Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures elevates itself above its peers of overly sweet portrayals of the victories of the Civil Rights era with three powerful and memorable performances from Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, whose portrayal of these noteworthy women from history earns this film a place of greatness.
Boys Don’t Cry
Strong performances from Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny that give voice to the film’s critiques of toxic masculinity and patriarchy make Boys Don’t Cry more than a film about the tragic life of a trans man and elevate it to a place of greatness.
Born on the Fourth of July
Born on the Fourth of July features a masterclass performance from Tom Cruise in the leading role that ties the film together, allowing it to present its thoughts on veterans and the military industrial complex to the audience in a compelling way that earns the film a place of greatness.
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Searching for Bobby Fischer offers viewers a direct critique of the pressures parents place on their gifted children, showcasing in a poignant way the positive and negative impact that parental interactions can have on their children, setting itself apart from similar sports films and earning a spot of greatness.
Life Itself
Life Itself beautifully captures the story of legendary film critic Roger Ebert, using his life and death to showcase what it is that makes all of us want to keep on living, particularly at the movies, but in the other aspects of life too, earning it a spot among the greats.
Finding Neverland
Solidly acted, well-designed, and appropriately whimsical, Finding Neverland achieves greatness through its array of emotional beats, interesting blend of history and fantasy, and a cast that has fully committed to the film’s story.
American Splendor
With one of the most unique deliveries of a biographical story and a subtle but lovable turn from Paul Giamatti, American Splendor asserts itself as a truly unique and great film, worth watching for any fan of the medium.
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street owes its greatness to the insanely excellent performances of its leading characters (and strong ensemble support) and the visually striking directorial choices of Martin Scorsese.
Mr. Turner
Cinematographic excellence and a noteworthy lead performance from Timothy Spall have made Mr. Turner into a classic period biopic, worthy of note among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Stories We Tell
Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell serves its dual purpose of allowing the filmmaker to process revelations about her own life and inviting the audience to process and examine their own pasts and stories as well.
Gods and Monsters
With a combination of quality lead acting and sufficient callbacks to its subject’s directorial work, Gods and Monsters shines as a great biopic and one of the Greatest Films of All Time.