Best Movies About Writers

From Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, starring Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur
Rated R

The Lives of Others is set in East Berlin in 1984, five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The film follows the life of Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler, a loyal servant of the state and the Stasi, who is assigned the task of monitoring the activities of playwright Georg Dreyman and his actress girlfriend Christa-Maria Sieland. Wiesler soon realizes that the couple is innocent and begins to sympathize with them. As he is drawn into their lives, Wiesler’s view of the state and the totalitarian regime begins to change, leading him to make a difficult moral decision. The Lives of Others explores the themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the power of human connection.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a 1980 horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film follows Jack Torrance, a writer, and his family as they move into the isolated and haunted Overlook Hotel to serve as the winter caretaker. As Jack slowly descends into madness, the hotel's supernatural forces wreak havoc on the family and those around them. With Jack's sanity in question, his wife Wendy and son Danny must find a way to escape the hotel before it's too late.

From Theodoros Angelopoulos, starring Bruno Ganz, Isabelle Renauld, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Ahilleas Skevis
Rated Unrated

Eternity and a Day is a 1998 Greek drama directed by Theodoros Angelopoulos. It tells the story of Alexandre, a middle-aged poet, who is diagnosed with terminal illness. He decides to spend his last day taking a solitary journey to revisit his past and make peace with himself and the world. Along the way, he meets a young Albanian refugee who is trying to find his way to Italy, and Alexandre takes him under his wing, teaching him about the beauty of life. Through this bond and the events that transpire on his journey, Alexandre finds a newfound appreciation for life and death. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Greek film to ever win the prestigious award.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a 1990 psychological horror film directed by Rob Reiner and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The movie stars James Caan as a successful novelist who is kidnapped and held captive by his number one fan, played by Kathy Bates. Bates' character, Annie Wilkes, is a mentally unstable nurse who secludes him in a remote cabin and forces him to write a novel she liked. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Annie has a psychotic obsession that will make it difficult for him to escape. The film follows his struggle to survive as Annie inflicts her own twisted sense of justice on him. The film was a critical and commercial success and Kathy Bates won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

From Paolo Sorrentino, starring Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, Carlo Buccirosso
Rated Not Rated

The Great Beauty is an Italian drama written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino in 2013. It tells the story of Jep Gambardella, an aging Roman writer, who has been living a hedonistic lifestyle since his best-selling novel was released decades ago. After attending the lavish 65th birthday party for a wealthy friend, Jep decides to take a look back at his life and the choices he's made. He travels around Rome, meets a variety of characters, and reflects on the life he has led. As he searches for new experiences and a sense of purpose, he discovers beauty in the ruins of Rome and in the mundane moments of everyday life. The Great Beauty is an exploration of the joys and sorrows of life, and of finding beauty in unexpected places.

From Woody Allen, starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Kurt Fuller
Rated PG-13

Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy-fantasy film directed by Woody Allen. It stars Owen Wilson as Gil, a successful but dissatisfied Hollywood screenwriter who travels to Paris with his fiancée and her family. Once in the city, Gil discovers he can travel back in time to the golden age of 1920s Paris. He meets and befriends some of the most famous writers, artists, and musicians of the era, including Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso. Ultimately, Gil discovers that living in the past is no substitute for living in the present and he returns to the present day, a changed man.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner
Rated R

Barton Fink (1991) is a black comedy-drama film directed by the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. It stars John Turturro as Barton Fink, a playwright who has just moved to Hollywood to write a wrestling picture. Despite his initial success, Barton soon finds himself mired in spiritual, moral and artistic struggles, his hotel room become a living hell of voices and visions. With the help of his neighbor, Charlie Meadows (John Goodman), Barton soon discovers that he is the pawn of a mysterious and sinister force, and he ultimately finds himself embroiled in a conflict between life and death. The film also stars John Mahoney, Judy Davis, and Michael Lerner, and features a number of references to classic films.

