The Jesse Ventura Story (1999)

Jesse "The Body" Ventura (wrestler, actor, politician) has a life story almost tailor made for a biopic, unfortunately this isn't it.

We see Jesse from his early years as a US Navy Seal, then breaking into pro-wrestling before injuries forced him to take on a broadcasting role. This led to him beginning a film and TV career before finally entering politics and becoming governor of Minnesota. 

A great story but unfortunately so much of the story portrayed on screen is completely wrong, especially the wrestling segments which seem to exist in some parallel universe utterly against actual wrestling history (Raven, Goldberg in wrestling supposedly set in the 1970s and 80s? Really?)

To make matters worse, the guy who plays Ventura (Nils Allen Stewart) doesn't really look or sound like him, which is always a drawback when the original is one of the most recognisable people on Earth! Quite why the makers took so many liberties is unknown, but this is really terrible. Watch the real Jesse Ventura in Predator or Abraxus instead!

The House of Rothschild (1934)

A biopic on the banking family that became the richest in the world (and the subject of a million bonkers conspiracy theories of course). This film follows the Rothschild family from their fairly humble beginnings in Prussia where the family headed by Mayer Rothschild (George Arliss) are Jewish moneylenders always on the watch for the tax collectors...

After the death of Mayer his sons build a banking empire across Europe including Nathan (also played by Arliss) who founds the London branch of the family. He goes on to finance Wellington's war against Napoleon. The Duke of Wellington (C. Aubrey Smith) pays homage to Rothschild but antisemitic feelings in Europe are never far away especially from the Prussian Count Ledrantz (Boris Karloff). The film is lavish and well produced, the last few minutes becoming Technicolor.

An interesting film, much of the time is taken with a romance between Nathan's daughter Julie (Loretta Young) and Gentile Captain Fitzroy (Robert Young) which helps add a bit of heart to a film otherwise dominated by financial wheeler dealing. At times the history may have been somewhat questionable though much of the film is factual. The film was an attempt to counter growing antisemitism, the idea was noble but as the following years would sadly show a little too late...

Betsy Ross (1917)

A film about Betsy Ross (Alice Brady) who was the woman who made the first American flag.

This is a charming though not exactly enthralling little period piece about her life from strict religious upbringing to chasing after a British officer (Frank Mayo). However before she can marry him her beau is struck down in a duel with her sister Carissa's (Lillian Cook) husband.

Later she is commissioned to create the flag by Washington (George MacQuarrie) but there is some trouble with her brother-in-law but everything ends up well in the end and they all go home happily for tea. The film is a bit light if we're going to be honest, but improves as time goes on. It all looks pretty lovely.

Capone (1975)

Well as you can imagine a biopic of Al Capone and the Chicago gangster scene in the 1920s is not for the faint hearted, indeed this film can best be described as violence and more violence. Capone is played by Ben Gazzara and we don't see much at all of his early life but rather how he gets involved with Johnny Torrio (Harry Guardino) then a trusted lieutenant of the Italian mafia boss in Chicago.

Capone helped Johnny take over the mob and then assists Johnny in making it big during the Prohibition years. Eventually amid open warfare with rival gangs Al Capone has Johnny (nearly) killed and takes over the mob himself. The story of the film is never trust your lieutenant as he will take over from you in the end, as happens to Capone himself when he is betrayed by Frank Nitti (Sylvester Stallone) and he ends up in Alcatraz...

Well the film is pretty low-budget and it shows at times but it is undeniably thrilling. If only we could see a bit more about Capone's early life and his motivations. That might mean cutting out some of action scenes of course. It is a biopic though not very accurate, a true depiction of Capone's life would probably require a series of films to be honest but this can give you a taste.

Silkwood (1983)

Silkwood is a biographical film about the nuclear industry whistle blower Karen Silkwood, starring Meryl Streep in the title role. Silkwood is working at a nuclear plant and becomes involves in the union and an activist when she starts to get suspicious about safety at the plant and witnesses the brutal de-contamination of a colleague.

Ultimately Silkwood dies in mysterious cirumstances, firstly she is somehow contaminated with plutonium, her life thrown upside down and then dies in a road accident - the implication however being that it wasn't an accident. Though considering how much her body was being contaminated with plutonium she was sadly probably doomed anyway.

Supported by Kurt Russell and Cher this is a hard hitting and often harrowing film. One of the scariest films you'll see, with savage de-comtamination scenes, the ability of "Them" to destroy a person and the ever present and invisible menace of plutonium hanging over everyone. The courage of Silkwood in the face of such adversity and against the power of big business and the government will also humble you.