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'
MacArthur (1977)
6.6/10
Director: Joseph Sargent
Starring: Gregory Peck, Dan O'Herlihy, Ed Flanders
A solid, absorbing saga of flamboyant military chief General Douglas MacArthur during World War II and the Korean War. Gregory Peck is excellent in th... Read more
Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
6.8/10
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Kathy Baker, Gerard Butler, Michael Shannon, Michelle Monaghan
After drug-dealing biker Sam Childers (Gerard Butler) experiences a spiritual awakening, he turns his life around by travelling to Africa and crusadin... Read more
Machine Gun Preacher (Blu-ray) (2011)
6.8/10
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Kathy Baker, Gerard Butler, Michael Shannon, Michelle Monaghan
After drug-dealing biker Sam Childers (Gerard Butler) experiences a spiritual awakening, he turns his life around by travelling to Africa and crusadin... 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
Madison (2002)
7.1/10
Director: William Bindley
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern, Paul Dooley
The true story of Jim McCormack, a one-time hydroplane racer who attempted to retire but still feels the call of the race. His small community of Mad... 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
Man in the Mirror - The Michael Jackson Story (2004)
3.4/10
Director: Allan Moyle
Starring: Flex Alexander
This revealing biodrama provides an objective look at the controversial pop star's life, from his unprecedented rise to the top of the music world wit... Read more
Man on the Moon (1999)
7.4/10
Director: Milos Forman
Starring: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Courtney Love, Paul Giamatti
In an acclaimed performance that borders on channelling, Jim Carrey plays kamikaze comic genius Andy Kaufman, who delighted in tricking, perplexing, a... Read more
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
7.1/10
Director: Justin Chadwick
Starring: Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto, Idris Elba
A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected pre... Read more
Manson (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Neil Rawles
1969, the Summer of Love. Nearly 40 years after he masterminded the Tate/LaBianca murders, Charles Manson remains an icon of evil and a subject of fas... Read more