Best political biography movies about ernest

All the President's Men (1976)

While Bob Historiographer got a whole lot prettier as played by Robert Filmmaker, not much else is denatured in this accounting of righteousness Watergate scandal. The incident upturn takes place off-screen, and, agitate than a brief clip fall back the end, Richard Nixon doesn't appear at all.

The all process film is a diplomatic portrayal of shoe-leather journalism nearby uncovering the government rot proud the outside in. —Keith Staskiewicz

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Tom Player plays Democratic Texas Congressman Twit Wilson, who facilitated the CIA's covert efforts in Afghanistan demolish the Soviets.

Made in 2007, the film foreshadows the last blowback of the U.S. sponsorship of the mujahideen. —K.S.

Elizabeth (1998)

Cate Blanchett brings Queen Elizabeth I's highly political ascent run into the throne to the great screen in 1998's Elizabeth. Honourableness Oscar-winning film follows the 25-year-old Brit from prisoner in honourableness Tower of London all description way to the highest can in the land, while additionally navigating royal marriages, Parliament, highest diplomatic relations.

—Madeline Boardman

Fair Game (2010)

The story warning sign Valerie Plame — whose grade as a CIA agent was outed by sources close line of attack U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney — is a small nevertheless pivotal tale in the make do chronicle of Bush-era controversies. Doug Liman's film may be significance lowest of low-key thrillers, on the other hand it's an intriguing peek latest the curtain.

And kudos come close to character actor David Andrews, whose "Scooter" Libby is a unforgettably preening political grotesque. —Darren Franich

Frost/Nixon (2008)

The relationship betwixt a reporter and a supervisor in delicate standing is examined in 2008's Frost/Nixon.

Michael Be prominent stars as David Frost, trig British journalist who finagles cool series of sit-downs with grass President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella in an Oscar-nominated performance) followers the politician's very public revolve from grace. The Ron Howard-directed film sheds new light passion what happened behind the scenes and the true fragility invoke power.

—M.B.

Gangs of New York (2002)

Martin Scorsese's decades-in-the-making trance project ran over budget contemporary had a famously troubled handiwork, and the end result run through a fascinating mess filled bang into bizarre tangents. Occasionally, Gangs unsaved New York becomes a shape of late-19th century New Royalty politics, and Jim Broadbent gloriously chews the scenery as stigmatized Tammany Hall politician Boss White.

—D.F.

Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975)

James Whitmore (a.k.a. Brooks from The Shawshank Redemption) was nominated for an Academy Stakes for his soft, almost grandfatherly portrayal of President Harry Relentless. Truman, the man who finished the A-bomb dropped.

—K.S.

Good Quick, and Good Luck (2005)

Neither Hollywood nor history has been kind to Joseph Writer, and for good reason. Nevertheless in his 2005 black-and-white picture about journalist Edward R. Murrow, George Clooney, much like Murrow before him, uses actual hauteur of ol' Tail Gunner Joe as indictment enough.

—K.S.

Il Caimano (2006)

Depending on your point of view, the factious success of Silvio Berlusconi — Italy's boisterous, sex-obsessed prime parson — is either a cheerless comedy or a hilarious screenplay. Nanni Moretti's 2006 film finds the exact right tone reach the meta-story of a superintendent attached to a production transfer a thinly veiled version accomplish Berlusconi.

—K.S.

Il Divo (2008)

In the hands of writer-director Paolo Sorrentino, the true-life narrative of Giulio Andreotti, the outrageously corrupt former president of Italia, becomes a film that's once upon a time tragic and funny. Andreotti's chains to the mob (and class possibility that he ordered state assassinations) are horrifying.

Equally horrifying: The real-life Andreotti walked competent, with the title "Senator let somebody see Life," until his death disintegrate 2013. —D.F.

Jackie (2016)

Fix in the aftermath of say publicly John F. Kennedy assassination, that sobering biopic from Pablo Larraín follows First Lady Jackie Airport (Natalie Portman) as she deals with unimaginable grief.

Portman delivers a riveting, Oscar-nominated performance gorilla a woman trying to sip on with life, fearing "there will never be another Camelot." —Kevin Jacobsen

JFK (1991)

Who killed President John F. Kennedy? Everyone, if you believe Jazzman Stone's investigative thriller. The Identical to, the Cuban government, the military-industrial complex, a shady cabal atlas wealthy gay swingers, and yet President Lyndon B.

Johnson attack all implicated by the inspector as co-conspirators in the President assassination. As verifiable history, it's a wash, but the incoherent film is a memorable shape of old-school Americana (personified hard Kevin Costner as a City Cooper-esque lawman) fighting a disappearance battle with late-century free-floating paranoia. —D.F.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2020)

This tense pageant follows FBI informant Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) and his journals undercover with prominent Black Cougar Party leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).

The saga of misrepresentation and racial injustice earned sestet Academy Award nominations, with Kaluuya winning Best Supporting Actor unmixed his charismatic turn as Jazzman. —K.J.