From Dan Ireland, starring Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Zoë Tapper, Robert Lang
Rated Not Rated

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont follows the story of Mrs. Palfrey, an elderly widow who moves into the Claremont Hotel in London, a shabby boarding house with a diverse and eccentric collection of residents. When her grandson fails to visit as promised, Mrs. Palfrey strikes up a friendship with a young writer, Desmond, who she first meets in the hotel lobby. The two help each other navigate the ups and downs of life in the city and eventually form a bond that transcends their age difference. Along the way, Mrs. Palfrey discovers a surprising secret from her past, and Desmond finds the courage to pursue his dreams. Ultimately, Mrs. Palfrey and Desmond learn to appreciate the importance of friendship and family, and the power of hope and resilience.

From Robert Altman, starring Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg
Rated R

The Player is a satirical black comedy film written and directed by Robert Altman. It follows Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), a Hollywood studio executive who is receiving menacing postcards from a writer whose pitch he rejected. Griffin must find the writer and deal with the consequences of his decisions. As he navigates the twists and turns of Hollywood, Griffin has to contend with a wide array of Hollywood players and power players, including an ambitious producer (Peter Gallagher) and a police detective (Whoopi Goldberg). The film is an exploration of the ruthless and often absurd nature of Hollywood, and its exploration of power dynamics and the film industry has earned it acclaim as a modern classic.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell, John Nolan
Rated R

Following is a 1998 neo-noir film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows a young, struggling writer in London who begins to follow strangers around the city in an attempt to find inspiration for his writing. As he follows more people, his curiosity leads him down a dark path as he discovers the many secrets of the strangers he follows. Along the way he learns more about himself and what it means to be a writer. The film features a non-linear narrative in which the protagonist's story is pieced together through flashbacks, flash-forwards, and other narrative techniques. Ultimately, the film examines the nature of identity, discovering how it is shaped by the events of one's life, and the choices we make.

From Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Rated R

Sideways follows two old college friends, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), who take a week-long road trip to the Santa Ynez Valley wine country in California. Miles, a divorced, depressed, and unsuccessful writer, hopes to give Jack one last epic bachelor party before his wedding. Along the way, the two make several stops to sample the local wines and confront their personal issues. Miles meets a waitress, Maya (Virginia Madsen), and the two quickly become entranced with each other. Meanwhile, Jack's focus on wine, women, and wild living helps him to avoid thinking about his upcoming marriage. Throughout the trip, Miles and Jack's friendship is tested as they confront their own issues, as well as their complicated past.

From Jane Campion, starring Kerry Fox, Alexia Keogh, Karen Fergusson, Iris Churn
Rated R

An Angel at My Table is a biographical drama film directed by Jane Campion. The film follows the story of Janet Frame, a New Zealand writer who is misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and is institutionalized for eight years. From childhood to adulthood, the movie chronicles Janet's struggles with her mental health, her battle to gain back her autonomy and identity, and the pursuit of her dream to become a respected and successful writer. Through her journey of self-discovery, she finds her own strength and the courage to embrace her uniqueness. Throughout the film, she faces many tribulations, but ultimately she is able to find solace in the beauty of life and nature and the love of her family. The film is a touching and inspiring exploration of the human spirit and its ability to overcome hardship.

From Hirokazu Koreeda, starring Hiroshi Abe, Yôko Maki, Satomi Kobayashi, Lily Franky
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini, starring Paul Giamatti, Shari Springer Berman, Harvey Pekar, Chris Ambrose
Rated R

From Directors: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard, starring Nick Cave, Susie Bick, Warren Ellis, Darian Leader
Rated Not Rated

From Jay Roach, starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Louis C.K.
Rated R

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stephanie Roth Haberle
Rated R

From Joachim Trier, starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Espen Klouman Høiner, Viktoria Winge, Odd-Magnus Williamson
Rated R

From Noah Baumbach, starring Owen Kline, Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg
Rated R

From Gus Van Sant, starring Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin
Rated PG-13

From Bennett Miller, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clifton Collins Jr., Catherine Keener, Allie Mickelson
Rated R

From Abbas Kiarostami, starring Juliette Binoche, William Shimell, Jean-Claude Carrière, Agathe Natanson
Rated Not Rated

From Josh Boone, starring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff
Rated R

From Curtis Hanson, starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr.
Rated R

From Roman Polanski, starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Jon Bernthal
Rated PG-13