Thursday, June 15, 2017

Thursday Movie Picks-Movies based on True Events


It has been a sad week with the shooting in Virginia(Gun laws anyone??) and the horrible Fire in London...my thoughts are with the victims and their families. On Tuesday there was a tractor Trailer that overturned and phosphine gas was the cargo. Thankfully, the highly flammable gas was not disrupted but there were evacuations over a 2 mile radius. We live right near that 2 mile radius but we did not have to leave. Let's hope the rest of the week is boring. Let's talk movies to get our minds off all this sadness and this week it is all about movies based on true events. I am going all New movies so no old films showing here this week:) Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the others have chosen. Here are my 3....

1.  HACKSAW RIDGE-2016


I was unsure how this film would be since I don't like violence for violence sake and I don't like religion being thumped on my head, but I was very pleased to say this film is neither. Now, don't get me wrong, it is violent but it is based on a horrible battle during World War 2 so there will be violence and I think what was shown is real and not overdone. In fact I think it is needed since we should not glorify it. Andrew Garfield plays Desmond T Doss a real life hero who, due to his religious beliefs, refused to carry a gun and was chastised and bullied by his own men until he proved just how brave he was when the battle began and the men were trapped. This man saved many, many men and won the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is beautifully acted and the battle scenes are well done.

2. HIDDEN FIGURES-2016


Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson are 3 African American women who work as "computers" at NASA in the early 1960's. They not only have to deal with being women in a male dominated workplace but they must also deal with being black. It just seems to showcase how a first world country can be so disgusting with their views of a people who are persecuted just for having a different colour skin. Ok, so these 3 women had to fight to show that their prowess is needed at NASA and that the space program may not have moved forward if not for them. It is well acted by the three leads but also Kevin Costner as the head of the space program. I loved Taraji P Henson's performance of this great lady (Katherine Johnson who is still alive at 99) and how she stands up for her rights and her knowledge of science and math. Just watching this made me laugh at myself since I still use my fingers to count.

3. LION-2016


This true story starts in 1987 and ends in 2012 and what a journey! The little boy who plays Saroo (Sunny Pawar) should have been up for an Oscar because he was excellent. Saroo adores his big brother who has a job and, after much begging, allows Saroo to join him. The big brother tells his baby brother to stay at the train station since Saroo is so very tired and has a tough time waking up. He watches his big brother leave and this is when his journey begins. Young Saroo wakes to find himself alone and he starts looking for his brother. He ends up on a train and falls asleep waking up to the train moving across the country and now he is totally lost. He must fend off many dangerous situations, never mind hunger and ends up at an orphanage where he is finally adopted by a very kind Australian couple. When he is in his 20's, he can not shake his home and must find out where he comes from and must find his mother and brother. A beautifully acted film and one that sticks pretty close to what happened.

What would be your 3??

71 comments:

  1. Haven't seen Lion, but the first two are excellent. Hacksaw Ridge was my choice for Best Picture.
    Here's a small film that's also excellent - The Dish. It's about a crew that runs a dish in Australia and how they help with the first Apollo moon landing.

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    1. Haven't seen The Dish but love Hacksaw Ridge

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  2. Hi Birgit - loved Lion, missed Hidden Figures and didn't want to see Hacksaw Ridge. I've got the Hidden Figures book - so will read that at some stage. Thought Lion was so good - so interesting about the time period, history etc ...

    Great choices - thank you ...cheers Hilary

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    1. I always advise to see the movie first before reading the book otherwise the movie is almost always disappointing

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  3. Haven't seen Hidden Figures yet, but the book was awful. What a complete bore IMO. Haven't seen the other two either, but will add them to the list. There are so many good movies based on actual events that I would not know where to start if picking three.

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    1. Oh, I would see the movie because it's so good and I always love Octavia Dpencer

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  4. I think this is the first time I've seen all of your picks. And I love all of them. Great picks!