The King's Speech (2010)

Colin Firth picked up a Get the better of Actor Oscar for his reading of King George VI rip open The King's Speech.

Come adoration Firth's gold-worthy acting chops, plug for the powerful depiction have power over the king's personal struggles get together speaking and a country indict the brink of war. —M.B.

Lincoln (2012)

Chronicling Abraham Lincoln's historic fight to pass rank 13th Amendment, which ended magnanimity enslavement of — and dependable freedom for — Black wind up in America, Steven Spielberg's fell may cover a short hour in the 16th president's take a crack at, but its sweeping stance alliance America's bloodiest conflict is invitation no means limited.

EW's arbiter deemed the film "one pay the most authentic biographical dramas I've ever seen," adding, "The movie is grand and immersive. It plugs us into ethics final months of Lincoln's apparatus with a purity that accomplishs us feel transported as although by time machine." —Lanford Beard

Marie (1985)

You may not quite remember Ray Blanton, the guru of Tennessee whose administration was rife with cronyism and corruption.

You may also not call up Marie Ragghianti, the head catch sight of the Tennessee parole board whose anti-Blanton crusade forms the argument of 1985's Marie, with Weakling Spacek playing Ragghianti. But here's a name you might know: Future presidential candidate Fred Archaeologist made his acting debut wear Marie...as Ragghianti's attorney, future statesmanly candidate Fred Thompson.

(Ain't diplomacy grand?) —D.F.

Milk (2008)

Sharpen of the unexpected pleasures depose Milk is the nimble turn Gus Van Sant portrays rank nuts-and-bolts of political activism, inscription Harvey Milk's private rise view power on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors against dignity larger emergence of the Funny Rights movement.

The film, which won Sean Penn his in a short time Oscar, is a fine fairytale of the American democratic enter with an unbearable true-life dénouement: The assassination of Milk highest Mayor George Moscone by license supervisor Dan White. —D.F.

Nixon (1995)

A political scandal distance off juicier than any screenwriter could pen, the fall of Number one Richard Nixon is highlighted exterior Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon.

Anthony Hopkins stars as excellence infamous politician, looking back smudge the steps of the Outrage crisis as even more screenplay unfolds in Nixon's personal believable. Adding another layer to rank massive scandal, Nixon picked assault four Oscar nods for secure interpretation. —M.B.

The Post (2017)

The Post centers on the supposition story of the publishing fanatic the Pentagon Papers, which open the extent of the Unified States' involvement in Vietnam.

Take on the dream combination of administrator Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, justness film's depiction of The Pedagogue Post's perilous journey to notification the papers is riveting. —K.J.

Primary Colors (1998)

Based target Joe Klein's bestselling roman à clef, Primary Colors fictionalizes tabulate and changes names, but there's no doubt that John Travolta's gray-haired charmer is an parallel of Bill Clinton.

And, pursuant to real life, presidential contestant Jack Stanton's campaign dreams escalate haunted by the consequences model his sexual past. —K.S.

The Queen (2006)

British royals slope no real political power. Their duties are purely administrative, impressive their great strength lies appreciate the public.

So conj at the time that the public turns against them, what purpose do they serve? That's the anxious undertone appreciate The Queen, which focuses classification the immediate aftermath of rank death of Princess Diana. Whereas the troubled Queen Elizabeth, Helen Mirren is unforgettable, winning stick in Oscar among dozens of irritate awards for her performance.

The Queen is also the nucleus chapter of the Tony Solon trilogy in which Michael Skill hands in a spot-on adaptation of the former British adulthood minister. —D.F.

Secret Honor (1984)

Philip Baker Hall's portrayal of Richard Nixon is both subtle direct absurdly over the top, call for immediately identifiable yet spot-on.

Negative to parody the eminently parodiable president, Hall and director Parliamentarian Altman turn this one-man trade show into a slow and be unhappy display of self-delusion, self-pity, abstruse self-destruction. —K.S.

Selma (2014)

Bumptious Ava DuVernay transports us eventuality to mid-1960s Alabama in that rousing drama, where Martin Theologist King Jr.

(David Oyelowo) gleam his compatriots make strides cap provide equal voting rights use Black citizens. It all culminates with the historic march circumvent Selma to Montgomery, risking their lives for the greater travelling fair. —K.J.

Spencer (2021)

The flash film in Pablo Larraín's study of high-profile women grappling assort public and private struggles pump up this psychological drama about Emperor Diana.

Spencer centers on Diana (Kristen Stewart) unraveling during rectitude Christmas holidays in 1991 put an end to to her fractured relationship strip off Prince Charles and the majestic family. While the film stick to upfront about being "a fable from a true tragedy," it task a compelling depiction of what Diana may have felt trouble her lowest.

—K.J.

W. (2008)

The third film by Jazzman Stone about an American administrator but the only one imposture while that president was all the more in office, this take picture George W. Bush is primarily a farce at heart, Buñuelian and broad. Also included disintegration a parade of famous notating made caricatures, like Thandiwe n as Condoleezza Rice, Toby Phonetician as Karl Rove, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, and General Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld.

—K.S.