This website — Based on a True Story? — is brilliant.
It’s a scene-by-scene breakdown of Hollywood movies that purport to be based upon a true story, using the following criteria:
True
True-ish
False
False-ish
Movies on the website include “Hidden Figures,” “The Big Short,” “The Social Network,” and many more.
This website represents an enormous effort by a serious cinophile for what appears to be little fanfare or economic outcome.
I can’t even find the creator’s name.
I so admire people who do work that they love, even though they might never be recognized or compensated nearly enough for it. I would love every artist and creator to make a fortune off their work if it’s good, but sometimes just knowing the thing exists in the world is enough, as difficult as that may be.
Too often this is the case. Artists like Van Gogh and Poe are never recognized in their lifetimes and must be satisfied that their work exists.
Heartbreaking but sadly common.
I salute those people. I honor those creators who continue to create in the absence of fanfare or riches.
They are to be admired and loved.
I’d also love to see this “Based on a true Story?” format applied to real people, too.
People like Donald Trump, George Santos, Bernie Madoff, Lance Armstrong, and many more.
Serial confabulists who somehow convinced vast swaths of humanity to believe their self-serving lies and ego-driven falsehoods.
