I often find some films about the lives of real people interesting to watch. I have always thought it must be a challenge to portray a person who has walked or is still walking the Earth. You have the burden of whether it is authentic enough or a more sensational exploration. Whatever the case, the question is what are your favourite performances based on real life people? It can anyone from a president, monarch or governor to a saint, dancer or musician. Whatever your choice, please give it.
What are your favourite performances based on real life people?
02 Tuesday Oct 2012
Posted in Movie opinions and thoughts
vinnieh 
Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull comes first to mind.
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That one is definately high on my list.
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I think Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Charles Bronson is brilliant, as is Russell Crowe as John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. However, one of the best, for me, has to be De Niro as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull.
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Thanks, those are some great performances.
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A couple of western ones spring immediately to mind. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone; it may be a fanciful portrayal but it’s entertaining as hell.
I also liked Brad Pitt’s turn as Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James.
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I haven’t seen Jesse James but will give it a watch when I get the chance.
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So many great ones to choose but I always find the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Catch Me if You Can’. Great story and pretty unbelievable.
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Yeah that is a great story.
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Peter O’Toole as T.E. Lawrence.
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Thanks, that is a good one.
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I soley agree,the part where Peter scream “No Prisoners” Holy shit it was gold
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Marion Cotillard as Édith Piaf.
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Thanks, yeah Cotillard was just amazing as Piaf.
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Robert De Niro as Jake Lamotta
Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf
Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles (which was a huge surprise)
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Thought of another…Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler
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Oh, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote
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That is an amazing performance.
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All great performances man.
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I was surprised by, and really enjoyed Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn. Didn’t think too much of the film overall but thought she did excellently with such a challenging role.
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I haven’t seen it ,will have to check out her performance.
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Hmm, De Niro as LaMotta, Cotillard as Edith Piaf, and Denzel as Malcolm X. Those would probably be my top 3.
You?
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I agree with you on the first two, I haven’t seen the last one but will when I get the chance.
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Love Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in Moneyball, and Anthony Hopkins as Richard Nixon.
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Fave performances from RL people,Peter O’Toole as T.E Lawrence,Benoit Megiumel as Jean-Baptiste Lully in Le Roi Danse (Go watch it,such a glorious film),Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
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Gotta go with DeNiro as Jake Lamotta here as well. Marvellous stuff.
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Thanks, yeah it certainly is a marvellous and very believable performance from De Niro.
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Jimmy Stewart as Glenn Miller in The Glenn Miller Story.
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Cate Blanchet as Queen Elizabeth the first! she is alone in her category and was magnifficent in both movies!
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Thanks, I totally agree with you, Blanchett was magnificent in the part.
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Blanchett as Elizabeth and Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo. Also Theron as Aileen Wuornoss.
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All fantastic performances from amazing actresses.
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Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin, James Franco as James Dean and Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher 🙂
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Thanks for the comment, I haven’t seen Franco as Dean yet, I’ll have to check that out.
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well, it’s a TV movie and it’s quite old – 2001, but I think it’s really good! 🙂
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Joaquin Pheonix as Johnny Cash was amazing just like Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. (The whole Walk the Line movie was great!)
and I also liked Sam Riley as Ian Curtis in Control. =)
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Thanks, Walk the Line is an excellent film. I think I may need to rewatch it now.
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Hilary Swank as Teena Brandon in Boys Don’t Cry … and agreeably Joaquin Pheonix as Johnny Cash!
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Thanks, totally agree with your choices.
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Robert Downey Jr. – Chaplin
Sir Ben Kingsley – Gandhi
Ralph Fiennes- Schindler’s list
Joaquin Phoenix-Walk the line
Barkhad Abdi- Captain Philips (my favorite)
Steve Carell- Foxcatcher
Eddie Redmayne- The theory of everything
Isabelle Adjani- Story of Adele H
Nicole Kidman- The Hours, Lion
Helen Mirren-The Queen
Jessica Chastain- Molly’s Game, Zero Dark Thirty
Meryl Streep-Julie and Julia
Cate Blanchett – The Aviator, I’m not there
Jennifer Connelly – A beautiful mind
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So many excellent choices there.
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