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  5. Hi, Birgit!

    As I watched (or should I say "experienced") these modern movie trailers, it occurred to me how much this particular art form has changed over the years. The old school method was to have an announcer telling us what the movie was about. Today's trailers rarely use an announcer. They are brilliantly crafted mini movies that rely on masterful editing, soaring music, exciting sound FX and a few key graphics on the screen to convey the gist of the film. In theaters, that booming sound wave shakes the rafters and rivets the audience's attention, bringing them back to see the feature upon its release. As a film editor during the old school era I appreciate the art that goes into modern motion picture trailers. I often wish I was just starting my career and could help create mind boggling trailers like these.

    Mrs. Shady and I love films based on true stories. She is a WWII buff and I will inform her about Hacksaw Ridge. She and I enjoyed
    Taraji P Henson's role in the TV series Person Of Interest. We both love stories based on the conquest of outer space and stories about the advancement of women and minorities. For all of the above reasons, Hidden Figures is our type of movie and is on our must see list. Mrs. Shady also appreciates films set in other parts of the world. Lion appears to be a captivating adventure story. I love Nicole Kidman and want to see Lion for that reason alone.

    Thank you, dear friend BB!

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    1. Oh for a war film, Hacksaw Ridge is excellent! The other 2 are also great and hope you see them. I'm so glad to see you here and getting back into the swing of things

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  6. I've only seen Hidden Figures which I LOVED so much!! It was so wonderfully uplifting with great performances. I haven't gotten to the other two yet but I will.

    I selected three favorites of various vintage but I love them all.

    Frost/Nixon (2008)-In 1977 well known showman David Frost (Michael Sheen) famous for glib interviews with pop stars is suffering a bit of a slump. He hits upon what he thinks is a surefire idea for a ratings grabbing showpiece. He sets out to interview former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella), living in seclusion in San Clemente, CA after resigning in disgrace following the Watergate scandal. Nixon’s agent Swifty Lazar sure that it will be a puff piece encourages Tricky Dicky to take the sizable amount of money offered and run. The series of interviews get off to a rocky start with a loquacious and obdurate Nixon evading any sort of hard questioning but suddenly an unexpected breakthrough changes the course of the sessions into a revealing confessional. Sheen & Langella repeated their roles from the hit Broadway play that was the basis for the film which in turn was based on the actual interviews.

    The Queen (2006)-In 1997 Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) has been on the English throne for 45 years, respected and beloved worldwide. Even more popular, though not within the royal family, is her former daughter-in-law Princess Diana whose marriage to Prince Charles had collapsed in acrimony after a decade of high exposure. She has since become a goodwill ambassador for many worthwhile causes as well as a paparazzi magnet and a bane to her former mother-in-law. When Diana is killed in a car accident caused by those same paparazzi hounding her the queen believes the proper course is a quiet funeral followed by a period of private mourning owing to the fact that Diana is no longer considered a member of the royal family. That turns out to be an almost catastrophic miscalculation that threatens the sovereignty of the throne and which requires new Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) to step in and guide her through to avert a disastrous outcome. Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her much lauded performance.

    Inherit the Wind (1960)-Small town teacher Bertram Cates (Dick York-best known as the first Darrin on Bewitched) is arrested for teaching Darwin’s evolutionary theory to his students and put on trial. Representing him gratis is famed attorney Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) as the opposition is spearheaded by blustery litigator Matthew Harrison Brady (Fredric March) while wryly cynical newspaperman E. K. Hornbecker (Gene Kelly) observes and reports. As passions run high in the oppressive summer heat the local pastor Reverend Jeremiah Brown (Claude Akins) incites the townspeople with fiery rhetoric. A real acting showcase for both leads aided by a beautiful performance from Florence Eldridge (she was March’s spouse in real life) as Brady’s gentle wife who tries to temper his more outrageous behavior. Semi fictionalized version of the Scopes Monkey trial wherein famed lawyers Clarence Darrow & William Jennings Bryant fought in court over Darwin’s theory.

