Top 10 Movies for the 4th of July – Star-Spangled Cinema
This list is exactly what it says it is – the Top 10 Movies to Watch on the 4th of July! I picked some of these purely for their entertainment value while the rest speak directly to the guiding principles of this country (or what those principles should be). If you disagree or have a list of your own, let me know. And have a Happy 4th of July!
10. National Treasure
Ok, this isn’t great cinema, but it’s a fun movie and fun is what the 4th of July is all about. Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates (how’s that for patriotism?), a treasure hunter in search of an ancient treasure hidden by the founding fathers. The chase leads him from one historical monument to the next in search of clues, one of which requires him to steal the Declaration of Independence (Don’t worry. It’s only to save it from evil.). What better way to enjoy the 4th than a trip through American History Lane (historical accuracies notwithstanding)?
9. The Sandlot
There’s nothing more American than baseball, and this movie has plenty to of it. We follow a group of boys and their love of baseball through one summer they will never forget. Smalls steals a baseball belonging to his stepdad signed by Babe Ruth and loses it behind the fence at the back of the sandlot, the home of the child-eating Beast. We watch as they try to retrieve the ball with everything from erector sets to a vacuum cleaner suction system. But in the end it comes down to man versus beast. Oh, to be a kid again.
8. Apollo 13
Only a few countries have space programs and none but America has set foot on the moon. Sadly, neither did the crew of the Apollo 13 mission. This movie brings the reality of America’s space race back to life. Tom Hanks stars as Jim Lovell, captain of the Apollo, as he fights for his and his crew’s survival after their mission has taken a turn for the worse. While we may not be visiting the moon anytime soon, this movie is a reminder of the heroism of those willing to risk their lives in pursuit of knowledge.
7. 1776
Who says history has to be boring? This Broadway musical comedy transferred to the big screen brings some big laughs from the likes of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin as they try to convince Thomas Jefferson to pen the Declaration of Independence. Much of the dialogue and song lyrics were taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the signers of the Declaration. So brush up on your American history while watching the founding fathers dance and sing in this 1972 classic.
6. Saving Private Ryan
Bringing the reality and brutality of war to the big screen, Steven Spielberg gives us a glimpse at what the true cost of freedom looks like. Word has reached Army headquarters that three brothers have all been killed in battle and one brother remains. They send out a squad led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) to rescue the last brother, Private Ryan (Matt Damon). The film delves into the seriousness of war and the effects it has on those that fight in them. It is a stunning visual reminder of those that paid the price for our freedom.
5. All the President’s Men
It might seem unpatriotic to watch a movie about an American President’s downfall, but the movie is a perfect illustration of the importance that the founders placed on freedom of the press. The movie centers on Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they uncover the White House’s deep involvement in the Watergate scandal. Their investigation and articles were instrumental in bringing on the resignation of President Nixon. The movie has everything you need in a great thriller – conspiracy, cover-ups, and Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck stars as Atticus Finch in this tale of prejudice and injustice in the American south in our not-so-distant past. Finch is a lawyer called upon to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. The townspeople are horrified that Atticus would represent the man, but Finch holds true to his principles and sees the trial through to the end. His two children, Scout and Jem, see their father take a stand against prejudice, and in the end, they have the chance to do the same. America has come a long way, but Scout’s words still ring true today: “You never know someone until you step inside their skin and walk around a little.”
3. Born on the Fourth of July
This Oliver Stone movie stars Tom Cruise as Ron Kovic, an extremely patriotic kid that enlists in the Vietnam War. Kovic returns home paralyzed from the waist down due to a gunshot wound only to find that America has turned its back on its soldiers. He becomes depressed and an alcoholic. Eventually he is able to turn his life around and returns in full-force as an anti-war activist. Based on a true story and featuring Cruise’s best work, this movie will make you rethink your politics as well as the meaning of patriotism.
2. The Grapes of Wrath
Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) returns home from a prison sentence to find his family has been forced to move westward. The next day he joins them on their migration to California with thousands of other Okies in search of work and a new life. What they find when they arrive is hardly a life worth living. The movie chronicles Tom’s turn from a sharecropper’s son to a union organizer. John Ford’s great American film will break your heart and inspire you all at once. Ma Joad’s final words are a reminder to us all, “We’re the people!”
1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Jimmy Stewart as a rookie Senator makes you want to hug the Constitution. Stewart plays newly appointed Senator Jefferson Smith thrust into Washington with wide-eyed naivety. His love for America and the principles it was founded on is incredibly infectious. But Smith quickly finds that not every Senator shares those principles. Corruption is thick and Smith soon finds himself wrapped up in a scandal of his own. His fight to save his name – and the Senate – leads to one of the most inspiring moments in film. Frank Capra’s classic film only grows more relevant with time.
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