During difficult
times we all need a little inspiration. And what better place to find it than
on the couch, in front of the TV!
Film not
only offers us entertainment and escapism, but it can also influence us on a
deeper level. It can inspire us to be strong enough to overcome (seemingly) unbeatable
odds and reach (previously) unattainable goals...
To be a better
person..
To seek out
a silver lining in a sky of dark clouds...
And
sometimes… it just makes us thankful for what we have.
Here are my
Top Ten Inspirational movies; some are true stories, some are amazing pieces of
fiction.
Rudy – True story
of Daniel Ruettiger, a small kid with a big heart. His only dream is to play
football at the University of Notre Dame. All he has to do is get a job, get accepted
into the school and then get on the team. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
October Sky – True story of Homer Hickam, a teenager from 1950’s
West Virginia and the son of a coal miner, who wants to build rockets. He hasn’t
the money, the knowledge or the approval of his father. But he has the will and
the friends. And sometimes that’s enough.
Slumdog Millionaire – Fictional story of an extremely poor
young man from India who has the opportunity to win a game show for a million
dollars. He draws his answers from the experiences of his life’s struggles and
accomplishments, almost as if it were preordained.
Forrest Gump – Fictional story of a simple minded man with a
pure heart. Over multiple decades, he finds himself witnessing - and sometimes influencing
- history as it unfolds around him.
Pursuit of Happyness – The story of Chris Gardner, a man who
finds himself homeless and jobless while trying to raise a son. It’s a story of
grit and determination that would be unbelievable, if it weren’t true.
Erin Brockovich – A desperate single mother of three, Erin
scams her way into a job with a lawyer, then stumbles upon an environmental crime
committed by the biggest utility company in the state. Her perseverance,
courage and unwillingness to change makes this true story amazing.
Breaking Away – Fictional story of a young man called a “cutter,”
a local resident of a college town. He is caught between holding on to
childhood friendships, a stern father and moving on with his life, all while
racing bicycles and pretending to be Italian.
It’s a Wonderful Life – The story of George Bailey, a
desperate man who gets to see what life would be like if he had never been born,
and the way it changes all the lives around him. It’s the ultimate in Christmas
movies.
Apollo 13 – True story of three astronauts, stuck in space
after a horrible accident, and the effort of the hundreds of people trying to
get them safely home.
Field of Dreams – Fictional story of Ray Kinsella, an Iowa
farmer who hears a voice that tells him to build a baseball field in the middle
of his corn fields, so that long dead players can play again.
There are certainly more out there, but these are my “go to”
movies when I feel like I’m up against the ropes. They inspire hope and the
promise of success if you don’t quit.
What moves inspire you? Please leave a comment below.
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