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    1. I hope you get to see the other 2 soon enough. I love your picks and almost went with Inherit the Wind but I thought I would go all mod this one time. I love that film and poor Frederic March would get so pissed at Tracy who always tried to upset him. When March was doing his big speech, he looked over at Tracy who decided to pick his nose right at that time:) I love The Queen as well,Helen Mirren gave an excellent performance as the Queen. I still have not seen Frost/Nixon but heard it is excellent. I'm always remembering Langella as the sexy Count Dracula....what happened? Hahahaa

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  7. Seen the first two at my sea, they were both excellent indeed. I expected Hacksaw Ridge to be preachy too, but it wasn't.

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    1. I thought it would be but it wasn't in the least. Hope you see the last one...excellent film!

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  8. I've seen all three of these movies and can recommend them highly.

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  9. A blimp just crashed. Sigh.
    I really want to see Hidden Figures.
    Have a great one, Birgit.

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    1. I heard about the blimp and it is sad and now another tragedy in London. It's so sad

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  10. Haven't seen any of them.

    All the President's Men
    Goodfellas
    The Last Emperor

    Anyway, stay safe.

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    1. Haven't seen President's Men but like The Last Emperor and can't stand Goodfellas

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  11. Hidden Figures and Lion are great movies. I haven't seen Hacksaw Ridge. Another based-on-reality movie that I like is Philomena. I also read the book, which was very good.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Philomena is such a good movie and so sad. I saw a documentary recently on the women from that place Philomena was in and talked about other women who gave up their children. It was sad

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  12. For the first time I've actually seen all your picks! I loved Hidden Figures and Lion. The 2nd half of Hacksaw was good, I wasn't crazy about the first.

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    1. Yeah!!! ! I love all 3 and felt the first half of Hacksaw was needed so we can understand the second half all the more

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  13. So far, I've only seen Hidden Figures. Excellent choice. I'll see the others shortly, as I'm still plowing my way through 2016 releases.

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    1. I'm doing the same and went on a spree the previous weekend. Hope you like the others as well

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  14. Hm. Haven't seen any of these but I really do intend to see Hidden Figures.

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    1. I would say all 3 but if you are not a war fan, you must see Hidden Figures and Lion which is truly a beautiful film

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  15. FINALLY three movies I've actually heard of, albeit not seen. I admit I HAVE read Hidden Figures, but not seen the movie. I thought it was horrible what we in the U.S. did to these women of science. it's amazing they aren't mentioned at the Cosmosphere, either, although they were so bright.

    Ironic that I am like you about religion being shoved down my throat, but I never got the impression that was what Hacksaw Ridge was about. I always thought it was about a real life hero.

    Thanks for your always impressive reviews of these films. It makes me feel like I learned a lot just reading how well you interpret them.

    BTW, as we learn later at the Cosmosphere, many German rocket scientists were secretly taken out of Germany, and, after being interred for a period of time, were brought to the states to help with the atomic bomb and rockets that eventually led to space. The Russians, on the other hand, forced scientists at gunpoint to work on rocket and space projects. Apparently, gunpoint has more motivation than freedom, since the Russians made it to space before the U.S. did!

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    1. Glad you you liked the films I chose. Yes, you are so right about the scientists and how brutal they were treated in Russia...a real shame

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  16. Sorry to hear about the accident near your home - hope everyone is ok. You're right - its not been a good at all.

    I loved Hidden Figures - such a great film with fantastic leads! I turned my nose up at Hacksaw - thinking it was just a run of the mill story but when I found out it was a true story I was really intrigued - its on my wtach list.

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    1. It turned out all is well but still no word how the truck driver ended up half over the median. Oh I hope you give Hacksaw Ridge a try because it truly is such a good film and everything about it was not only showing courage but also inspiring

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  17. >>... "It has been a sad week with the shooting in Virginia (Gun laws anyone??)"

