9 Movies All About Masculinity

Movies are a great way to voice a view to people in an entertaining way. They get some interesting tidbits of philosophy and do not feel like they are being preached to. Well, normally that’s how it goes, some shows that have come out here recently have been nothing but a preach-it fest. That’s beside the point. Movies like books have many powerful points that they make thanks to the situations that are presented. So today I wanted to share 9 movies that exemplify the power of masculinity in men. They show men in sometimes extraordinary circumstances, while others show men in normal circumstances and how men often behave.

Sadly there are many more movies out in the early 2020s that show men acting in a poor light. They are often unhinged or the bad guy. while the hero is now often portrayed by a woman. Yet in reality that is often not the case. Where can you find good movies that show men being real men? Here are 9 movies that do just that.

Gran Torino

Now I could almost put any Clint Eastwood film into this spot but one that has a special message about the strength of a man, The role of a Man and redemption comes in the package of the 2008 film directed and started by Clint Eastwood. Now the character Walt Kolowski is your typical Vietnam vet. Cranky and set in his ways. His prize possession is his 1972 Gran Torino. He still lives in the same neighborhood even though the quality of the neighborhood is going downhill.

The big event that happens is when Walt catches a neighbor kid trying to steal his car. This is when Walt starts down the path of mentoring this young boy who is being influenced by a gang member. This is where Walt starts to make the choice to open himself up so that he is able to help a boy with potential. The show Express how men open up and share their lives with other men. How boys need older more experienced men to show them how to navigate the world. It’s not a man versus woman type of learning but a this is masculinity type of mentoring.

The story shows how an old war hero who is bitter at the world becomes a better man when he allows himself to mentor younger men. The overall takeaway of Gran Torino is that boys need the input and influence of masculine men so that they are able to become noble men too.

Second-hand lions

Now one of my favorite movies about masculinity is second-hand lions. This shows how men pour their masculinity into other men. They share stories that seem far-fetched and impossible yet in the end, they show where their truth is. We men live for stories. We share stories as a means to share with each other.

Men don’t take things personally as evidenced by the punks that showed up and Hub had to show these young boys that they aren’t nearly as awesome as they thought. Hub and Grath took the young men in and showed them what masculinity is by taking care of them. There were no grudges given they showed the young men respect after they learned to respect.

While Walter was a timid frail boy by the end he was standing tall and seeing that adventures run in men’s souls. If we don’t have those grand adventures we become bitter and old. Yeah, Young men the old grey grumpy guy may appear scary but they are just waiting for the next adventure.

Band of brothers

No matter where you go Men need other men around them. Nothing says this as much as Band of Brothers the miniseries on HBO. It is set against the backdrop of World War 2. This is the story of the men of Easy Company and shows that when you are in the company of other men ordinary men are capable of doing incredible feats. The Men of the 506th Infantry Regiment Not only jumped behind enemy lines on D-day

Yet each man has their own faults There were disagreements about who was going to lead the regiment. There was drama and emotions as any other man may face. These incredible men aren’t superheroes by any stretch. They were ordinary men who did their part to stop a war. Yet because these men were together at all times and so how could you not have a great team come from this?

Legends of the Fall

This is a movie that I used to make fun of because it was about a family that lived out in the wilderness, by the end of the movie everybody dies including the bear. (Spoilers!) Yet after I became more interested in the aspects of masculinity I rewatched this movie and saw it in a completely different light.

The movie revolves around 6 men. There is William Ludlow, the dad. There is Alfred Ludlow the Oldest boy. Tristian Ludlow the middle boy. Samuel Ludlow is the Youngest boy. There is also One Stab, the Indian hand, Roscoe was the hired hand with a shady past. The story revolves around this group of men and how they support each other.

Yet each man in this group represents a part of men. There is William Ludlow is looked at as the ideal man. Rugged holds on to his ideals with an iron grip. Yet he does see a reason to let go at times. Alfred is a man who bends to society’s demands and becomes civil. He is popular and goes very far in society. Samuel represents innocence and purity. Bill can be seen as a dangerous man or what a man is capable of, yet Bill could also be shown as redemption. One Stab is traditions, and Triston is the wild man who lives his life on his terms.

Now Tristian is the center of the movie. From a young age, he has been about the adventure and he is always going on one. He is seen as the wild man in the army, especially after Samuel is killed. He leaves his wife behind and sails the open seas. He finds that he is the “wild man” as he hunts rhinoceroses and other big game in Africa. He deals in the dangerous trade of bootlegging and ends up getting his second wife killed. He relentlessly lives on his terms and has the most fulfilling life because of it. Tristan is masculinity. It is hard and scary and uncomfortable but when men live in it they find themselves.

Each man plays a part in the family. You have to be a little civil. Don’t toe the line lest you lose a part of yourself when you become too civil. Samuel is killed by the world so to be completely innocent is to the detriment of a man. While Tristan Lives in accordance with who he is. He doesn’t actually question it. He does what he feels needs to be done and because of that, he is the most loved of the group.

