Arthouse director David Lynch broke into the mainstream with this nuanced, black-and-white biopic of John Merrick. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, THE ELEPHANT MAN blends formalist style with unique, art-film flourishes. Legendary actor John Hurt was nominated for an Oscar for his bold, empathetic performance as Merrick, a severely deformed man who braved a brutal existence in late-19th-century London. The film also stars Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft.