“Citizen Kane”, 1941
Director: Orson Welles
This classic film by Orson Welles tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper magnate whose insatiable quest for power leads to his ultimate downfall.
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, William Alland, Paul Stewart;
Production year: 1941;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Citizen Kane” on the website imdb.com
“The Godfather”, 1972
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this iconic crime film delves into the life of the Corleone family and their patriarch Vito, exploring themes of power within the family business and the criminal underworld.
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Richard S. Castellano, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Al Lettieri, Sterling Hayden;
Production year: 1972;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 175 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9,2;
More information about the film “The Godfather” on the website imdb.com
“Scarface”, 1983
Director: Brian De Palma
Al Pacino stars in this rags-to-riches story of Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant in Miami who climbs the ranks of a drug cartel to become its powerful leader only to be consumed by his own greed and paranoia.
Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Ángel Salazar;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama, crime, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 170 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Scarface” on the website imdb.com
“House of Cards”, 2013
Director: James Foley, Robin Wright, John David Coles, Alik Sakharov
Although not a film, this critically acclaimed Netflix series features Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, a ruthless politician who manipulates his way to the top of American politics.
Starring: Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Kevin Spacey, Derek Cecil, Jayne Atkinson, Mahershala Ali, Paul Sparks, Neve Campbell, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 8,6;
More information about the film “House of Cards” on the website imdb.com
“The Wolf of Wall Street”, 2013
Director: Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese's film, based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, showcases the immense power of wealth and excess on Wall Street in the 1990s.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, P.J. Byrne, Jon Bernthal, Cristin Milioti, Jean Dujardin, Matthew McConaughey;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, crime, biography, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 180 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Selma”, 2014
Director: Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay's historical drama centers on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of peaceful protest in the face of systemic racism.
Starring: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Lorraine Toussaint, Common, Giovanni Ribisi, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr.;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Selma” on the website imdb.com
“Lincoln”, 2012
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, the film focuses on President Abraham Lincoln's use of power and political maneuvering to abolish slavery and end the Civil War.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 150 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Lincoln” on the website imdb.com
“There Will Be Blood”, 2007
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson's film follows the tale of Daniel Plainview, an oil tycoon whose relentless pursuit of wealth and power leads to his moral and emotional bankruptcy.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds, Dillon Freasier, Russell Harvard, Sydney McCallister, Colleen Foy, David Willis, Martin Stringer;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 158 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “There Will Be Blood” on the website imdb.com
“The Social Network”, 2010
Director: David Fincher
David Fincher's film about the founding of Facebook and the subsequent legal battles, examines the impact of power and influence in the digital age, as well as the complexities of friendship and business.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Rashida Jones, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Bryan Barter, Joseph Mazzello;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Social Network” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a diverse look at the many facets of power and the profound ways it can manifest and affect the human experience.
In conclusion, films about power captivate audiences with their intricate explorations of authority, control, and ambition across various landscapes, whether political, financial, or supernatural. They serve as a mirror, reflecting society's perennial struggle with power dynamics and the human condition’s complexities when confronted with authority. Through compelling narratives, complex characters, and thought-provoking dilemmas, these films offer us a window into the multifaceted nature of power, its impact on human relationships, and the potential for both corruption and redemption. As cinema continues to evolve, the fascination with power remains undiminished, ensuring that this genre will continue to engage, challenge, and inspire audiences for generations to come.