If you haven’t seen this movie yet then find it. I believe it is on Netflix if not it can be rented on Amazon.

Dead poets society

This is a classic Robin Williams film that poses the thought of doing what society wants you to do or do you live your life to the fullest. It starts off with the setting of the theme of Robert Herrick’s poem To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.

Many men take that whole Carpe Deim message and that is a message we need to take to heart. As mentioned many times in this post men need adventure. The disgruntled bitter old man you know is because that man doesn’t have adventures. We need to be trying something scary and something that goes against our nature from time to time. If you are a welder what would it be like if you did audition for the part in a play?

Our time is limited and if we just float through life we will find ourselves missing all the interesting parts of life. I often talk about how I wanted to take my kids camping and it didn’t happen til after the kids left the house. I didn’t seize the day. We will have regrets throughout life if we don’t try. What is the worst that can happen? You get an OK story out of it. If it becomes a disaster you get a great story out of it.

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage rage against the saying of the light. Pay attention when you watch this movie again and see how you can live your life to the fullest and what would you do if you lived it on your terms.

Dances with wolves

Now this movie holds a very special place for me. The first is that my granddad also known as Papa took me and the other boys in my family out to see this movie. My Papa is the man who gave to me the love I have for American Indians. He loved their art and culture. Each year when they had it We would go to see the Kwadi Indian dancers and love every minute of it. So this movie is special to me but also special because it shows the relations men have with each other. These relationships are important for every man no matter what culture you are from.

Dances with Wolves shows how two groups of men can actually come together and learn from each other even when they don’t share the same language. Men also explain why something can’t or won’t be done in a certain way. Much like when John Dunbar can’t go battle with the warriors and that is because he hasn’t proven himself to them, yet.

The film does a great job of showing the beauty of the Sioux Indians and though at times it would appear to an outsider as though they are being harsh they are also very caring for each member. Even when they may not be born into the community. You see how women are always talking to each other. They do not go and isolate. They disagree watch each other and are OK with those disagreements. The leader has his say and the warriors have their say. Funny enough the family unit is always taken care of.

Men watch how the men in the tribe interact with each other they show how masculinity is important to have for the group to survive.

Lonesome Dove

One of the most important elements a man needs to have in his life is the need for a friend. The more friends you have the better but you always need to have at least one friend who knows you deeply. This is no more evident than in the Lonesome Dove Miniseries. Our two main characters in this film are Woodrow Call and Agustus McCray. They have been together through the thick and thin of life. These two Texas Rangers have done all that they can they fought Indians and Banditoes alike. Still, they are together. Woodrow May gripe about Gus’ whorin’ but there is a bond that is stronger than force around them. THey do what they need to do.

These men get other men together and they take off to Montana to claim some land as their own. See a frontier that they haven’t witnessed before. The journey forces the men to face their pasts and see the future.

Honor

These two men had each other’s back. There were times that they may not like each other but they knew that they were friends and the deepest of friends possible. This is where the honor came into play. Their sense of honor didn’t have any grey area when Jake Spoon was caught with some horse thieves they didn’t want to do what they had to but they were bound by their honor to rectify the wrongs performed and hung Jake. Masculinity isn’t about how men should act it is about how men do act. The masculine man will bear the weight of the world if it is for their friends.

Be a man of your word

They also kept their words to each other. This even meant that after arriving to their destination returning to where they began to fulfill a vow they made. Even when the world questioned the act itself. Men keep their word to their friends.

The Lord of the Rings

Masculinity for men is greatest when you have a fellowship of men together. A perfect example of this is both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Both of these Hobbits found that they were greater because of the company they kept. In the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, you see how Frodo Samwise Pip, and Merry all are together but also have to go on their own quests and adventures. The only two who stay together through the whole thing are Sam and Frodo.

You also see how Each man helps the other man find their masculine energy. They tap into it and fight orcs and trolls and even contribute to the downfall of Sauron. They wouldn’t have been able to do that without the help of each other man elf dwarf and hobbit contributing their masculinity to the group. Even Boromir, who falters, is still able to get his masculine redemption at the end. Men hold each other up and help each other go further. This is a point that many men miss in today’s society. They need the connection and friendship that they get from other men to feel complete.

Braveheart

Have you ever wondered what would happen to men if they lived by their convictions and allowed themselves to just be men? Braveheart is that show. It shows how men as a whole crave to be free. They also seek out the softness of women. You also see that men are always together. They do not often stray off by themselves. Men are not islands but they are the land.

Wallace lived his life on his terms. He died on his terms. He had a purpose that he embraced and Owned, and because of that, he drew other men who also were seeking freedom. Men naturally are leaders. Yeah, there are bad leaders. Much like Long Shanks but also Prince Edward was also a weak leader. He couldn’t make decisions he left that to his lover. Yet men with convictions in their hearts keep the battle going even after they fall. A man living his life on his terms inspires other men to take up the cause.