Hollywood's 10 inspirational films

The Shawshank Redemption The story:Adapted from the Stephen King’s 1982 novella, “Rita Hayworth andShawshank Redemption”, the movie is about two prisoners bonding in jailover a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts ofcommon decency.What’s inspiring: Though wrongfully convicted andsentenced to life imprisonment, Andy (Tim Robbins) never gives up hope.RockyThe story: Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-timeboxer who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fight the heavyweight champion.The story is about his strife to go the distance for his selfrespect.What’s inspiring: A man can be anyone he wants to be, but itrequires great determination and stamina to achieve his dream.PhiladelphiaThe story: Tom Hanks plays a lawyer dismissed fromhis firm, apparently for incompetence, but really because he has AIDS. EnterDenzel Washington as a personal-injury attorney — witty and homophobic,but prepared to fight for justice.What’s inspiring: Near the end,Joe Miller (Denzel) looks past Andrew Beckett’s (Tom) homosexuality andsees the human being inside.My Left FootThe story: The truestory of Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown, who grew up to become afamous painter and author.What’s inspiring: Paralysed from birth,Christy (Daniel Day-Lewis) is written off as retarded and helpless. But hisindomitable mother never gives up on the boy. Using his left foot, the only partof his body not afflicted, Christy learns to paint andwrite.SeabiscuitThe story: A depression-era sports drama aboutthe legendary race horse Seabiscuit.What’s inspiring: Seabiscuit wasan undersized and overlooked thoroughbred race horse whose unexpected successesmade him a hugely popular sensation in the United States. His owner CharlesHoward (Jeff Bridges) teams with partially blind boxer-turned-jockey Red Pollardfor several victories.It’s A Wonderful LifeThe story: Indirector Frank Capra’s classic bittersweet drama, an angel helps acompassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life wouldhave been like if he never existed.What’s inspiring: George Bailey(James Stewart) is made to realize how many lives he has touched, and helped,through his existence. Stewart’s performance isbrilliant.Forrest GumpThe story: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is asimple man with little brain activity but good intentions. The movie is abouthis struggle through childhood with his only friend Jenny (Robin Wright) and theways of life taught by his ‘mama’. What’s inspiring: Aninnocent man who represents how the world should ideally be — loyal,humble, honest and truthful. The Pursuit of HappynessThestory: Struggling salesman Chris Gardner (Will Smith) takes custody of his sonas he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.What’s inspiring: The film does not seek blame or create unfoundedobstacles for the character — particularly racial ones. It’s a taleof one man who looks past a litany of obstacles to which he could have easilysurrendered. The Color PurpleThe story: Based on aPulitzer-prize winning novel by Alice Walker, this 1985 Steven Spielberg film isabout the life and trials of a young African American girl.What’sinspiring: We see the problems young African American women faced —poverty, racism and sexism — through the story of Celie, who is eventuallytransformed as she finds her self-worth through the help of two strong femalecompanions.Schindler’s ListThe story: A dramatizedaccount of the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved thelives of more than 1,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by employing them inhis factories. What’s inspiring: This finely crafted tale by StevenSpielberg illustrates the ‘power of one’. Liam Neeson gives one ofhis most impressive performances as we follow Schindler’s journey.Movie quotes that moved us “With great power comes greatresponsibility.”‘Spider Man’“Life is not theamount of breaths you take. It’s the moments that take your breathaway.”‘Hitch’“They can take our lives but they cannever take our freedom!”‘Braveheart’“You can neverreplace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specificdetails.”‘Before Sunset’I can’t tell you any sureway to happiness. I only know that you’ve got to go out and find it foryourselves.‘Carousel’