    Absolutely... NOT!
    That's exactly what they want us to want. And 24 to 72 hours after we get it, the tanks will be rolling down Main Street, U.S.A. Adios, Liberty! It was nice knowin' ya. (I'm one guy who ain't "fallin' for the ol' banana in the tail pipe" trick.)

    Great movie category. I'm sure I could think of MANY that fit and which I dig, but without a doubt my #1 choice is PAPILLON, with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The greatest prison movie ever made, IMO.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    [Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...

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    1. Adios liberty??? Hahahahaaa....there are no tanks running down Toronto or St. Catharines even though there are people who are shot it is nothing compared to the U.S. No person needs a whole arsenal of weapons and I am so proud living in Canada:) now as for your movie...excellent choice! It is well acted and so wonderfully shot. ...oops, I used that word which you may do to me now:)

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  18. I loved Hidden Figures. I even went to see that in the theater. (I so rarely go out to movies. That I wanted to see this one tells you just how much it was my kind of movie.)

    I just wonder how bad it's got to get before those who make the laws get off their butts and do something. But they're like the commenter above. They've been brainwashed.

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    1. Hello, LIZ! Since I am "the commenter above" whom you referred to, I happily challenge you to a debate on Gun Control. Your big hero, Andrew Leon, has been actively dodging me on a Gun Control debate for over 4 years. (He's also dodging me on debates about Senator Joe McCarthy and Saint Paul.)

      In fact, Andrew is so scared crapless of me that every time I post a comment on his blog, he IMMEDIATELY deletes it before you and his other adoring readers can see it, because he doesn't want you to know that he's afraid to publicly debate me.

      If you think I'm "brainwashed", and if you think you know more than I do and can prove me wrong, and if you have more courage than does "Leon Cobarde" (which ain't sayin' nuttin' at all), then below is a link to where you can challenge me on the topic of Gun Control. Any time is fine with me.

      I have "Comment Moderation" activated, but go ahead and submit a comment to get us started and I will publish it and respond quickly. I look forward to you showing the world how "brainwashed" I am. Don't be shy now. And by all means, don't be cowardly -- like Andrew is! We can discuss this rationally, sanely, without name-calling, and let the verifiable facts illustrate which one of us is the "brainwashed".

      I look forward to hearing from you here...

      [Link:) GUN RIGHTS VS. GUN CONTROL (Or, PROTECT YOUR TEETH TO SAVE YOUR TONGUE)

      May You Bless And Be Blessed, Liz!

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Loyal American Underground'

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    2. I think you would like Lion also which I liked a bit better than Hidden Figures which was excellent. It looks like you are facing a duel:) One has to respect Stephen's passionate convictions. I do agree with you Liz since that amendment was done when muskets were all the rage

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  19. Hidden Figures sounds like a great film.

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  20. The Husband and I saw your last two movies recently. We liked them big time. I was amazed, and glad, that Saroo was able to find his family after all those years. Have you seen Jackie yet? We saw that last night. I was very impressed with how the writer weaved the story of Jackie's days after her husband was killed and how the director brought his vision to life. Natalie Portman was perfect as Jackie.

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    1. I haven't seen Jackie yet and will give it a try but when I saw certain scenes, Natalie Portman's voice grated on me.

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  21. GREAT pick with Hidden Figures! So entertaining and solidly constructed. All three of the leading ladies are wonderful, and Costner is pretty great, too. I also liked Lion, which is a really effective tear-jerker. But I refuse to see Hacksaw Ridge, for a LOT of reasons.

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    1. Yes, both films are excellent but so is Hacksaw even though it is done by that nut, Mel Gibson, is an excellent film but you have to like war movies

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  22. It has been a sad week for sure. Thanks for helping us focus on something more cheerful. Happy weekend.

