Based On a True Story?
Every once in awhile, I see a movie trailer claiming that the film advertised is “based on a true story.” I feel both intrigued and highly skeptical. We’ve all gone to movies that are “based on the novel by…” and walked away saying “That was NOTHING like the book!” So how am I to know if this movie which is supposed to be “based on a true story” holds close to the actual facts of the story or takes huge artistic license in an attempt to create a block buster hit?
I propose that Hollywood use a scale system to inform viewers of exactly how much a movie adheres to the original details of the story. One to ten, my favorite scaling system, with “1″ being ”nothing important matches” and “10″ being “every detail is a match.” There would be qualifications for each grade level. I imagine very few, if any, films would score a “10,” due to the incredible cost and difficulty of replicating everything perfectly. Many would fall around a “4″ or “5,” but I also imagine that many films would be hard pressed to score more than a “1.”
“Yes, indeed, there once was a war in Europe. The scenes you will see bear little resemblance to that war.” ONE!
“Also, there was a nurse who served the men in combat in that war…and her name actually was Sarah.” Okay, TWO!
“But she wasn’t actually French and in truth, she died before she ever reached the front lines…but she would have been so helpful if she had!” Hey, you’re back to being a ONE!
Wouldn’t this system be helpful? I would go see movies with much more confidence, knowing exactly what I’m getting….a fiction resembling a true story or a non-fiction dramatized for my entertainment.
Dad said,
April 2, 2009 at 10:41 am
Ya sur…you betcha, I know wat yur talkin bout der fer sure.
I donno how may miles I spent der watchin and watchin dat roadside when I was a drivin tru nort dakota eh. I was a lookin fer dat money dat dat der fella hid when he was a on his way back to da cabin and his friend wid da wood chipper eh.
An I know dat I wasnt da only one too eh. …Dat der japonese woman…Yoko sumptin…wel she done got self kilt out der lookin for dat same money as I was but in a snow storm eh.
Din dey upin tell us dat dat der movie wernt really made from a no true story eh. Dint dat make me feel lika yokel eh. Din I got to tinkin dat mebe dey was jus not wantin all dem japanese out der lookin for da money an dat movie mite be ona tru story affer all. I dunno eh.
So I tink dat der Fargo movie would git a great big 0 on yur ratin scale der eh. Yessir, you betcha dats what I tink. A great big 0.