Two years into the 20s has overflown our senses of nostalgia and familiarity with the comfort of revisiting people from the past. 

Biographical films are to thank for this. 

Renowned personalities such as Maurizio Gucci, once head of Gucci House, Elvis Presley, “King of Rock and Roll,” and Malcolm X, the powerful activist, exhibit a wide variety of whom the film industry covers.

Elvis the 2022 film has become a personal favorite of mine.

Maximalist film director, Baz Lurhmann, delivered the movie Elvis through the great theatrics of Elvis’ fraudulent manager Colonel Tom Parker. Lurhmann’s aesthetics satisfies the eye and the cinematography illustrates the small-town singer that becomes a big-shot celebrity and loses sight of themself. 

The film genre of Biographical flicks – abbreviated as Biopics – originated with the purpose to produce knowledge regarding a past historical figure. 

George Armstrong Custer, a past United States officer, had multiple biopics about himself in the earlier years of film. 

Some of Custer’s films such as Custer’s Last Fight, The Plainsman, and Santa Fe Trail were ridiculed for embellishing and romanticizing his life. 

Which is a common pattern seen in Biopics today. 

Studios that produce these types of movies will attempt for accuracy, but Biopics’ ability to be one hundred percent is not possible. 

Filmmakers admit that it’s often challenging to capture an entertaining narrative while fitting important dates, details, and significant people into the minimum

of a two-hour runtime. 

Warner Bros. Pictures and Lurhmann produced a two-hour and thirty-nine-minute film, but it has been revealed that Lurhmann has a 4-hour director’s cut of Elvis.

Certain directors do take the risk of glossing over information and steering from critical topics. 

At times the risks transpire to high criticism. 

The film Bohemian Rhapsody, based on the rock band Queen, vocalizes the British legends Freddie Mercury and his band members Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor to stardom. 

Critics’ and viewers’ first impressions were highly mixed.  

Dallastown history teacher, Mrs. McKenzie, recently watched the movie for the first time. 

“I watched Bohemian Rhapsody for the first time last week and was so amazed that I had to watch it a second time. I loved it because it showed self-discovery, acceptance, forgiveness, and had awesome music,” says McKenzie. 

From my perspective, Bohemian Rhapsody did an excellent character study of Freddie Mercury and his bandmates.

It captured all the qualities that are required and simultaneously is an entertaining story.

When indulging yourself in this genre, utter fascination with the protagonist can be experienced.

After watching any Biopic, in my personal experience, I become quite immersed in the person.

I often find myself googling anything and everything about the individual.

Biographical films’ uprising continues to ascend.

Newer generations, such as ours, did not grow up with figures like Elvis Presley or Freddie Mercury, or the countless past individuals who impacted life.

But these retellings of the past are for the purpose to revive life back into them.

The publication of celebrities’ problems entangled into a movie reminds society that these individuals experienced hardships as well.

“Knowing someone you admire has human flaws makes your own easier to accept,” says Dallastown English teacher Mrs. Yuniger. 

Biographical films simply will not diminish, the world feeds into nostalgia and comfort of the past.

So with a personal thank you to Biopics, this genre will leave an everlasting bang on the film industry.