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    1. It is sad but glad you liked what I wrote and now another tragedy...this has to stop and it will

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  23. I liked the Clark Gable "Mutiny on the Bounty" (although more than a couple things were "Hollywooded" up).
    Also, "The Alamo." Both versions, although John Wayne's took a LOT of liberties with what really happened.
    And..."Tora! Tora! Tora!" Because explosions. Okay, I'm simple that way.

    Honorable Mention: "Apollo 13."

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    1. Love all your picks and have seen all Bounty films and enjoyed the one with Gibson and Hopkins which was more accurate. The Alamo, both films are great but, yes, the Wayne version is more an homage to the glory of the U.S so I have to say I actually like the newer version. Love Tara, Tora, Tora....blow up stuff and all

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    2. The Gibson and Hopkins version...forgot about that one. You know, I think you're right! Plus, there were boobies in that one (yes, kind of a pig that way).

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  24. This is one of my favorite film categories and so many can fit this bill. Of your picks I've only seen Hacksaw Ridge and that was excellent.

    Three that immediately came to my mind are:

    Sully
    Bridge of Spies
    Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio

    And so many more could be named off including numerous biopics.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. I really liked Sully and that they explored what they went through afterwards. I haven't seen the other 2 but they are on my list. Yes, there are numerous films

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  25. Wow- I actually saw Lion and Hidden Figures. Loved them both. I had no idea that there were people who were computers before there were computers. Amazing- math is NOT my thing, so I can't even imagine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. I had no idea either that there were people known as computers which also seemed to devalue the, as human beings

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  26. Wow, scary about that tractor trailer overturn! Glad everything is okay. Yes, let's hear it for boring;)
    I loved, loved, loved Hidden Figures. I found it very humbling.
    Hope you've had a great weekend.

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    1. It was scary and they still have not explained how he jumped the median. I had a good weekend!

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  27. I was very intrigued with Hacksaw Ridge and was so impressed with the man it was based on, just not sure I'm up to seeing the movie.

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    1. The movie is brutal and so sad but yet inspiring

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  28. I haven't seen any of these three, but your description and the trailers have made me go to Netflix and add them to my list. I guess I'd say these are my three now.

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  29. I haven't seen any of these. Everyone who saw Hidden Figures told me they loved it, though, so I need to check that one out especially.

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    1. It's an excellent film and love all 3 actresses

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  30. Wow, 3 recent ones, that's rare from you!!
    Hacksaw Ridge is almost already forgotten but it's quite watchable.

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    1. I know! It is rare for me because my mind was spinning with lol the movies I have seen that work with this week's theme. I found Hacksaw Ridge stayed with me and still recall many scenes

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  31. I saw Lion and Hidden Figures on the same day. Both phenomenal movies! My picks would be Schindler's List, The Blind Side, and Hotel Rwanda.

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    1. Schindler's List is so moving and difficult to watch. Blind Side is a nice movie and Hotel Rwanda is a gem but also tough to see

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  32. LION sounds extremely intense. Does it have a happy ending?

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    1. It can be intense but, oh yes...a happy ending and so beautiful. When you watch the credits you see the actual people which is so nice to see

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  33. Of course, not seen these.

    What I thought of...

    October Sky
    A Beautiful Mind
    Heaven Is For Real
    The Blind Side
    Marley & Me (bring the tissues!)

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    1. Great picks and I did watch Marley and never again...I cried and cried

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  34. Boring is a blessing, isn't it?
    I'd probably pick Titanic for one of them - even though I really didn't like Leonardo in that movie. He was stiff and insincere. Erin Brokovich (Julia Roberts) was a good one. Hm, I'd also pick one of the heavier ones I can't stomach (Schindler's List, The Color Purple).

    As usual, I haven't seen any you mentioned but I enjoyed reading about them. Thank you, Birgit.

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  35. My picks would be The Rookie, Sully and Hidden Figures:)

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