Biography

The Apprentice (2025.11, Inconsistent , Marked Down )

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The movie “The Apprentice” depicts Donald Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn, portraying Trump as a morally bankrupt individual who learned Cohn’s ruthless tactics. The film, a biopic, dramatizes Trump’s life, highlighting his relationship with Cohn and his subsequent attempts to emulate Cohn’s success. While the first hour effectively conveys the intensity of their relationship, the second hour struggles to maintain a consistent tone, veering into parody.

I’m Still Here (2025.9, Signs , Terrific )

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I’m Still Here is a powerful Brazilian docudrama that depicts the devastating impact of a military dictatorship on a family. The film, based on a true story, highlights the importance of individual agency in the face of government overreach, drawing parallels to current political events in the U.S. Fernanda Torres delivers a standout performance as Eunice Paiva, a mother who embodies strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

A Complete Unknown (2025.4, Off-the Record, Great Music)

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A Complete Unknown is a biopic about Bob Dylan’s early career, focusing on his relationships with women like Joan Baez and Sylvie Russo, and his musical influences like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash. The film takes creative liberties with historical accuracy, portraying Dylan as a complex and sometimes cruel character, prioritizing his musical creativity over his relationships. Ultimately, the movie is an artistic interpretation of Dylan’s life, not a documentary.

2024 Oscar Biography Films

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An Overview of the Biography Films nominated for Oscars in 2024 and a look back 1t 2023.

Flamin Hot (2024.38, Steal , No Good)

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Flamin Hot is tear-jerking, feel good movie that loses its luster when you learn it contains a lot of falsehoods.

American Symphony (2024.37, Intimate , Direct )

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American Symphony is a surprisingly good documentary giving an intimate picture of musician Jon Batiste, his love of music and his wife, and amazing resilience in the face of life’s pressures.

Golda (2024.35, Cheap , Uninspiring)

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Golda is a movie with some strong points, but struggles to find a real story to tell. (2*)

Napoleon (2024.32, Stunning , But Bad)

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Napoleon is visually stunning but fails to tell an emotionally engaging and understandable story. (1.5*)

Rustin (2024.25, Ordinary , Pale )

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Bayard Rustin almost single-handedly organized the 1963 March on Washington is, however, a very ordinary biopic. Watch it for Domingo’s performance, or don’t watch it at all (3*)

Society of the Snow (2024.15, Uncomfortable , Value )

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Society of the Snow is a very difficult film to watch, but it is probably an essential one. It effectively makes you ask what you would do when faced with these choices. (4.5*)

Oppenheimer (2024.11, Astonishing , Full )

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Oppenheimer is an epic film that rewards the hard work required of the viewer. A full exploration of a man, physics, politics, and movie making. (5*)

Nyad (2024.3, Disappointing , Tank )

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Despite great acting by Bening and Foster, Nyad fails to develop sympathetic characters and an interesting story. (3*)

Maestro (2024.2, Powerful , Solid )

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Maestro is a well told story of a romance between two individuals over decades and how it developed in the shadow of fame. (4.5*)

2023 Oscar Biography Films

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An Overview of the 2023 Oscar-nominated Biography films.

Blonde – Long Sexy with Hidden Truths (3.5*)

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Blonde is not a biography of Marilyn Monroe, although she is the central character. This is, instead, an unusually forceful exploration of how difficult it is for women to fuse their public and private personas. It is also an indictment of Hollywood, and of men generally. (3.5*)

Navalny – A Timely Attempted Murder (3.5*)

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Navalny is as thrilling a movie as you can get, and even more so because it’s true. But is it a skillful documentary, or just a lucky filmmaker?(3.5*)

Fire of Love – Full of Energy, but Not Where it Mattered (3*)

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Fire of Love is about two geologists who spend their entire marriage exploring volcanoes. But the film gives more insight into their love of volcanoes than for each other. (3)

Argentina 1985 – Truth, Humor, and the Wicked (3.5*)

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Argentina 1985 is a docudrama telling the story of the world’s first civilian trial of a military dictatorship. It is a courtroom drama lightened with humor and stories of families. A good film, but maybe a bit difficult to absorb. (3.5*)

Elvis – The Price You Pay for Ignoring Your Roots (4.5*)

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Elvis (4.5*) In a dazzling production full of sights and sounds, Baz Luhrmann paints the tragic story of a man who struggled to get back to his cultural roots.