Cinderella Man
2005 | Rated PG-13directed by Ron Howard This movie, about 1930s prizefighter James Braddock, is packed with a lot of heart. Behind the realistic bouts and sports history is a loving family man willing to do whatever he can to provide for his wife and children, even if it means sacrificing his dreams and pride.
Erin Brockovich
2000 | Rated Rdirected by Steven Soderbergh Based on the true story of an unemployed mother of three who forced her way into a job as a legal clerk and built an anti-pollution case against a California utility company. Erin Brockovich has become a name for someone with tenacity and perseverance.
The Journey of Natty Gann
1985 | Rated PGdirected by Jeremy Kagan Disney’s family-friendly adventure demonstrates how tough the Great Depression was on kids, namely the teenage girl of the title who journeys across America to reunite with her father. Grounded by strong performances, including a young John Cusack, this gem serves as a fine introduction of a difficult subject to younger viewers.
Tootsie
1982 | Rated PGdirected by Sydney Pollack This light-hearted, quirky comedy stars Dustin Hoffman as an unemployed actor who pretends to be a woman for a full-time role in a soap opera. Beneath the hilarity is a sobering reminder that landing a job sometimes requires thinking outside the box, to say the least.
Up in the Air
2009 | Rated Rdirected by Jason Reitman George Clooney is stellar as a veteran hatchet man who has lost his ability to form meaningful relationships, living a life on the road. Ultimately this is a poignant drama about identity and what defines us. If we are nothing more than our occupation, what remains when that is gone?
Russ Breimeier, a freelance film critic who lives in Indianapolis, was unemployed for two years until recently landing a part-time job.
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