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'
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
7.2/10
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Raymond J Barry, Tom Berenger, Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Caroline Kava
The gut-wrenching true story of Ron Kovic, a Vietnam vet who was left paralyzed by a sniper's bullet in battle and returned home to eventually become... Read more
Borstal Boy (2000)
6.8/10
Director: Peter Sheridan
Starring: Danny Dyer, Eva Birthistle, Michael York
Based on Irish playwright/revolutionary Brendan Behan's autobiographical tale but blending in elements of his later life, including a controversial ga... Read more
Bottle Shock (2008)
6.8/10
Director: Randall Miller
Starring: Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez, Dennis...
The year is 1976, and Napa Valley has yet to gain the reputation as one of the world's best-known wine regions. Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) has sacrifi... Read more
Bound For Glory (1976)
7.3/10
Director: Hal Ashby
Starring: David Carradine, Ronny Cox, Melinda Dillon
The story of Woody Guthrie, one of America's great singer-composers. This film focuses on the depression years when Guthrie rode the rails and stars D... Read more
Boycott (2001)
7.3/10
Director: Clark Johnson
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Carmen Ejogo, Terrence Howard
One woman refuses to give up her seat in a "whites only" section of a public bus. The Bus stops, the city stops, the world stops. December 1, 1955, Mo... Read more
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
7.6/10
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Starring: Matt McGrath, John Hart, Jeanetta Arnette, Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny
The powerful true story of the terrible and devastating life and times of Teena Brandon (Hilary Swank in an Academy Award-winning performance), a youn... Read more
Braveheart (1995)
8.4/10
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Mel Gibson, Catherine McCormack
The epic tale of 13th century Scottish rebel warrior William Wallace (Mel Gibson), who builds a grass-roots resistance against the tyranny of English... Read more
Braveheart ( Blu-ray ) (1995)
8.4/10
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Catherine McCormack, Mel Gibson, Patrick McGoohan, Sophie Marceau
The epic tale of 13th century Scottish rebel warrior William Wallace (Mel Gibson), who builds a grass-roots resistance against the tyranny of English... Read more
Breach (2007)
7/10
Director: Billy Ray
Starring: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavernas, Gary Cole, Denni...
In February 2001, FBI Agent Robert Hanssen was arrested after more than 20 years of providing the Russians with US State secrets in possibly the large... Read more
Bread and Roses (1993)
7.1/10
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Genevieve Picot, Mick Rose, Donna Akersten
Based on the autobiography of Sonya Davies. This moving epic story of one woman's experience spans twenty years from 1940 and captures the hopes and a... Read more