Inspiration or entertainment? Both please.
June 23, 2008 11:31 AM Subscribe
Movie recommendations in which the main character gives up his/her own success or place in society to pursue an unpopular social cause or to help unpopular person or people. Bonus points for movies based on actual events.
I watched Glory recently but thought it was poorly done. Looking for something to redeem the genre and to inspire me.
I watched Glory recently but thought it was poorly done. Looking for something to redeem the genre and to inspire me.
Does To Kill a Mockingbird count? It's not clear whether situations in which the main character *risks* his or her place count.
You might also want to clarify early in this thread whether you really want only the *main* character, or one of the lead characters.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2008
You might also want to clarify early in this thread whether you really want only the *main* character, or one of the lead characters.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2008
Response by poster: Preferably the main character.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 11:43 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 11:43 AM on June 23, 2008
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (the Frank Capra original from '36, not so much the Adam Sandler remake) sounds like it fits the bill, although it's pure fantasy.
posted by General Malaise at 12:01 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by General Malaise at 12:01 PM on June 23, 2008
The Constant Gardener?
The book was OK, I found the movie unwatchable due to the horrific "shaky-cam," but it's almost exactly what you're asking for.
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2008
The book was OK, I found the movie unwatchable due to the horrific "shaky-cam," but it's almost exactly what you're asking for.
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2008
off the top of my head:
...and justice for all
Serpico
Braveheart
The life of Thomas Paine truly fits your description. His belief that all men need not be ruled did not stop at the monarchy. If it did I guarantee you there would be no shortage of movies and coins emblazoned with his image. He risked it all to take on the real ruler of men - the church - and died friendless and penniless in the process.
posted by any major dude at 12:15 PM on June 23, 2008
...and justice for all
Serpico
Braveheart
The life of Thomas Paine truly fits your description. His belief that all men need not be ruled did not stop at the monarchy. If it did I guarantee you there would be no shortage of movies and coins emblazoned with his image. He risked it all to take on the real ruler of men - the church - and died friendless and penniless in the process.
posted by any major dude at 12:15 PM on June 23, 2008
Another movie with Liam Neeson that may qualify is "Michael Collins."
IMDB LINK
posted by a3matrix at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2008
IMDB LINK
posted by a3matrix at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2008
Maybe The Mission fits the bill here. Even if it doesn't, it is a great film.
posted by a3matrix at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by a3matrix at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2008
oops I think I read the question wrong- Define "supporting an unpopular social cause"... Unpopular because people don't like it, or because they don't know they shouldn't like it and our hero has to show them the way?
posted by Gungho at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Gungho at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2008
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(not based on actual events)
posted by Jacqueline at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
(not based on actual events)
posted by Jacqueline at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Tsotsi might qualify.
Maybe City of God?
Dead Man Walking
Hotel Rwanda
posted by triggerfinger at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2008
Maybe City of God?
Dead Man Walking
Hotel Rwanda
posted by triggerfinger at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2008
Showboat
posted by grumblebee at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by grumblebee at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2008
City of Joy is a good movie, although not a great one.
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:23 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:23 PM on June 23, 2008
Hell, what of Godspell?
That came out wrong, but you get the idea.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 1:55 PM on June 23, 2008
That came out wrong, but you get the idea.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 1:55 PM on June 23, 2008
A Few Good Men, maybe? It is loosely based on a true-ish story, I think. I feel like there are lots of courtroom-type dramas that qualify.
Also, while we're on Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is probably a good one to consider.
Gentleman's Agreement, where Gregory Peck pretends to be Jewish to learn about anti-Semitism. He literally gives up his social status there.
I also think The Magnificent Seven might count? But I don't know that they risk their social status so much as their actual lives.
posted by SoftRain at 2:22 PM on June 23, 2008
Also, while we're on Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is probably a good one to consider.
Gentleman's Agreement, where Gregory Peck pretends to be Jewish to learn about anti-Semitism. He literally gives up his social status there.
I also think The Magnificent Seven might count? But I don't know that they risk their social status so much as their actual lives.
posted by SoftRain at 2:22 PM on June 23, 2008
Saving Grace. Not the British one about a pot-growing widow, but the 1985 release, in which Tom Conti plays the pope. He questions the relevancy of the Catholic power structure and goes on the lam as an anonymous good-deed doing homeless wanderer. Unfortunately it looks as if it hasn't ever been released on DVD, which is a pity. I remember it as a pleasant little sleeper, but on searching I see that the New York Times found it to be sappy, so what do I know?
posted by mumkin at 2:43 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by mumkin at 2:43 PM on June 23, 2008
Another vote for Serpico!
posted by Gerard Sorme at 2:51 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Gerard Sorme at 2:51 PM on June 23, 2008
No mention of Into the Wild yet? One of the better movies to come out recently imo.
posted by public at 3:19 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by public at 3:19 PM on June 23, 2008
Just saw "Talk of the Town" last night, and it has a theme like that. Good movie.
posted by gjc at 4:32 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by gjc at 4:32 PM on June 23, 2008
Does The Insider count? I'm not sure if you can call fighting tobacco execs "unpopular," but the other features qualify: giving up success, and based on actual events.
posted by dubitable at 7:00 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by dubitable at 7:00 PM on June 23, 2008
"The Sound of Music" would seem to fit. The Third Reich did, after all, have a certain support in Austria. And it's based (loosely) on actual events.
posted by bryon at 7:56 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by bryon at 7:56 PM on June 23, 2008
Europa '51 fits your description perfectly (except for the based on true events part), and happens to be one of the best movies of all time. It might be hard to find a copy, though.
posted by Awkward Philip at 8:21 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Awkward Philip at 8:21 PM on June 23, 2008
Also Jack Lemmon's character in The China Syndrome might fit, I guess. Or the title character in Silkwood (based on real events- to what extent I'm not sure.)
posted by Coaticass at 2:36 AM on June 24, 2008
posted by Coaticass at 2:36 AM on June 24, 2008
- Norma Rae [Norma sacrifices for greater good]
- Sullivan's Travels [Hollywood director becomes homeless in order to make a truthful social justice movie]
- Nazarin [if you want a slightly sarcastic Bunuelian view of this kind of thing]
posted by Rashomon at 12:39 PM on June 24, 2008
- Sullivan's Travels [Hollywood director becomes homeless in order to make a truthful social justice movie]
- Nazarin [if you want a slightly sarcastic Bunuelian view of this kind of thing]
posted by Rashomon at 12:39 PM on June 24, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by moxiedoll at 11:36 AM on June 23, 2008