Motivational Cinema – My Top 5 Most Inspirational Movies
Over the last couple weeks I have been sharing different motivational concepts that have helped me develop into the person I am today. My goal is to share this knowledge that has been passed on to me, to the MvM readers, with hopes that it may help and motivate you to find that happy life that we are all in search of. I have picked up the majority of these concepts from some amazing world wide inspirational leaders such as, Jack Canfield, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Lee J. Colan and Mark Twain to name a few. I recommend putting these names into Google and learn as much as you can from them.
Learning from those individuals is one method of motivation I have used in the past, but as some of us don’t like to read, or maybe too lazy sometimes, I have also gathered a great deal of inspiration from some Hollywood blockbusters. Yes, it’s possible to be inspired by Nicholas Cage.
I can admit that I’m not a big reader myself (hence why I tell stories with photos), so I have decided to make this post very visual with movie clips.
Below I have listed my top 5 most inspirational movies for me. These are movies that their message has managed to stick with me and help mould me into a better person. As I said, these are films that have stuck with me and I am sure there are many more out there. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to watch them.
These are in no particular order and some of you might think “well that’s such an obvious pick’. Well of course it is. That’s how strong the movie is and it did its job.
THE FAMILY MAN
A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife.
Jack Campbell, played by Nicholas Cage, is at the top of the business world. All the money he needs, all the women he wants, the penthouse suite and not a care in the world. One day he comes across a name. The name of his girlfriend in college that he almost married. He wonders what would have been if he said ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’. Jack gets a glimpse of what his life would be like if he didn’t take the road less travelled. (SPOILER ALERT)(BUT OBVIOUS SPOILER ALERT) I apologize if you haven’t seen this film, but as he leaves this glimpse and gets back into his current life, he realizes that with all the power and money he had, he was never happy.
This movie is a border-line love story but the simple message that everyone should take from this….. is that money doesn’t but happiness. After experiencing a life he could of had, he realized how important friends and family are. Some of you reading this might not have a lot of money, might even be broke, but look around you. Ferraris and penthouse suites are always something you can buy. They have a price tag associated with them. After watching this movie you’ll realize that the most important things in life are free.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My7Fb0cI1Gc
RUDY
Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.
Everyone knows Rudy. The story of the ‘5-foot nothing, 100 and nothing, and hardly a spec of athletic ability” individual who wants to play football for the University of Notre Dame. His build is made more for ….. ummm.. something that isn’t sports. But says who? This goes back to quote by Christie Todd Whitman – “Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room.”
Yes Rudy had a small build, but it was the size of his heart that kept him going. He had a dream and nothing was going to stand in his way to achieve it. Sure he had doubts in himself. We all do from time to time. But its how we handle those doubts that will show our true courage and character as a person.
I can relate with Rudy and maybe that’s why I enjoyed the movie as much as I did. I was never the biggest guy in the world, but although I never made it to professional hockey, I made it to a level most will never even see. I talk about this more in a previous post which you can read here: The Art of the Successful Failure. I share my story. I think it’s important never to give up. As long as you have a dream, then there’s always hope in getting there. Do whatever you have to do. Think of yourself as the 5-foot nothing person going against the world who is a 6-foot 6-inch, 300 pound obstacle. You may not be able to knock him down, but you can definitely come up with a way to get around him. Never stop trying and NEVER say “I can’t”.
The scene below is a strong message from the movie about “what ifs”. “What if I didn’t quit”. “What if I did something different”. I stress never to live your life this way. You will always get your shot, you just might not know its standing right in front of you.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27D4k3dCXPg
Actual footage of the real Rudy sacking the quarterback on the final play
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z950ovP7N4
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences.
In 2008 I watched a movie called Benjamin Button. This was a point in my life where I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do as a career or any sort of direction. I was 25 years old and constantly struggled with the idea that I was getting older and had nothing. All my friends were well into full time jobs and well on their way starting their adult lives. I had studied architecture in college but after graduating, wasn’t really interested in a career with it.
I feel like I am repeating myself a bit, but I talked about this idea in a previous article here: 2011: It’s never too late to start all over. Here’s your second chance. Before viewing this film, the idea of starting all over wasn’t something that I was really interested in doing. I wanted to be where the world and media tell me I’m supposed to be at this point in my life. But is that happiness? To some, maybe. But I knew I didn’t want to live in regret and in January of 2009, I started all over. This is the biggest message I took from this movie. It’s weird that, a movie that is 2 hours and 46 minutes long, the part that stuck with me the most was a 1-minute clip.
Watch the clip below and don’t be scared to start all over. Since starting over, I’ve been able to travel the world doing photography and doing what I love to do. There’s so much out there that I may have never experienced if I didn’t take that first step and have the strength to start all over.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g72M0tTvjKU
CLICK
A workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.
This movie is similar to The Family Man in the sense that its about an individual who is on a quest for money. Although the money is to provide his family a better life, he soon gets trapped in an excessive amount of work in hopes to bring in this money, but doesn’t realize that he already has an amazing life. He constantly complains how he has no time to finish things. He wants to bring in money but wants to spend time with his family. As he is having a hard time juggling the two, he is presented with a magic universal remote that can stop time or speed it up. Eventually he finds himself years and years ahead. He has all the money he needs, missed all the bad parts, and life seems good until he realizes he missed out on all the good things of life. The good AND bad.
Here’s the trailer for the movie if you haven’t seen it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=448jZuA5Y1I
What this movie motivated me to do… is to step back sometimes and take a break from my work. The work will always be there but friends and family may not. Life is all about the good and bad times. The good times are amazing and the bad times teach us how to pull together and learn from our mistakes. If you know someone that is dying, well, take a couple hours each week to go and visit them. It will make them happy and more importantly, when they are gone, you won’t regret not visiting them and saying goodbye. Trust me, I’ve been there and you can’t take it back. Learn to appreciate all life has to offer.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSztNG-Vek0
Family First
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv7x9MOuyhM
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcZTtlGweQ
For those who think they are struggling in life, you should watch this movie. Based on a true story, Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, who had not only lost all his money in a poor investment choice, but lost his wife when times were tough. He was left with his son, and no money. There’s people out there that can take money away from you, can take your house, can take your car…. but there’s one thing nobody can take from you…… a dream.
Chris had a dream. His dream was to find happiness (or happyness as the movie spells it), all while raising a child. This movie makes me believe that anything is possible. From jail and living in the streets, to wealth and CEO of Gardner Rich & Co. His determination to reach his goal is like no other. He wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way.
This movie really inspired me to keep on going. As bad as I think I have it sometimes, there are others out there struggling way more than me. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT for what you want. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t because you can.
Again, the one thing that NOBODY can take from you, is a dream.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEGSiX0JA-s
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
This is what the reward for hard work looks like
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsYl63dAZHA
We all need to be inspired from time to time and it doesn’t matter where you get it from. We all have different ways in which we learn best. Don’t listen to people when they say that a book is more informative and better for you. No, its better for them! Motivation and Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes. Pick what works best for you and stick with it.
I tried to keep the text in this post short on purpose. I wanted to prove that visuals can sometimes provide all the inspiration you need.
All of these films have helped me in a little way. I would love to hear what movies have inspired you and any recommendations you could give me. Let me know in the comments.
Out of the movies I have mentioned, which one is your favorite?
Nice post Jay. I really like the movie The Green Mile. Really inspiring movie. You should check it out.
Thanks Dana. I’ve seen The Green Mile. Such a powerful movie.
pursuit if happiness best motivational movie, ever i see… it is the best. Everbody must have to watch