# Why are "based on a true story" movies so arbitrarily fictionalized? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522 "2015-06-03T12:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/81 "2015-06-09T20:31:19Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Then perhaps they should just make a movie based on pure fiction with something to say, rather than pretending to make a movie about something or someone that it isn’t? I agree. Why didn’t they just make a movie about code breaker “Alex Schmeering” and leave it at that? The factual errors in _The Imitation Game_ were absolutely horrendous. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/82 "2015-06-09T20:47:16Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Except the movie didn’t give you a general idea of who he was. It portrayed Turing as an aspergery dork who didn’t understand hu-mons emotions, who had to fight wrongheaded idiots to win the war. > > But in real life, he got on great with people, despite having some quirky quirks. In real life he was part of a team that was given enormous support, he was liked are respected and supported by his superiors. In real life Bletchley Park wasn’t five guys in a shed, it was thousands of people whose work was considered vital to the war. In real life his work wasn’t burned at the end of the war, because in real life it turns out the British government was still interested in cryptography after the war. In real life Turing was never blackmailed by a Russian spy, which if it were true would make the prohibition on homosexuals getting security clearances sensible, since all you’d have to do is threaten to expose their homosexuality and they’d cravenly betray their country. > > The problem I have with the movie isn’t that it gets certain details wrong. The problem is that it gets Turing completely wrong. It doesn’t give you a picture of a real person, it creates a fictional character nothing like the real Turing. This is because screenwriters use the same tropes in stories based on real life as they do original story. I haven’t seen Imitation Game, but it sounds like he’s a classic [Insufferable Genius](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InsufferableGenius) who you see in a lot of movies and TV shows. Imitation Game is actually listed on this page. Now why this trope exists is another thing, it’s a strange trope to me, but it seems fairly common. It’s hard to think of any movies or TV shows, whether based on real people or not, that show genius people in accurate ways. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/83 "2015-06-09T21:13:27Z")
It’s a losing battle, folks. From the Jurassic Park thread: > [@Jurassic World looks dumb (New Trailer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jurassic-world-looks-dumb-new-trailer/705622/43): > > Who cares? It’s fiction. > I go to movies to be entertained, not to study or learn about history. > > I’ve loved my fair share of “popcorn” movies. No plot? Flimsy reasoning? Totally incorrect information? Hell, as long as it has lots of special effects, CGI and maybe some explosions, I’ll probably like it. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/84 "2015-06-09T21:43:44Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Then perhaps they should just make a movie based on pure fiction with something to say, rather than pretending to make a movie about something or someone that it isn’t? > > And why is it that reality, ie “a thing that happened” can’t be any good? But why should they _have_ to? What difference does it make if they take liberty? Everyone with half a brain knows that a dramatization of true events is not an accurate depiction. People know that because life doesn’t follow the narative structure of a movie. Which is why, in a _large_ majority of cases, “this a thing that happened” makes for a very shitty movie. The Imitation Game was the story of a genius who served his country in war, but was still persecuted and vicariously murdered by the very society he saved. That was its message, that was its point, and I think it got that point across very well. I found it well acted, and engaging. I liked it a lot. If you couldn’t tell. There are movies that are pure depictions of events - documentaries, generally - and even those hand pick and engineer moments to make a point. In art, the message is more important than the reality. Imagine if all paintings were done in the style of realism. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/85 "2015-06-10T18:54:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > _Sharknado_ was a great movie, in a horrible movie kind of way. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Or is it the other way around? 😃 Sharknado was a touching story of how thousands of poor Chondrichthyes were ripped from their home by a natural disaster and struggled to stay alive in a world that was strange to them but full of stupid creatures made of tasty meat. But it is not based on a true story. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/86 "2015-06-10T18:56:26Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It’s a losing battle, folks. From the Jurassic Park thread: He’s talking about a \*\*Jurassic park \*\*film, _something which in no way purports to be “based on a true story”_. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/87 "2015-06-10T19:22:32Z")
Sorry, we can’t greenlight _Albert Einstein, Atomic Warrior_ until you include a part for Jaden Smith. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/88 "2015-06-10T19:50:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He’s talking about a \*\*Jurassic park \*\*film, _something which in no way purports to be “based on a true story”_. :rolleyes: “I go to movies to be entertained, not to study or learn about history.” I knew someone would nitpick. Typical SD. Never lets me down. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/89 "2015-06-10T20:13:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > “I go to movies to be entertained, not to study or learn about history.” > > I knew someone would nitpick. Typical SD. Never lets me down. You took his totally reasonable post completely out of context. "Who cares? It’s fiction. " So he knows it isn’t a “based on a true story” film or a documentary. “I go to movies to be entertained…” And what’s so wrong with choosing only entertaining films? Life is too fucking serious at times to be always doom and gloom. Why the fuck _not_ choose one venue where you want lighthearted 100% entertainment? I totally agree. **I go to movies to be entertained**. If I want serious, there’s work or the news or … ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/90 "2015-06-10T20:13:57Z")
