and helped define
the 60s and pave the way for the 70s.
This movie is about Ali and some of his most important fights in boxing, politics,
religion, and society.
Starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Voight.
The Butler
2 hours, 15 min.
1960s (mainly) - Race Issues Throughout the 20th Century - America
The 1900s produced significant amounts of social and political change and
progress for race relations in America. One important aspect of all the progress
occurring at this time was that many people lived during it all.
This movie is based on the life of a White House butler who served from the
50s during the Eisenhower years up to the 80s under Reagan. The movie spans
from 1926 to 2009 and follows the man from his childhood in the Jim Crow South
all the way through his White House career and up to him meeting President
Obama. The movie also shows his son participating in many of the well-known
protests of the civil rights movement.
Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, and David Oyelowo.
Forrest Gump
2 hours, 22 min.
1951-1981 - Highlights of this Period of History - America, Vietnam, China
This movie isn't based on a real person, but it does run through many actual
historical events and the story really makes history a central part of its
plot. The movie shows segregation in the South, the Vietnam War, world
famous musicians, U.S. relations with China, Presidential scandals, the
hippie moviement, Black Panthers, drug use, technology, disease, and ultimately
an American experience during this time.
This movie is a very entertaining watch and very informative. About every
plot point involves or was inspired by actual history.
Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise.
1970s
The Post
1 hour, 57 min.
1971 - The Pentagon Papers - D.C.
The Vietnam War was highly controversial. One of the main issues was whether
there was any real or good reason for U.S. soldiers to be dying there or
fighting there at all. These questions even burdened government employees
who were measuring the effectiveness and status of the war through the 60s.
Eventually, a government employee felt that the nation needed to know the
truth about Vietnam. So he leaked classified documents to the press for the
American people to learn the truth.
This movie is about the leak to the press and focuses on the role that The
Washington Post had in publishing the documents.
Starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Bob Odenkirk.
Recommended Watching Group:
- -The Post-
- All the President's Men - 1970s
All the President's Men
2 hours, 18 min.
1972-1974 - The Watergate Scandal - D.C.
One night there was a break in at the Democratic Party's headquarters at the
Watergate building in Washington D.C. The apparent burglary suddenly became
central to an attempted government cover-up. For the second time in the
decade, the free press was key to providing the truth to the American people
despite the government's attempts to hide it. The media played a huge role
in establishing the connections between the burglars and levels of the
government leading all the way to President Nixon. Exposing this scandal led
to Nixon becoming the first U.S. president to resign from office.
This movie is about the investigative journalism of two Washinton Post
journalists that were integral to the scandal being discovered and published.
Starring Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, and Jack Warden.
Recommended Watching Group:
- The Post - 1970s
- -All the President's Men-
Hoffa
2 hours, 20 min.
1935-1975 - Organized Labor - America
The U.S. economy runs on capitalism and in this free market system, workers
would usually have to take whatever wages they can get. The 20th century
was full of labor movements that created unions: organized labor groups that
fought for fair pay for workers. This organization gave workers new power
in this economy and the results that the unions got gave workers new benefits
that allowed for fair hours, fair pay, and good quality of life. This
organization wasn't easy, though.
This movie is about Jimmy Hoffa, probably the most influential union
organizer who became president of the biggest labor union in the country.
The movie shows his career as a labor organizer all the way to his
disappearance in 1975 - one of the biggest mysteries in U.S. history. Jimmy
Hoffa disappeared one day and no one knows for sure what happened.
Starring Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, and Armand Assante.
Frost/Nixon
2 hours, 2 min.
1977 - Interviews with Nixon After Watergate - California
Nixon, facing certain impeachment and removal from office, resigned before
either could happen. He was pardoned by his successor and then stayed out
of the public eye until 1977. He agreed to a multipart interview with a
journalist and attempted to salvage his legacy. The interviews cover the big
topics of his presidency, including Watergate.
This movie is about those incredible interviews and tells the story about
its production and recording. The movie focuses on the journalist, Frost
and Nixon.
Starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, and Kevin Bacon.
Blow
2 hours, 4 min.
1970s (mainly) - Cocaine and America - Boston, California, Mexico, Colombia, Florida.
The U.S. has a very interesting relationship with drugs such as marijuana and
cocaine. While huge movements attempt to keep drugs out of the country and
prevent people from becoming addicted, huge amounts of people use these drugs
at every level of society. Drugs have become part of U.S. culture and it
seems that no amount of prohibition will change that just like it did not
change alcohol consumption in the 20s.
This movie is about George Jung, one of the biggest cocaine smugglers
in U.S. history. Beginning as a successful marijuana dealer, he then worked
with notorious figures like Pablo Escobar of the Medellin Cartel in Colombia
to make cocaine one of the most popular drugs in America.
Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, and Paul Reubens.
Argo
2 hours
1979-1980 - Iran Hostage Crisis - American, Iran
In 1979, The U.S. embassy in Iran was stormed and American embassy employees
were held hostage for over 400 days. There was a lot of anger in Iran over the
U.S. support under President Carter of the recently overthrown Iranian regime.
