A Hero's Death Trivia Quiz

Answer: Braveheart

"Braveheart" was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson, who also starred as William Wallace. Historian and author Peter Traquair mentioned two of the most glaring historical inaccuracies in this film: the warriors were painted with woad (1000 years too late) while wearing tartan kilts (500 years too early).

Answer: Saving Private Ryan

Many theatres warned WW2 veterans before showings of "Saving Private Ryan", and some did leave after seeing the very graphic and realistic opening scene of the D-Day invasion. Hero Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) leads a squad that isn't convinced that the life of one man that they don't know is worth any of their lives. In the end, the mission is completed, but at a terrible cost.

Answer: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Benjamin Button was born with the age and ailments of an 84-year-old man and got younger during his life, dying as an infant. The tagline is a variant of a quote by the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard: "It is quite true what philosophy says; that life must be understood backwards.

But then one forgets the other principle: that it must be lived forwards." I'm not sure that this movie illustrates that principle, but the tagline is somewhat descriptive of the plot, at least.

Answer: Philadelphia

"Philadelphia" was the first movie to star both powerhouse actors Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. An interesting credit for the movie reads "This motion picture was inspired in part by Geoffrey Bowers' AIDS discrimination lawsuit, the courage and love of the Angius family and the struggles of the many others who, along with their loved ones, have experienced discrimination because of AIDS."

Answer: Leaving Las Vegas

In "Leaving Las Vegas", Nicholas Cage plays an alcoholic that moves to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. While there, he takes up with a prostitute played by Elisabeth Shue. The movie "Eating Las Vegas" has a similar story about suicide by overeating. The film was also mentioned in the documentary "Super Size Me".

Answer: Cool Hand Luke

"Cool Hand Luke" firmly established Paul Newman as a top actor of the period. "Time" magazine included the movie in its "Top 10 Sweatiest Movies" list in 2011. Who can forget the memorable line, "What we've got here is failure to communicate"?

Answer: Scarface

"Scarface" was nominated for three Golden Globes, but won none. Director Brian De Palma submitted a first cut of the movie to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), who promptly rated it "X". After two further editing sessions, the MPAA still insisted on an "X" rating.

They changed their minds to an "R" rating only after De Palma appealed and brought in Drug Enforcement Agents who testified that the movie was realistic and that the public should see it. Unbeknownst to the MPAA, De Palma released to theatres the first version he submitted.

Answer: American Beauty

The title "American Beauty" is the name of a breed of rose that is particularly appealing in appearance, but which is prone to rot in the branches and roots. This seems a good metaphor for the perfect suburban life of the Burnham family, until the rot is revealed.

Answer: Spartacus

The historical Spartacus was indeed a Thracian slave that was trained as a gladiator, then escaped to fight Rome in the Third Servile War of 73-71 BCE. In the 1960 movie, Kirk Douglas played a Spartacus that was crucified with most of his followers. The more recent TV series also ends in the hero's death, but as a free man.

Answer: Reservoir Dogs

Typical for Quentin Tarantino movies, "Reservoir Dogs" was quirky and bloody. Of the group of unacquainted thieves that band together for a diamond heist, only "Mr. Pink" seems to survive. You have to pay close attention to the sounds and dialog that happen off-camera after he leaves your view following the final bloodbath.