Though not every movie-goer is obsessed with Victorian Period pieces, there are many historical films that the everyday movie lover can enjoy. Many films based on real life events have been making a splash, with movies such as Dunkirk, the Post, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri all being nominated for best picture at the 2018 Academy Awards. Two movies based on true stories that stand out are The Imitation Game, which tells the forgotten story of mathematician Alan Turing, and I, Tonya, which sheds light on the untold side of the story from figure skater Tonya Harding.

 Though I, Tonya was released amongst a swell of controversy, many saying that the Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding, was simply refusing to leave the limelight, it has brought in a whopping $21.6 million in the box office since its initial release on December 8 of last year. The movie is based on a series of interviews with Tonya, her ex-husband, her mother, and her husband’s best friend and accomplice Shaun. The interviews all give an inside look into Tonya’s life and skating career all leading to the night Tonya’s rival, Nancy Kerrigan, is attacked. However, the whole movie is not set around or simply leading to this one moment. The movie shows Tonya’s upbringing, her beginnings as a skater, the obstacles she faced as she was not the “typical figure skater,” and the moment she became the first female skater to land a triple axel. The film is also lined with the ongoing storyline of Tonya’s husband being abusive towards her, which is what really makes this film more than just a movie about a figure skater. More so, the movie is about the downfalls of fame and ambition and how you can only run from your demons for so long. This is shown brilliantly through conflicting narratives from the interviews that break up the action of the film. Senior Maddie Simmons said, “I thought that overall, the movie reflected life in that there are different sides to every story.” I, Tonya is nominated for Leading Actress and Supporting Actress at the Oscars this year.

 In one of Benedict Cumberbatch’s greatest works thus far, the Imitation Game is truly a standout historical film. The movie has a quiet intensity that is mixed with humor and outstanding character development. These are the factors that leave you on the edge of your seat and overwhelmed by the end. Following one of the most brilliant mathematicians of all time, Alan Turing is brought onto a top secret project to try and break the German code, which changes every single day, during World War II. Throughout the movie, Turing faces constant friction with his colleagues and unanticipated best friend as he does everything in his power to break the code, all while hiding the secret that would leave his work forgotten and unrecognized in his time. The beauty of The Imitation Game is its subtle commentary on current issues without that aspect overpowering the plot and action of the movie. You can find The Imitation Game on Netflix.

 So, whether you are looking for a tell all into one of the most significant events of the 90’s or are looking to uncover the great German enigma, go check out these two phenomenal films!