Real Life Stories Inspire Reel Life Tales

Hard-hitting themes including addiction, racism and depression abound

Beautiful Boy written by: Luke Davis, Felix van Groeningen

Based on the memoirs by father and son David Sheff and Nic Sheff, the filmic adaptation brings to vivid and harrowing life the saga of drug addiction and its devastating impact on a family. Davis, who earned an Oscar nom for penning “Lion,” and van Groeningen, whose 2012 film “The Broken Circle Breakdown” was shortlisted for foreign- language Oscar, envelope “Beautiful Boy” with poignancy, depth and, ultimately, hope.

Black Panther written by: Joe Robert Cole, Ryan Coogler

This rollicking script based on a comic book checks all the right boxes by setting up a complex mythology about a technologically advanced African kingdom with amazing efficiency. It quickly delves into an entertaining fantasy filled with strong characters, from witty warrior women to a surprising relatable villain. It avoids preachiness while delivering a powerful message.

Blackkklansman Written by: Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott

Rooted in real- life interviews with African- American Colorado cop Ron Stallworth, the screenplay for “Blackkklansman,” which earned Lee the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, is expertly adapted for the Hollywood screen, successfully translating the craziest parts of a true story into a cohesive film complete with well- written characters and engaging points of conflict.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? written by: Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty

This filmic adaptation of Lee Israel, the bestselling celebrity biographer who turned to forgery of renowned writers’ letters after her career fell to pieces, is wickedly funny, cleverly wrought and rife with brilliantly sharp literary references. The material also propels star Melissa Mccarthy, who plays Israel as an artist extracting joy from the act of forgery, toward even greater heights.

First Man written by: Nicole Perlman, Josh Singer

Singer is said to have spent four years researching the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong before co- writing the screenplay, giving him license to get a little maudlin about the number of losses Armstrong suffered through, including the death of his young daughter, Karen, and fellow pilots who tragically died in training for the moon mission.