Here are some films about media and journalism that have stood the test of time and good storytelling
Films inspired by or based on stories about the field of media and journalism make for an engrossing watch. These films range from just following the organized (and not so organized) hustle of the industry, inspired from real life journalistic incidents that have made headlines and covering all that goes behind the making of the glossy fashion magazines.
Here are some of the films that have stood the test of time and continue to prove their storytelling merit.
The Post
This is a 2017 Steven Spielberg movie, categorized as a historical political thriller. Its plot revolves around the true story of The Washington Post’s efforts to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971. The Pentagon Papers exposed the US government’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
The papers journalistic duo at the time Katharine Graham (the first female publisher of a major American newspaper) and Ben Bradlee (The Washington Post’s longtime executive editor) were played by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
In addition to highlighting the important roll these two journalist played in history, The Post is known for accurately representing the centuries old struggle of publications between highlighting the truth and getting penalized for it. Something that still stands quite relevant.
Morning Glory
The Roger Michell directed film follows a young TV producer, Becky Fuller (played by Rachel McAdams) as she tries desperately to resuscitate a failing long running morning show called DayBreak.
Saving the show is no easy task as Fuller puts up with unprofessional colleagues and an incompatible co-host duo.
This incompatibility of a veteran rigid news journalist played by Harrison Ford and an experienced and bored lifestyle TV host played by Diane Keaton make it such a not to miss fun watch.
Shattered Glass
The film is based on Vanity Fair’s 1998 article by the same name. It is based on the true events that exposed the reporter Stephen Glass for fabricating most of his articles.
Glass was a staff reporter at The New Republic and also worked as a freelancers for multiple magazines including Rolling Stone.
Played by Hayden Christensen, Glass is praised for his genius stories until a Forbes Digital Tool reporter notices that some of the facts in one of his articles don’t add up. Soon it is discovered that from a total of his 41 published work 27 are either entirely or partly fabricated. As they say reality is stranger than fiction and this is what makes this film a must watch.
Spotlight
Spotlight is another one of the films that delves into a real life story. It is based on The Boston Globe’s investigative report about the child sex abuse scandal.
The film takes a deep dive into how the publication was able to uncover such a massive scandal of child abuse by the Roman Catholic priests in Boston. Publishing this story won The Boston Globe a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003.
Spotlight pays tribute to the understaffed team that strenuously worked to highlight this cause in an attempt to bring justice. The cast includes; Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton. The film won the 2016 Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
State of Play
The 2009 film’s plot revolves around a newspaper team investigating the mysterious death of a federal employee.
Russell Crowe plays the character of Cal McAffrey, a Washington Globe journalist, who is trying to investigate the suspicious death of Stephen Collins (played by Ben Affleck), a congressman and his friend.
The cast also includes; Helen Mirren (playing the role of an assertive editor) and Rachel McAdams (an inexperienced but driven reporter working with McAffrey).
13 Going on 30
This romantic comedy follows the character of Jennifer Garner (Jenna). A 13-year-old girl with big dreams. After her birthday party goes awry, in her humiliation she wishes to jump to being 30 years old.
Every rom-com can needs some magic dust and keeping true to the form, thanks to the magic wish, Jenna gets her wish and wakes up as a 30 year old editor working for her fashion magazine, Poise.
With no recollection of the missing 17 years, the audience follows Jenna’s story and get to see the workings of a fashion magazine. As for the rom part of the rom-com, there is a love story with Matty (played by Mark Ruffalo). Fans of the genre will have a good time.
The Devil Wears Prada
This Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway film is never going to get old. It is one of the most re-watchable movie about the fashion world.
Covering the glamourous and hectic world of fashion, there is an intimidating boss. Miranda Priestley (played by Meryl Streep). It is believed that this character is inspired by Anna Wintour, the US Vogue editor.
The 2006 comedy drama focuses on Anne Hathaway character Andy, an ambitious journalist who ends up as the co-assistant of Miranda Priestly. As Andy tries to meet her boss’s crazy demands, the pressure of the fashion and publishing industry and at the same time trying to cling on to her personal life.
Originally published at https://pk.mashable.com on December 25, 2020.