There were a couple failed military rescue attempts and eventually there was a
successful deal negotiated at the end of Carter's presidency and executed in
the first day of Reagan's presidency. But, there were 6 embassy employees
who managed to avoid capture and there was a successful CIA operation that
got those employees out in 1980 with the help of the Canadian embassy.
This movie is about that CIA operation, which set up a fake movie
production project to rescue and evacuate the U.S. embassy employees.
Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, and John Goodman.
1980s
Charlie Wilson's War
1 hour, 40 min.
1980-1988 - Cold War Fighting in the Middle East - Washington D.C., Afghanistan
The Cold War tensions lasted for over 40 years between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union. This international battle between the two nations and between
free market capitalism and communism did, however, result in some real
warfare around the world. These fights happened in Korea, Vietnam, and in
Afghanistan. The U.S. and the Soviet Union both supported the groups in these
nations that followed and sought to establish the same political and
economic system as their respective superpower ally.
This movie is about the conflict in Afghanistan during the Reagan presidency.
U.S. support for anti-communist Afghanistans was led by Congressman Charlie
Wilson, the movie's main character.
Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Dallas Buyers Club
2 hours
1985-1992 - HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Treatments - Texas
The AIDS epidemic in American officially began in 1981. The early days of
the disease's outbreak primarily affected gay men. AIDS causes the
deterioration of the immune system, which inevitably leads to death.
During that time, AIDS was thought of as a gay disease, but the spread of the
disease and scientific research led to the discovery of the virus, HIV, that
causes AIDS in anyone. Soon after, more scientific research led to treatments
and potential medicines being developed to save AIDS patients.
This movie is about a man who got AIDS and did absolutely everything that he
could do to extend his 30 day life expectancy. The movie focuses on his
efforts to import non-FDA approved medication that was more effective than
anything available in the U.S.
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Jared Leto.
Pirates of Silicon Valley
1 hour, 37 min.
1971-1997 - The Personal Computer - America
The 20th century produced infinite technological advancements, the most
important or at least impactful being the personal computer. Computers were
used mainly by the military, and then by big companies, and mostly for basic
communications and big computations. A computer for regular people gave
everyone the power for limitless communication, computations, artwork, and
further almost unimaginable technological advancement. The two main
companies at the center of this development are still two of the biggest
companies in the world today: Apple, led by Steve Jobs, and Microsoft, led by
Bill Gates.
This movie focuses on these two men and their rivalry that gave the country and
the world one of the greatest inventions ever. Their work began in the 70s
and exploded through the 80s and into the new milenium.
Noah Wyle, Anthony Michael Hall, and Joey Slotnick.
Wall Street
2 hours, 6 min.
1980s - Corporate Greed - New York
The 1980s in America is commonly referred to as the decade of greed under
various Reaganomics policies and cultural trademarks in fashion, drugs,
music, and finance. If greed was anywhere, it was on Wall Street.
This movie is a fictional story about Wall Street stockbrokers and corporate raiders inspired
by real people who helped define the decade.
Starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, and Martin Sheen.
1990s
Live from Baghdad
1 hour, 48 min.
1990-1991 - Persian Gulf War - America, Iraq
Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded and tried to take over Kuwait in
the summer of 1990. In response, the U.S. and over 30 other nations
joined forces to fight Iraq and get them out of Kuwait. The
international coalition had a decisive victory over Iraq and freed
Kuwait.
This movie is about the only Western live media coverage of the war.
A CNN correspondent ended up being the only journalist left and CNN
provided America and the world live and front-lines reporting of the
war.
Starring Michael Keaton, Helena Bonham Carter, and David Suchet.
Primary Colors
2 hours, 23 min.
1992 - A Presidential Campaign Story - America
Bill Clinton ran for and won the election for President of the U.S. in
1992. The 90s were very much marked by the Clinton presidency and the
policies and scandals that came with it.
This movie is a fictional story that many people say closely resembles
Clinton's 1992 campaign at times. The movie is probably the closest
thing to a movie about Clinton that isn't a documentary. This
movie is based on a book written by a journalist about the same story meant
to resemble Clinton's campaign. Fun fact: The movie came out the same year
as the Lewinsky scandal.
Starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, and Billy Bob Thornton.
The Wackness
1 hour, 50 min.
1994 - The Nineties - New York
Every decade has its own characteristic music, fashion, and culture. The
1990s produced what's known today as classic hip hop; it was known for
baggy clothes; and it was a time that was simultaneously the most
technologically advanced era in history and on the eve of an unimaginable
technology renaissance. It was a cool time.
This movie is a coming-of-age story based in New York City in the 90s. The
movie isn't based on any real people but it is full of real 90s music,
clothes, politics, society, and culture.
Starring Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, and Famke Janssen.
W.
2 hours, 9 min.
1966-2003 - George W. Bush - America
Bush was president for one of the most important periods in American history:
the beginning of the 21st century, which brought major tragedies and crises.
Before his presidency, he was Governor of Texas, Baseball executive, business
school grad, oil field worker, Yale graduate, drinker, and son of a president.
