Worst2First: My Top Ten True Life Films of the 2010s (So Far)

Worst2First: 

My Top Ten True Life Films of the 2010s (So Far)

On Friday, September 14th, the film "White Boy Rick" will be released, and will tell the true life story of Rick Wershe Jr, who became a street hustler, FBI informant, and drug kingpin - all before turning sixteen.

I personally love true life films (and yes, I understand that they're typically not entirely accurate, I don't go to them to get a history lesson), and there's been several amazing true life films that have been released, especially in the 2010s.

So here are my personal top ten true life films of the 2010s (so far), worst2first...

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

#10

 I, Tonya

This mockumentary focuses on the bad girl of skating, Tonya Harding, who became infamous during the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan before the Winter Olympics.  This film tells her side of the story, and is filled with dark humor and tells the story in a way that's so outrageous it must be true.  Margot Robbie earned herself an Academy Award nomination for her strong performance, and Allison Janney earned the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Tonya's psychotic mother.

#9

 Straight Outta Compton

This powerful film documents the rise of the rap group N.W.A, which revolutionized the music industry by giving a voice to those who were often ignored, mistreated, and abused.  The rise of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube is nothing short of spectacular, and the film tells the story with true justice.  The film features strong performances by Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, and O'Shea Jackson Jr., the real son of Ice Cube.

#8

Hidden Figures

In a time of racial segregation, three women quietly changed the world by allowing America to beat the Russians in sending a man into space.  Taraji P. Henson stars as Katherine Johnson, a mathematical genius who deduced the safest way to send a man into space.  Along with Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae, these three actresses give spellbinding performances as we witness the power of will and the steadfastness of the human spirit despite obvious obstacles.

#7

 Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman earned himself an Academy Award as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," as the Prime Minister during World War II.  Tasked with protecting his country and his people, Churchill leads with steely resolve and unpopular opinions, but always holding steadfast to his ideals.  Oldman enveloped Churchill in such a way he becomes invisible, and you feel like you're watching the actual Churchill on screen - it's truly a haunting portrayal.

#6

 The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, a genius who managed to do what no other person could possibly imagine - break the unbreakable code the Germans used during World War II, thus ensuing their eventual defeat.  Turing's genius was evident to everyone around him, and he stepped up to serve despite also being a homosexual, which could've resulted in him going to jail if he was discovered.  Cumberbatch gives a terrific performance, along with Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode.

#5

 The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep earned herself another Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving and first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  Breaking the glass ceiling, Thatcher underwent severe scrutiny from her own parliament as she endured crises and threats to her homeland, as well as herself, but she faced them all head on with an iron will - hence her nickname: the Iron Lady.  Streep encapsulates Thatcher in a way only the veteran actress could, and gives a spellbinding performance.

#4

 Spotlight

 Winning the Oscar for Best Picture, "Spotlight" tells the true story of the Boston Globe's Spotlight division, who investigated that which was often swept under the rug - child sex abuse by the Catholic clergy in Boston.  Facing an uphill battle, these journalists never gave up and pressed forward even when no one else would, and the result was monumental in bringing to justice those who were the worst humans in the world.  Featuring a strong cast including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Liev Screiber, "Spotlight" is a stirring story of the power of the press.

#3

 BlacKkKlansman

 Spike Lee gives a truly timely tale, centering on Ron Stallworth, the first African American man on the Colorado Springs police force, who, in the late 70s, infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan despite being a black man by communicating to them through the phone while enlisting a fellow officer to play him in person.  John David Washington and Adam Driver give powerful performances as the two men who faced the racist group head on, and prevented an attack that could've killed hundreds.  Equally, Topher Grace gives a stirring portrayal of David Duke, the Grand Wizard of the KKK, showing his truly vile nature.

#2

 Lion

 A harrowing true story that seems almost impossible, but yet it happened.  "Lion" tells the story of Saroo, who, after being separated from his brother at a very young age in India, found himself adopted by an Australian couple, living in Australia far from his homeland.  As a grown-up, he decides to try to find his mother and brother by using Google Earth to locate landmarks he remembered as a child.  It was literally looking for a needle in a haystack, but he managed to find his home and it turns into one of the biggest tear-jerker moments in modern memory, with powerful performances, a moving story, and the true resolve of the human spirit.

#1

 Lincoln

 Daniel Day-Lewis is cinema's most talented actors, a man who fully encompasses his performances in a way he becomes truly lost in them, and all you see is the character he wants you to see.  In Steven Spielberg's powerful film "Lincoln," Daniel Day-Lewis plays the sixteenth President of the United States in his most tumultuous time - trying to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution which would abolish slavery.  Day-Lewis's performance is extraordinary, Oscar-winning, once-in-a-lifetime portrayal, a presence that can't be ignored.