6. Hotel Rwanda
Racial prejudices were discomforting humans for long, but sub-racial problems took a severe course in the events following the assassination of Rwandan president in 1994. Hutu and Tutsi were the two tribes in question, but the Hutu people were the most violent. A genocide started instantly with the Hutu extremists taking the front seat in killing their brothers.
“Hotel Rwanda” successfully managed to show the atrocities caused by the violent Hutu tribe and the helplessness of the Tutsi people. The film revolves around Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of Hôtel des Mille Collines, who was challenged by the extremists to save the lives of the hotel’s residents and his own family. The problem was monumental for Paul, as his wife belonged to the Tutsi tribe, labeled as “cockroaches” by the killers. It was a black day in history when thousands of innocent people were killed only because they belonged to a certain tribe.
7. Catch Me If You Can
This is the first entry in this article that is awe-inducing but also light in its essence: it is a story of a grand bluff master. Frank Abagnale was a confident imposter from his early life, with his first impersonation dating back when he posed as a French teacher. This only gets to increase in years, when he poses as a pilot, an FBI agent, a doctor, and a lawyer.
It is a question of how he passed the extremely tough exams, to which Frank answered that he studied for one month! He was a genius for real, only that he utilized it in inferior motives, without any logical need. But every problem has a solution, and this trickster was ultimately captured by the police, albeit after strong hurdles.
Steven Spielberg realized the comic and thrill elements of the story and made a film out of it, starring his regular collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, with tweaking minor elements from the real story. The film was a major success just like its protagonist, making $180 million from its $30 million budget, including the overseas market.
8. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Who will believe that a nightmare can cause deaths? But that surprising thing happened in 1975 when several people died in the REM sleep cycle by a spirit dab tsuam, at least what the reports say. According to various claims, 18 Laotian refugees were killed by the strange spirit and the doctors said it was Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome
. The victims were afraid that something bad was going to happen and they tried their best to stay awake by consuming inappropriate doses of caffeine, but fate was that they became prey to sleep and eventually to the spirit. This spirit is mentioned in the Indonesian folk tales who are known to attack the men in their sleep. To get rid of these problems, some people were reported to dress as women to trick the spirit, but he was not that dumb, it seems.
9. The Silence of the Lambs
“The Silence of the Lambs” was the culmination of various real-life people or perverts. One of those was famous Ed Gein, also the influence behind Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” who had a fascination with the human skin. Gein was represented as “Buffalo Bill” in the film, who preys on innocent girls to butcher their skins and makes several utilities from it.
The real-life Bill was equally vicious; when the police discovered the home of Gein, they also dig up stockings and apron made of human skin, soup bowls made of the human skull, lampshades from human bones. But the real protagonist of the film was Hannibal Lecter, inspired by Dr. Trevino, a Mexican surgeon.
The original author of “The Silence of the Lambs” books met this doctor at his young age when he was convicted for killing and chopping his gay lover. The details of the machination are unclear though, with official reports stating it as a crime of passion. But that Trevino injected his lover, slit his throat, and stuffed the chopped remains in a prized box, proved that he didn’t have a novel intention and indicated the method of cannibalism.
10. Almost Famous
This is a deeply personal movie. Director Cameron Crowe based the film “Almost Famous” from his own experience as a teenage rock reporter. The band’s name in the film is made up of the different bands he interviewed in his time as the teen reporter. Crowe has a great record; he interviewed famous bands such as Poco, the Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles in his short but exciting stint. It is a coming-of-age story made with love by Crowe.
The protagonist William Miller got a chance to report the concert of Black Sabbath for Rolling Stone magazine and was introduced to the famous (fictional) band Stillwater in its inception days. He gained their trust in a short time and toured with the team following the events. In the meantime, he falls in love with a girl who also tours with the band, tries to get laid, and experienced his first heartbreak.
The girl Penny Lane was based on the real-life Pennie Lane Trumbull and the role of Williams mom was based on Crowe’s mom. It was a love letter for the rock music, Crowe and his wife wrote many of the film’s songs on their honeymoon. The film was a box office dud but managed to secure three nominations at the Academy Awards and won one for Best Original Screenplay.