If you’re looking for some inspiration during the holidays, here’s a list of five uplifting and inspiring movies (some new ones and old ones) that might do the trick:
- The Holiday – Two successful women living on separate continents seek a respite from their failed relationships by exchanging homes for the holidays. Iris (Kate Winslett) in England and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) in Los Angeles find encounters they hadn’t imagined as they end up spending the holidays with new beaus, Miles (Jack Black) and Graham (Jude Law).
- The Pursuit of Happyness – Chris Gardner (Will Smith) works as a salesman, struggling to support his girlfriend and son. Gardner tries to make a change in his life, accepting an offer for a stockbroker internship program. The only problem, though, is the internship offers no pay and only one of the interns will be hired. Despite being broke and desperately needing money, Gardner accepts the challenge. Based on a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness is one movie you must see.
- Julie & Julia – Julie Powell, a young, aspiring writer, decides to prepare the 524 recipes from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking (co-authored with Simon Beck and Louisette Bertholle) in one year and blog about the experience. But the movie, based on the lives of both women, has a double plot, while telling Powell’s (Amy Adams) story to become a published writer, it also chronicles Child’s (Meryl Streep) struggle to earn a diploma at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and ultimately publish a cookbook.
- The Fabulous Baker Boys – The Baker brothers, Frank (Beau Bridges) and Jack (Jeff Bridges), work as musicians, playing pianos at nightclubs. After performing together for years, the Bakers start to lose jobs since their act has become dull. To change, they hire a singer, Susie (Michelle Pfeiffer), and with the change, the Bakers appear destined for success. Eventually, sibling rivalry and personal conflicts nearly destroy the three. Despite volatile disruptions, The Fabulous Baker Boys shows people can break through self-imposed limitations and pursue their passions.
- Catch & Release – A woman named Gray (Jennifer Garner) has to readjust to life now that her fiancé has died. As Gray begins to start anew, she learns troubling and confusing information about the man she planned to marry, but with the help of friends, she gains so much more in the end.