George W. Bush's personality, accomplishments, failures, and speeches and
sayings are famous.
This movie is about the adult life of former president George W. Bush. The
movie is placed here to transition into the 21st century because most of Bush's
life depicted in the film leads up to his presidency. Bush's time in office
coincided with important events that have been memorialized in films of their
own.
Starring Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, and James Cromwell.
21st Century and the Age of Terror
United 93
1 hour, 50 min.
2001 - September 11, 2001 - United Airlines flight 93
9/11 is the day a terrorist group hijacked planes in the U.S. and
crashed them into buildings killing thousands of Americans. The scene
most associated with the attacks is the Twin Towers falling in downtown
Manhattan. In addition to that site, the Pentagon was a target, as well as
the U.S. Capitol building - where UA Flight 93 was headed.
This movie is about what happened on that flight. The passengers succeeded
in preventing the terrorists from reaching their target. The passengers
on that plane were heroes.
Starring Christian Clemenson, Cheyenne Jackson, and David Alan Basche.
World Trade Center
2 hours, 9 min.
2001 - September 11, 2001 - Manhattan
This movie also deals with the 9/11 terrorist attacks but it focuses on the
disaster at the World Trade Center in Manhattan and the first responders and
victims of the attack there.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, and Maria Bello.
Official Secrets
1 hour, 52 min.
2003 - U.S. Efforts to Begin the Iraq War - U.S., U.K.
After the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. was extremely determined to get back at the
people who plotted the attack. Sometimes, extreme measures were used to get
results in the War on Terror.
This movie is about the U.S. spying on foreign U.N. officials in an attempt
to coerce an international resolution to invade Iraq. A British government
employee leaked a classified memo about these illegal actions.
Starring Keira Knightly, Matt Smith, and Matthew Goode.
The Hurt Locker
2 hours, 11 min.
2004 - Iraq War - Iraq
9/11 led to the invasion on Iraq and the presence of American troops in Iraq
during the War on Terror. The Iraq War was very brutal and resulted in many
American deaths and serious injuries, both physical and psychological. This
war was unique because it was not the U.S. fighting another government or
most of a nation; The U.S. was fighting a group of terrorists hiding in
various countries. Like Vietnam, the Iraq War became controversial and
public support for it dropped dramatically over time.
This movie is about the Iraq War. The movie shows U.S. soldiers fighting and
how this war was different than the past U.S. wars.
Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty.
The Social Network
2 hours, 1 min.
2003-2007 - The Creation of Facebook - Harvard, California
The 21st century has seen a technology explosion that has changed average
life more than any other time period in history. Cell phones, smart phones,
ipods, ipads, AI, and even watches were either introduced or completely
revolutionized. Another big part of this digital age has been the websites
and apps that most people now occupy their time with. One of the most
influential websites has been facebook, a social media site where friends
can connect online and share pictures and people can find news and groups
and entertainment. Today, it's one of the big tech companies in Silicon
Valley.
This movie is about how facebook started. It focuses on the founders and
the first few years of the company.
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake.
Thank You for Your Service
1 hour, 49 min.
2007-2008 - Effects of the Iraq War on Soldiers - Kansas, Iraq
The Iraq war had a big impact on Americans, especially the soldiers and their
families who felt the impact long after the soldiers returned home. The War
caused a lot of PTSD among the soldiers, many who have been struggling to
with it because of inefficiencies in the health care system and the
severity of such mental health issues.
This movie focuses on Iraq War veterans and their return home. The movie
shows their struggles with PTSD that is seen in many veterans of this war.
Starring Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, and Joe Cole.
The Big Short
2 hours, 10 min.
2005-2007 - The 2007-2008 Financial Crisis - America
In 2007 there was a housing crash. An economic bubble had been growing for
many years and it finally popped. This sent the U.S. economy and the world
into what became known as The Great Recession.
This movie expertly explains the economics of the crash that set the tone
of the economy for many years after.
Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling.
Zero Dark Thirty
2 hours, 37 min.
2003-2011 - The Hunt for Osama Bin Laden - America, Middle East
After 9/11 the main target for the U.S. was the leader of the group who
planned the attacks. For the next decade there was a large international
manhunt for the group's leader. CIA employees worked tirelessly until, finally,
the search was over. There is a famous picture of President Obama and his top cabinet
members watching the live stream of the soldiers finding the long sought
after target that captures all the emotion of the accomplishment.
This movie is about the work that went into that accomplishment. It focuses on
CIA employees working on the biggest man hunt in the world.
Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, and Joel Edgerton.
Snowden
2 hours, 14 min.
2004-2013 - The Illegal NSA Mass Surveillance Program - America, Europe, Asia
There have always been jokes about the government spying on the people. But
in 2013, those jokes were confirmed as true by the leaks of former NSA
employee, Edward Snowden. It turns out that the U.S. government was spying
on the whole world through many digital channels. The apparent reason for
this being to detect terrorism.
This movie is about the man who told the American people, and the world,
that the U.S. government was illegally spying on everyone in violation of
the Constitution.
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Melissa Leo.