Real lives hit the screen in SBS VICELAND's biography movie season

Tune into SBS VICELAND on Sunday nights this August, for four biopics, including a tribute to Miles Davis. Plus, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe.

Miles Ahead, Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle in 'Miles Ahead'. Source: Distributor

Selena

Sunday 7 August at 9.20 pm

No catch up at SBS On Demand
Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos in Selena
Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos in 'Selena' Source: Distributor
M
USA, 1997
Genre: Biography/Drama
Language: English
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Jackie Guerra
Director: Gregory Nava
What's it about?
A break-out role for J.Lo, in Selena she depicts the real-life Texas-born singer Selena Quintanilla Perezm who found fame performing in the male-dominated Tejano style of music. From her childhood, the film takes us to her enormous fame as a Mexican-American star, and follows her life lived large until it was tragically cut short at the age of 23.  

Miles Ahead

Sunday 14 August at 9.20 pm

No catch up at SBS On Demand
Don Cheadle Ewan McGregor Miles Ahead
Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor in 'Miles Ahead'. Source: Sony Pictures Classics
M
USA, 2015
Genre: Biography/Drama
Language: English
Stars: Don Cheadle, Ewan McGregor, Emayatzy Corinealdi
Director: Don Cheadle
What's it about?
Don Cheadle co-wrote (with Steven Baigelman), directs and stars as Miles Davis in this loving and raw tribute to the remarkably talented and successful Black musician. "If you're gonna tell a story, come with some attitude, man," said the trumpeter. Cheadle has taken this advice on board for his honest depiction in a hugely entertaining ride. Ewan McGregor plays Rolling Stone journalist Dave Braden, who shadows Davis.

White Boy Rick

Sunday 21 August at 9.20pm

Available at SBS On Demand for 14 days after it airs.
White Boy Rick, Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughey
Richie Merritt and Matthew McConaughey in 'White Boy Rick'. Source: Distributor
MA
USA, 2018
Genre: Biography/Drama
Language: English
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry
Director: Yann Demange
What's it about?
Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt play real-life father and son, Richard and Rick Wershe. In impoverished 1980s Detroit, 'White Boy Rick' at only 14 years old became an FBI informant to save his dad from prison. To improve his cover, the FBI encouraged him to start dealing drugs – he was eventually arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to life in prison. British director Yann Demange met with Wershe in prison, and brought his humour to the film, conveyed to great effect by McConaughey and Merritt. You might recognise Brian Tyree Henry as Detective Jackson, from TV series . Tyree Henry also appears in new movie Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt.

Dallas Buyers Club

Sunday 28 August at 9.20 pm

Available at SBS On Demand for 28 days after it airs.
Dallas Buyers Club
Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey in 'Dallas Buyers Club'. Source: SBS On Demand
MA15+
USA, 2013
Genre: Biography/Drama
Language: English
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
What's it about?
Still in the 1980s with Matthew McConaughey, this time we're in Dallas where McConaughey plays cowboy and general good-time man, Ron Woodroof. After being diagnosed with AIDS, Woodroof smuggles medication, unapproved by the FDA, from Mexico into Texas for those who need it. Jam-packed with award-winning performances (McConaughey and Leto won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscars respectively), this film is a must-watch if you've yet to see it.

Plus, we remember Marilyn Monroe

To mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe this month, SBS VICELAND also screened The Prince And The Showgirl on Wednesday 3 August. It is now streaming at SBS On Demand:
Across the wider SBS network, you can also dive into three documentaries on the Hollywood icon, streaming now at SBS On Demand.

Marilyn: Her Final Secret

Death Of An Icon: Marilyn Monroe

Becoming Marilyn






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3 min read
Published 1 August 2022 1:57pm
Updated 10 August 2022 11:48am
By SBS Movies
Source: SBS

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