Isn't it a recent phenomena that Bollywood seems to have gotten obsessed with biopics? I mean there was the likes of Paan Singh Tomar first. And then came full on commercially successful biopics like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Mary Kom, which taught Bollywood a mantra for a successful movie- make a biopic! And why not! They depict an inspiring, and sometimes interesting life story of a person, and the audience is always curious to know about them. But the point here is not Bollywood. Because off late it seems like even the West has become obsessed with it. If you've caught the latest trailer of Michael Fassbender starrer biopic on Steve Jobs, you'd know what I am talking. So, yes, Hollywood is also coming up with a bunch of damn interesting biopics and you need to watch out for them!
1. Steve Jobs
Danny Boyle's forthcoming film on the late co-founder of technology giant Apple Inc, will see the talented Michael Fassbender playing him on screen. Fans are definitely hoping to get a deep insight into Steve Jobs' life, the man beyond the technological genius. The film, which is based on the Walter Isaacson biography, is set backstage at three iconic product launches. After the lukewarm response to the biopic on Jobs, with Ashton Kutcher in the title role in 2013, fans are hoping Boyle's version turns out to be the real deal.
2. The Man Who Knew Infinity
Directed by Matt Brown, The Man Who Knew Infinity is a biopic on Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Dev Patel plays the mathematics genius in the film that focuses on Ramanujan's contributions to Number Theory, Continued Fractions, and Infinite Series. The story travels from Madras where Ramanujan was born, to Cambridge University, where his mathematical theories attract the attention of English mathematician GH Hardy (Jeremy Irons).
3. Legend
Written and directed by Brian Helgeland, the crime thriller is based on the book The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins by John Pearson, which deals with the rise and fall of identical twin gangsters, Reggie and Ronnie Kray, two of the most notorious criminals in British history. Interestingly, Tom Hardy doubles up as the Kray twins.
4. The Danish Girl
Based on David Ebershoff's book by the same name, the film is based on Danish transgender artist Lili Elbe. Last year's Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, who played Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, will be seen essaying the complex central character of Einar Wegener, who later adopts the name Lili. The film is most awaited as Lili, who worked during the early part of the 20th century, was one of the first few people to undergo a sex-change operation.
5. I Saw The Light
British actor Tom Hiddleston will be seen essaying the role of popular country singer-songwriter and musician Hank Williams in the upcoming biopic, I Saw The Light. If the trailers are anything to go by, this film seems super amazing!
6. Pele
Directed by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist, the film is described as an origin story, chronicling the Brazilian soccer legend's life from the slums of Sao Paulo, who became a heroic figure for people across the world. India has all the more reason to look forward to this one as our very own AR Rahman has composed music for it.
7. Miles Ahead
Due to release this month only, Miles Ahead, tells the story of Jazz musician Miles Davis, who is considered to be one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. He has achieved many major milestones in his life, but in the later years of his life, it was rumoured that he was suffering from AIDS. Depicting the ups and down of Davis's life, Miles Ahead seems to be a really promising watch.
8. Suffragette
For the uninitiated, Suffragettes were members of women's organisation (right to vote) movements in the late 19th and early 20th century. Directed by Sarah Gavron, it is basically a biographical account of British suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, played by Meryl Streep in the film. With Carrey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter too in the cast, this one seems to be full of talented actors.
9. Rocketman
Rocketman is the biographical account the great musician Elton John. Directed by Michael Gracey , Tom Hardy will be seen essaying the role of John in the movie. Considering what a great actor Tom Hardy is, we're sure he'll do full justice to this one.
10. Nina
Nina is the biographical account on the life of an American musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone, and is slated to hit the theatres in December this year. Dominican-American actress, Zoe Saldana, portrays the role of Nina in the film. Recently the movie has received a great deal of controversy over the general appearance of lead actress Zoe Saldana, as her skin color and facial features do not resemble that of Nina's.
11. Joy
So, this one pretty interesting! Joy is an American biographical comedy-drama film, based on the life of Joy Mangano. The movie covers her struggle as a single mom of three children, to her rise as the inventor of "Miracle Mop" and President of Ingenious Designs. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as Mangano, Bradley Cooper as an executive at the Home Shopping Network, Robert De Niro as Mangano's father, and Édgar Ramírez as Joy's ex-husband.