Inspired by true stories

I was sick yesterday, and when I’m sick I like to watch movies. I ended up on a “based on a true story” kick and watched three movies I found particularly inspirational: “The Finest Hours”, “Chasing Mavericks”, and “Flamin’ Hot”.

I find I really enjoy movies like this, and I really don’t mind how loosely or closely the film is based on factual events. They’re usually inspirational stories grounded in enough truth to be plausible. And that’s all I expect. Otherwise I’d watch a documentary (which I also enjoy).

Here’s what I like about each film. Keep in mind that I’m not too picky when it comes to movies.

The Finest Hours

“The Finest Hours” tells the story of a Coast Guard crew that performed one of the greatest small-boat rescues in history. It follows Bernie Webber, a member of the Coast Guard who leads the rescue crew, and the crew of a wrecked oil tanker struggling to keep half their ship afloat long enough to be rescued. I really enjoyed this movie for its portrayal of classic real-world heroism, as well as a feeling of brotherhood as all parties struggle for their lives and the lives of others.

There are some interesting scenes where you see how different people react to dire situations in different ways. Some let fear overtake them and abandon good judgement. But the ones that really make a difference are the ones that focus on the problem at hand and try to solve it. Stories like this are always inspiring as we hope we can be the cool-headed one in such situations.

Chasing Mavericks

Of the three movies I watched this one was my favorite. The plot may sound a little generic but the story is touching and hits a lot of powerful themes. Basically a teenaged boy convinces an older, more experienced surfer to train him to surf a legendary wave. It’s a story of family, self improvement, and love.

As I watched this boy ignore trivialities and distractions in order to improve himself and help his troubled mother, I felt inspired to improve my core self as well. The bonds he makes with the older surfer and his family are also touching. At the core of the film is overcoming one’s deepest fears so that they don’t hold you back in life. I’m not doing it justice, but it was a wonderful film.

Flamin’ Hot

This last movie had a much different tone than the others, in that it was hilarious and rambunctious. According to some reviews the story takes a lot of creative liberty but like I said above, I watched it be entertained, not educated.

That being said, this movie was a hilarious and rich love letter to Latino culture (at least it is from this white man’s perspective) and an inspiring story of hard work and determination. It also highlighted one of my favorite aspects of said culture, namely a strong emphasis on family. Richard’s interactions with his wife and children were rich and exemplary and I walked away with a gratitude for my own children and a desire to continue improving as a father.

So that’s how I spent my time on Saturday as I grappled with all the lovely symptoms of a stomach virus. I hope you can enjoy these films under better circumstances.