When we’re troubled, life can offer us a lot of pain. But there are movies that help us feel better about it. Whether you’re looking to improve your mood, decide what career path to take, or just want something positive on for background noise, these inspirational movies will always make you feel better and will show you that no matter what happens in life you can always find strength in another person’s story.
1. Big Fish
The movie tells the story of Ewan McGregor, who plays Edward Bloom, a dying man with an interesting tale about how he made it from a small town in North Carolina all the way up to become the head writer for “Saturday Night Live”. He’s honest, witty and generally one of life’s good guys. Just when our protagonist has finally everything he wanted – a loving family and an enormous fortune – tragedy strikes and everything changes.
He finds himself on his deathbed again with only his brother Chip (played by Albert Finney) remaining from his former life. This is a beautiful and touching movie. The story is about the value of life and the importance of listening to our hearts. It’s a great movie for anyone who has ever struggled with making mistakes, being forced to make decisions or selling out their dreams because the world around them was spinning faster than they could keep up with.
2. Drugstore Cowboy
Robert Rodriguez, known for his involvement in “Desperado”, “El Mariachi”, “Sin City” and many more, directed this wonderful film based on Richard La Plante’s novel about an LA based drug addict who sells his body to support his habit by trading sex for drugs on the streets of LA. It’s filled with romance, drama and heartbreak.
But above all it’s about living life on your own terms. It’s a brilliant movie.
3. The Piano
Based on Daniel Keyes’s novel, this great movie follows a young deaf girl called Sephy who is struck deaf in childhood by an illness her mother refuses to name. It is only after her mother dies that she learns what caused her illness, and when she goes to find a new home for her and her father, the people they meet are not very kind, despite their kindness towards the rest of us.
This is a moving movie about family and the bonds that hold us together.
4. The Shawshank Redemption
Tim Robbins stars in this, one of the most famous drams ever. He plays Andy Dufresne, a man who is wrongly accused of murdering his wife and her lover, and imprisoned on murder charges for 39 years to life at “Shawshank Prison”. While incarcerated, he meets many other prisoners who are just as wrongfully imprisoned as him.
The film is set during the Great Depression in 1935. It’s also based on a Stephen King story so it’s like the best kind of movie you could ever want to see.
5. The Big Lebowski
Based on the book “Fargo”, this great movie follows a man called Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, who is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski in his home town. He is kidnapped by violent criminals after his rug is mistaken for a very expensive oriental rug and we get to watch this whole hilariously confusing story unfold. What makes this movie so good is the way it captures the boundless irrationality of life and how no matter your situation there are always people around you that care about you and will help you.
All of these factors add up to make it one of the most compelling movies ever made.