For American Hustle I think they stated at the start “some of this really happened” , it was based on the ABSCAM events . ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/91 "2015-06-10T20:17:47Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Sharknado was a touching story of how thousands of poor Chondrichthyes were ripped from their home by a natural disaster and struggled to stay alive in a world that was strange to them but full of stupid creatures made of tasty meat. > > But it is not based on a true story. Sharks have eaten people in real life – close enough! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/92 "2015-06-10T21:11:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You took his totally reasonable post completely out of context. > > "Who cares? It’s fiction. " So he knows it isn’t a “based on a true story” film or a documentary. > > “I go to movies to be entertained…” And what’s so wrong with choosing only entertaining films? Life is too fucking serious at times to be always doom and gloom. Why the fuck _not_ choose one venue where you want lighthearted 100% entertainment? I totally agree. **I go to movies to be entertained**. If I want serious, there’s work or the news or … Out of context? I quoted it in its entirety. You want context? OK let’s put his post in context. here is the post IT quoted for his reply: > [@Jurassic World looks dumb (New Trailer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jurassic-world-looks-dumb-new-trailer/705622/8): > > And it’s factually inaccurate in a pretty big way. If I made a movie about, say, the Crimean War, and I had the British riding zebras into battle, “it’s not a documentary” would not be a valid excuse. And his reply: > [@Jurassic World looks dumb (New Trailer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jurassic-world-looks-dumb-new-trailer/705622/43): > > Who cares? It’s fiction. > I go to movies to be entertained, not to study or learn about history. > > I’ve loved my fair share of “popcorn” movies. No plot? Flimsy reasoning? Totally incorrect information? Hell, as long as it has lots of special effects, CGI and maybe some explosions, I’ll probably like it. He’s not talking about Jurassic World, but about a movie with zebras in the Crimean war. One preferably made with CGI and explosions. He’s _denouncing_ historical accuracy. That’s what this thread is about! This is a thread about fictionalization in historically based movies. Oh, you think you’re special because you “go to movies to be entertained”? What the fuck do you think the rest of us go to them for? The air conditioning? We just want to be entertained with movies that don’t insult us. See the OP of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/93 "2015-06-10T21:15:29Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > But why should they _have_ to? What difference does it make if they take liberty? Everyone with half a brain knows that a dramatization of true events is not an accurate depiction. People know that because life doesn’t follow the narative structure of a movie. Which is why, in a _large_ majority of cases, “this a thing that happened” makes for a very shitty movie. > > The Imitation Game was the story of a genius who served his country in war, but was still persecuted and vicariously murdered by the very society he saved. That was its message, that was its point, and I think it got that point across very well. I found it well acted, and engaging. I liked it a lot. If you couldn’t tell. > > There are movies that are pure depictions of events - documentaries, generally - and even those hand pick and engineer moments to make a point. In art, the message is more important than the reality. Imagine if all paintings were done in the style of realism. I don’t think that movies or other fiction should _have_ to stick strictly to reality. I’m a huge movie buff, watch tons of TV and read more than the average person; I want good stories to be made, whether based on reality or not. But you can’t just say that of course people know that the story is fictionalized and people should watch a documentary or read a book if they want to know the real truth. Memory isn’t perfect, and people often have [misattribution of memory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misattribution_of_memory). For some knowledge it is easy to remember the source, like if you think about Hitler being shot up in a theater that’s burning down, it’s easy to remember that was in Inglourious Basterds and not an actual historical event. But if you’re thinking about Turing being blackmailed by a Russian spy, you might remember believe it was true, because you remember it from a documentary you watched or from something you read about him, when it was actually from The Imitation Game and was fictionalized. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/94 "2015-06-26T17:46:00Z")
Reviving this one. Last night I watched _Tombstone_ for the first time (yes, I have a bit of a film backlog…) After the movie, I read about the actual historical persons and events. The movie manages to get the majority of the details correct! Even little things I never knew really happened, things I would have thought were made up (Wyatt pistol whipping the guy before the fight, Wyatt charging Curly Bill’s hail of gunfire and not getting a scratch) are true. Yes, the movie condensed time, combined or omitted characters, changed their ages. But the core story was accurate. More accurate than any other telling of the events at the OK Corral. _Tombstone_ has to be considered very high on the list of historically-accurate movies. And they managed to make it a good, captivating, interesting and enjoyable movie to boot. It can be done. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522/95 "2015-06-26T23:36:08Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Reviving this one. > > Last night I watched _Tombstone_ for the first time (yes, I have a bit of a film backlog…) > > After the movie, I read about the actual historical persons and events. The movie manages to get the majority of the details correct! Even little things I never knew really happened, things I would have thought were made up (Wyatt pistol whipping the guy before the fight, Wyatt charging Curly Bill’s hail of gunfire and not getting a scratch) are true. > > Yes, the movie condensed time, combined or omitted characters, changed their ages. But the core story was accurate. More accurate than any other telling of the events at the OK Corral. _Tombstone_ has to be considered very high on the list of historically-accurate movies. And they managed to make it a good, captivating, interesting and enjoyable movie to boot. > > It can be done. Good to hear, Just Asking Questions! That’s my point of view exactly…I think it’s possible for a movie based on historical events to be reasonably accurate about the history and still tell a really crackling good story. Maybe there needs to be a “Dogme 95” type movement for historically-based movies… I have to admit, I don’t think I ever saw “Tombstone”-- I thought I did but then I realized I might be confusing it with “Wyatt Earp” which was about the same time. I remember Dennis Quaid in particular-- He did the “serious actor” thing where he lost a bunch of weight to portray the tubercular Doc Holliday, and his portrayal in general I believe got good reviews. I wonder how true to history that movie is. Might be a good idea for a Friday night double feature sometime 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-based-on-a-true-story-movies-so-arbitrarily-fictionalized/721522.md?page=4)