Someone in Newsweek last week picked ALL THAT JAZZ (Bob Fosse) as the best biopic in his/her opinion.
I'd choose RAGING BULL (Jake LaMotta). For me the strength of a biopic other than veracity and providing the relevant facts of a life, is style, an interesting approach, a portrait that is not all black and white. Gandhi. Good person, dull picture IMHO. The Harvey Milk picture in 2008 would have been stronger if they could have found some weakness/darkness in him to balance the brave public servant aspect. Saints make boring subjects. Today I saw the biopic doc about Gertrude Berg. They alluded to a darker side to her but only obliquely. The doc was saved though by its portrayal of the times along with the woman.
How about you? What film did it right? Do you mind seeing people portrayed too favorably?
27 comments:
I think I would have to go with Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs as a pretty good memoir inspired film. Not actually a bio-pic but it is the one I liked best because anyone who grew up that bizarre and retained a sense of humor about it has to be a good guy.
Patton. Does it qualify as a bio-pic? It captured both the amazing and the less than admirable qualities of the man.
I'd have to pick Patton too, but my mind is drawing a blank on biopics right now.
My favorite of this type is The Whole Wide World, but then that was about one of my favorite writers, Robert E. Howard. I sippose I'm biased because of that.
RAY was pretty good, too. The more complex the subject is, the better the film, I think. Does FROST/NIXON count. It only dealt with a few months of their lives.
I think I saw THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD-Vincent D'Nofrio right?
D'Nofrio is right. I believe it was before his Law & Order days.
THE RIGHT STUFF was pretty darn good, though I'm not sure if it qualifies since it was about the astronaut group, not one person.
I would count it. And it was a great film.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned CAPOTE. Philip Seymour Hoffman captured the essence of Truman Capote.
Hi Patti,
I am not a big movie person--no attention span and even less time, but I did see Milk and I agree with you when you say: " Saints make boring subjects." Leaving out the darker side of a person, makes them cartoonish.
Terrie
WALK HARD. Since the art of biography is already fraught with artifice, attempting a biography in film tends to distort even more.
And since none of us are saints...I'm waiting for the Teresa biopic that will manage to either complete ignore or put a positive spin on her hanging with dictators, using her fundraising success to keep the Catholic Church as reactionary as possible, and basically manage to gather millions ostensibly for uncomfortable institutions that presumably had actual operating budgets in the thousands...but gosh she was selfless, no?
Anything with Hoffman is good. How about Silkwood, Ed Wood, American Splendor--all showing flawed individuals that still had achievements.
(I seem to be doing a lot of first-time posting after being a long-time lurker at blogs these days.)
I vote for Coal Miner's Daughter--perhaps more for the "warts and all" approach to Loretta Lynn's husband than to Loretta Lynn herself. Both Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones were great (not to mention Levon Helm as Loretta's father).
I'm partial to ED WOOD.
Coal Miner's Daughter was a real treat. Also like the recent Johnny Cash one. Walk the Line? Music to identify with does make it special. I didn't much care for the Edith Piaf one last year, but the music was great. Ed Wood was so much fun. How about GoodFellows?
If we speak of non-documentaries, ADAPTATION (which, of course, is only slightly less a parody of the process than WALK HARD).
Never saw WALK HARD. But a big fan of his in big roles. Small doses only. ADAPTATION had some nice moments.
I'd have to vote for ED WOOD too.
Regarding musical biopics, how about BACKBEAT and 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE.
If you are looking for a flawed person bio pic, try a Warren Beatty film - Bonnie & Clyde, Reds, Bugsy.
I liked B & C a lot. Red, less to and Bugsy even less. He always played himself when it comes down to to. Old-style Hollywood actor.
Thanks for reminding me about 24 Hour Party People. Backbeat was very good.
I enjoyed the film "Iris" based on the life of Irish writer,Iris Murdock. It starred Judi Dench and Kate Winslit plaing the older and younger Iris.
I am a bit late to the conversational party, but the best "biopic" (if I can call it that) was BECKETT with Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. No other "biographical" film affected more deeply.
Loved IRIS. So sad. Everytime people say use your mind to avoid Alzheimers I think of her. Wonderful writer too.
Also A LION IN WINTER with O'Toole. Or LAWRENCE OF ARABIA for that matter.
Winslet in IRIS, Spacek in COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER...Mol in THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE...these films have a certain appeal that goes beyond the tales they tell, of course.
"Elizabeth."
Cate Blanchett playing the original gangster.
She can play anything, can't she?
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