True Stories
True Stories are those based (sometimes loosely!) on fact. They cover topics as diverse as drug addiction, poverty, political unrest, the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness and other human struggles. Meet some of history's most intriguing characters, find out what it's really like to climb a mountain or paint a masterpiece. Truly, the True Story is one of cinema's most engaging and enthralling genres.
Bio-pics feature in this section and are also gathered together separately under the 'Biography' sublink left.
Pictured: Inside the Las Vegas mob, Scorsese's unromantic 'Goodfellas'
Ali (2001)
6.8/10
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Ron Silver, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jeffrey Wright, Jon Voig...
Will Smith floats and stings as the boxing legend known as "The Greatest" in Michael Mann's electrifying biodrama. From the then Cassius Clay's first... Read more
The Madness Of King George (1994)
7.2/10
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Starring: Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Amanda Donohoe, Rupert Graves, Rupert E...
A film version of Alan Bennett's play about the life of one of Britain's most eccentric kings, George III. After thirty years on the throne, George (N... Read more
Queen Margot ( La Reine Margot ) (1994)
7.5/10
Director: Patrice Chereau
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Vincent Perez, Jean-Hugues Anglade
An intelligent and moving epic based on a Dumas' novel of the events surrounding the notorious St Bartholemew's Day massacre in 16th Century France. T... Read more
Malcolm X (1992)
7.7/10
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall
Spike Lee's three-hour epic tale of the life and times of the small-time crook from Harlem turned revolutionary civil rights activist has Denzel Washi... Read more
Machuca (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Andres Wood
Starring: Matias Quer, Ariel Mataluna, Manuela Martelli, Aline Kuppenheim, Federico Luppi
In 1973 Chile's democratically-elected socialist government was overthrown by a US-led coup that initiated the ruthless dictatorship of Augusto Pinoch... Read more
The Innocents (2016)
7.3/10
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Lou de Laage, Vincent Macaigne, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza
World War II is finally over, and doctor Mathilde (rising star Lou de Laage) is treating the last of the French survivors of Nazi work camps in Poland... Read more
Shattered Glass (2003)
7.2/10
Director: Billy Ray
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloe Sevigny, Steve Zahn, Melanie Lynskey,...
Gripping true story centres on Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), a young journalist for The New Republic magazine who quickly wins over colleagues w... Read more
Cleopatra (1963)
7/10
Director: Joseph L Mankiewicz
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton star in this truly mammoth production filled with spectacle and a cast of thousands. The legendary story of the Qu... Read more
Luther (2003)
6.6/10
Director: Eric Till
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, Jonathan Firth, Claire Cox, Peter Ustinov, Bruno...
Joseph Fiennes delivers a fine performance in the title role of this affecting religious biodrama. When the Pope orders his priests to sell absolution... Read more
Amen (2002)
7.3/10
Director: Constantin Costa-Gavras
Starring: Ulrich Tukur, Mathieu Kassovitz
In WWII Germany, a chemical engineer and SS lieutenant is shocked to learn that the Zyklon B he helped develop to purify drinking water will be used t... Read more