I love biographical films. They're about real people who did something that deserves to be made into a movie. Whether it's an ordinary person doing extraordinary things or someone with a true talent for making a lasting impact on the world, I find inspiration in these types of films. They remind us of what is possible. The films remind us that we don't always know the impact we can have on others.

Of course, most of us will never get to see a movie about our own lives. With that in mind, we can at least escape to stories of people who have done amazing things that could be made into movies. I have selected some of the most inspiring biographical films I have ever seen.

Today's generation may have forgotten the famous Charlie Chaplin, but his impact resonates in films and comedies far beyond his lifetime. In “Chaplin” (1992), Robert Downey Jr. takes on the role of the iconic actor and recreates famous scenes in which Chaplin uses bread rolls and forks as feet and legs, or waddles around with an unforgettable cane.

The film goes beyond the familiar scenes in Chaplin films to also depict his upbringing, eventual involvement in the McCarthy era, and personal relationships. Not only do we learn more about Charlie Chaplin's life, but in a way, we also learn more about Downey. He showed the depth of his talent with this film, which absolutely earned him an Oscar nomination in 1993 (Al Pacino had won that year for “Scent of a Woman” and was a tough competitor).

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The biopic “Ray” is on my list of favorite Jamie Foxx films after “Collateral”. He plays Ray Charles, an iconic musician who was blind as a young man, yet brought some of the greatest music to the world. Foxx perfectly captures the man behind the music, from the way he moves his body to the way he speaks to the way he charms women to the way he plays his music (interestingly, Jamie Foxx really plays the piano in this film).

No wonder Foxx won an Oscar for his role as Ray. One of my favorite scenes is when Charles comes up with “What'd I Say,” one of those memorable movie moments that I love watching back on YouTube.

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There is so much I love about this movie. I love Sean Astin as “Rudy” Ruettiger. He puts everything into this role, portraying a man whose life goal is to get into Notre Dame and play on the football team. It may not seem like a big deal, but Rudy doesn't look like a typical athlete. That's what makes the film so beautiful and why it's so special to me to see Astin play this character with so much heart.

Not only that, but I love the wisdom that Charles S. Dutton shares. He plays Fortune (a fitting name for him), a man who reaches out to Rudy before the university accepts him as a student. Toward the end of the film, when Rudy is feeling defeated, he imparts his most symbolic wisdom. All of this, combined with the beautiful music, makes this one of my favorite films of all time.

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I am a fan of Julia Roberts and loved watching her play Erin Brockovich. She is a struggling woman herself and certainly not a wealthy lawyer. Still, when she sees something illegal happening, she doesn't let it slide.

Roberts accurately portrays Brockovich's dedication to her cause (she also won an Oscar). She uses humor, sarcasm, and a certain physical asset (ahem) to get her way. Albert Finney is excellent as Brockovich's boss, Ed Masry. Also, note the waitress serving Julia Roberts and her children at the beginning of the film. That is the real Erin Brokovich herself.

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“Stand and Deliver” is one of the most underrated and underrated biopics ever made. Edward James Olmos plays Jaime Escalante, a math teacher assigned to teach at a high school in inner-city Los Angeles. All of Escalante's students come from rough backgrounds, and the odds are stacked against Escalante. Instead of seeing this as an impossible task, Escalante encourages his students, leads his class to improve their math skills, and even challenges them to take the AP Calculus exam.

What I love about the film is how much Escalante believes in his students. He does not believe that a student's upbringing determines that student's intelligence or ability to succeed. Everyone should have at least one teacher like this in their lifetime.

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