10. Good Will Hunting (1997)

OK, so Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a little rough around the edges, and has had a rough life. He's also a mathematics genius, and a voracious reader with a scary ability to memorize every bit of data he's exposed to. Despite all of these gifts, Will can't get close to anyone, having been scarred by abandonment issues during childhood. The Oscar-winning script by Damon and Ben Affleck doesn't do the final Good Will Hunting film justice, in that it still can't convey the quality acting which gets viewers every single time. With a winning supporting role by Robin Williams and a tender performance by Minnie Driver, audiences can slowly see their emotional defenses dropping bit by bit, until the very powerful climactic ending, making for a moving experience.

9. The Green Mile (1999)

Horror writer Stephen King has scared millions of readers over the decades with tales about otherworldly gunslingers, demonic clowns and psychotic fans but he's also produced some great works about the human condition and the ineffable nature of good. There's Stand By Me, Misery, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, an incredibly moving tale of a death row inmate of the 1930s who inadvertently teaches the guards a thing or two about innocence. Michael Clarke Duncan gives the performance of a lifetime as John Coffey, a larger-than-life inmate with healing powers. The interaction of this character with the guards (Tom Hanks, David Morse, Barry Pepper and Jeff DeMunn) over the course of the three-hour-plus running time is unforgettable in its ability to touch each viewer, even if they've read the book and know how it ends.

8. La Vita é Bella (Life is Beautiful) (1997)

Italian funnyman Roberto Benigni dazzles us with his tour de force, letting the world laugh at his story while still remaining aware of the Holocaust-era setting. As Guido Orefice, an Italian Jew waiter dreaming of opening a bookstore, Benigni amazes as a man who refuses to let the hardships of Nazi internment stop him from allowing his young son Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini) to believe it is all a game for points. The power of the story is Benigni's ability to convey the nightmarish conditions of this period, while still managing a memorable love story and tale about family unity. A brilliant winner of Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1997, Life is Beautiful is a must for fans of both sad and funny films alike.

7.  The Power of One (1992)

Based on the novel by South African-born author Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One follows the life story of a boy named P.K. whose life growing up during Apartheid helps audiences learn about the hardships of the time, with the young protagonist as a link to the African prisoners who befriend him as he grows to adulthood. Following the boy into maturity (by which time he is played brilliantly by Stephen Dorff) leads viewers to engage themselves emotionally into the friendships he gains and loses, as he sees everyone who ever gave him notice either disappear or die by the hands of others. A very touching film and not an easy one to watch. Look for worthwhile performances by Morgan Freeman (as Geel Piet the boxing coach) and Armin Muller-Stahl as Doc.

6. Cry Freedom (1987)

Sir Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom ably tells the tale of Apartheid-era South African activist Steven Biko (played by Denzel Washington, displaying early surefire signs of his great acting talent), who was beaten to death by authorities while in custody in the 1970s. This film is both a testament to the man's life as well as a showcase of talent from Washington and Kevin Kline as English editor Donald Woods. A very difficult film to watch, it is nevertheless an educational experience in understanding the intolerance which gripped South Africa for almost half a century.

    5. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The interesting aspect of this very faithful filmed version of The Passion (i.e. the trials of Jesus as per the New Testament) is its ability to convey a moving story regardless of the viewer's religious beliefs. Jim Caviezel portrays the titular character with humility and conviction, as he goes through trial and torture until his untimely demise. Director Mel Gibson doesn't spare viewers from the more gruesome aspects of the age-old tale (the Crucifixion scene is especially difficult to watch), which adds to the realism of the film. Also, it's intriguing having the entire film produced in the old Aramaic language, now dead but dating back 2,000 years. For believers it is a reaffirmation of their most treasured story. For casual viewers it's a biographical excursion into the life of a man who defied description and lived as an example to his fellow men.


 4. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

An unforgiving story of right and wrong in small-town Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird stands as a powerful testament to the unshakeable notions of integrity and justice. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, Best Actor Oscar for this role) is a lawyer asked to defend a black man accused of rape while fighting the racial intolerance snaking through his hometown. Though the odds are clearly against him, Finch isn't afraid to speak his mind or stand up for his own beliefs, impressing similar values onto his children Jem and Scout. This set of positive values serves as an example for the audience as they witness the kids interact with a town pariah, Boo Radley (a young Robert Duvall, a full decade before The Godfather). If there was ever a film to teach kids about the value of honesty and integrity, To Kill a Mockingbird is it, though some of the film's themes may be a bit too dark for pre-teens.

3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

A marvelous film which allowed Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher to flex their acting muscles, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is an ode to rebelliousness and believing in one's rights in the face of adversity. The adversity, in this case, is the inflexible Nurse Ratched (Fletcher), who rules a mental institution with an iron fist. The rebel is Randall McMurphy (Nicholson), a repeat offender who decides to fake his way through mental illness in order to avoid real jail time. Though this harebrained scheme seems effective at first, the audience can't help but take side with McMurphy as he confronts Nurse Ratched to a climatic collision by film's end. A touching film about a man whose view of those around him changes gradually, making him question his own values. Look for poignant moments between Nicholson and Will Sampson, who plays Chief.
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Stephen King's other story (aside from The Green Mile, also on this list at #9), about retaining one's convictions in the face of adversity. Shawshank follows the life of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a successful banker sentenced to life imprisonment for murders he didn't commit. Resigned to a limited existence within the confines of Shawshank State Penitentiary, Dufresne manages to avoid injury best he can, while at the same time befriending fellow lifers as they try to forge a living under the watchful eye of the warden (Bob Gunton) and his sadistic chief of the guards (Clancy Brown). Dufresne's refusal to bow to the corrupted ways of his captors makes for an inspiring tale, one which transcends the film's setting. Morgan Freeman does his best work here as Andy's friend Red, as they both try to find reasons to go on each day.

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Arguably the most famous Christmas staple on television, It's a Wonderful Life never ceases to amaze in terms of teaching viewers young and old about how it's always vital to cherish what one has rather than despair what one doesn't. The tale of George Bailey, who gets to sample what life would have been like had he never existed, makes him yearn to regain what he was about to throw away as he attempts suicide. The intervention of a guardian angel named Clarence makes Jimmy Stewart's George re-examine his life and find new value in the love he brings his family. A timeless classic certain to touch the souls of all who see it.