Biographical films

Tesla unfolds as a series of funny-sad vignettes from the life of Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor who has often been relegated to a historical footnote — as the younger, hipper rival to Thomas Edison.

British filmmaker Terence Davies turns his attention to the gifted New England poet in his new movie. Critic Justin Chang calls the film a "sharp, sensitive portrait" of a woman ahead of her time.

Streep is nominated for an Oscar for playing Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite who didn't let her imperfect voice stop her from becoming an opera singer. Originally broadcast Aug. 10, 2016.

A new biopic tells the story of Ray Kroc, who turned a single burger restaurant into a multi-billion dollar worldwide franchise. Critic David Edelstein says The Founder offers a dark dose of realism.

Screenwriter Oren Moverman talks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the film's depiction of the Beach Boy's troubled life. We'll also listen back to an interview Gross recorded with Wilson in 1988.

Spall had to "dig deep" to play the title role in Mr. Turner, which is now out on DVD. The 19th century painter was a "man of massive contradictions," he says. Originally broadcast Dec. 15, 2014.

The biopic of landscape painter J. M. W. Turner depicts a man whose mind is barely engaged by anything other than his work. He's a mystery, and his art is magically indefinite — just like the movie.