As a huge movie buff, I commonly find myself searching for new titles of films to enjoy when I have a bad day or need a distraction. Look no further, because here is my top 5 go to list for both content and viewer satisfaction.
1. Dallas Buyers Club
This movie is my favorite movie of all time! It tackles the topics of transgendered and LGBTQ identity and HIV. It takes place in the late 1970s and 1980s during the AIDS and HIV epidemic in the United States. Matthew McConaughey plays a homophobic redneck from Dallas who develops HIV and doesn't believe it could happen to him. He teams up with a transgendered ?? (Jared Leto) who helps give drugs to help people with HIV. This movie is my favorite because it shows how two people from completely different worlds can come together and help people in need.
2. Argo
This movie is based on the true events of when members of the U.S. embassy in Iran were attacked during the 1970s. This movie is adventurous and will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. The reason why this movie is one of my favorites is because how truthful it is and speaks to what actually happened.
3. The Big Short
This movie is brand new but it has had a huge impact on me. It is about the market crash in 2007-2010 which affected many Americans. There are many reasons why this movie was great. One reason is because they had modern day celebrities explain economic terms that made it easier to follow along. Secondly, even though it is a drama there is plenty of comedy to it. And the third is because my family was personally affected by this market crash and having a movie explain it made much more sense than reading articles online.
4. The Shawshank Redemption
For those who don't know, this movie is based off a short story by Stephen King. A man gets wrongly accused of a murder and is put in a prison called Shawshank. The movie tells the story of his prison experiences and— SPOILER ALERT—how he escapes. This movie is one of the best because the screenplay is amazing. The writers did exactly what they had to do to make the movie intriguing the entire 142 minutes. Not only that but this movie made me think about people who are wrongly accused. They shouldn't be in prison, yet they are and it is just so heartbreaking.
5. American History X
This movie isn't one for the weak-hearted. It tackles race issues and gang issues in the modern world. Edward Norton plays a member of the neo-Nazi movement who after ends up in jail realizes how wrong he has been and tries to change the life of his younger brother who is part of the neo-Nazi movement as well. This movie is a sad one, so please bring tissues. I love this movie because I never thought of the Nazi movement as something people still believe in. This movie makes me realize how much violence happens, also Edward Norton is an amazing actor and you believe how horrible he his!
Look for a good plot, great actors, and meaning in a movie and you will soon have your own top 5.
