This is a guest post from Gary Foss from the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act website.
Most of us are never going to be extraordinarily wealthy. It’s that simple. Chances are we might save up a bit of money from time-to-time but we probably won’t be able to afford a Ferrari or a big ‘ol mansion. It’s even harder to accumulate large sums of money if you’re born into a family that is struggling to make ends meet.
It seems that striking rich in a Hollywood film is a lot easier and so here are the top 5 movies about poor people getting rich.
Scarface (1983)
This crime drama from director Brian De Palma features Al Pacino as Cuban immigrant Tony Montana. The story follows Montana’s rise from refugee to a leading member of Miami’s criminal underworld and then to his subsequent downfall.
If you want to make some big money in the real world you should invest in the company that prints Scarface posters. One in every five teenage boys has it on their wall.
Mr. Deeds (2002)
There aren’t many people that go to see an Adam Sandler movie expecting intellectual stimulation or spiritual enlightenment. They want a laugh and this remake of the 1936 comedy Mr. Deeds Goes to Town doesn’t disappoint.
Sandler plays Longfellow Deeds (in the 2002 version anyway). Deeds has inherited a fortune from an uncle that he never knew and he now finds himself at the head of a media empire. John Turturro and Steve Buscemi have supporting performances that didn’t give them a chance at any Oscars but certainly still gave us some chuckles.
Blow (2001)
What makes Blow different than other drug movies is director Ted Demme’s characters, and his ability to not write them off as addicted lowlifes. Instead Johnny Depp and crew are seen as recklessly successful, high-powered people searching desperately for the American dream.
The American dream isn’t always possible – even when you’ve established a toehold in the US cocaine market as Depp’s character George Jung does in the film. The movie is based on a true story. The real George Jung is in a prison cell in New York so that might be a lesson for any kids out there that want to be the next Jung or Tony Montana. Crime doesn’t pay for long.
Trading Places (1983)
Eddie Murphy has many scene stealing moments in Trading Places and Dan Aykroyd holds his own here too.
This film tells the story of a homeless street hustler (Murphy) and an upper class commodities broker (Aykroyd) whose lives cross paths when they unknowingly become part of an elaborate bet.
Time magazine’s Richard Schickel called Trading Places, “one of the most emotionally satisfying and morally gratifying comedies of recent times.”
It Could Happen to You (1994)
This is exactly the kind of overly sentimental film concept that should make us want to throw up in our mouth a little bit:
“A police officer (Nicholas Cage) promises to share his winning lottery ticket with a waitress (Bridget Fonda) in lieu of a tip.”
But guess what? It’s a great movie and there is something about the story of Charlie and Yvonne that could melt even the coldest – most cynical hearts. Forget the $4 million… this film is about love!