When a movie is based on true events or is promoted with the tagline “based on a true story”, it gets more attention than other movies. Some may simply add the true story tagline with their movies in order to get a reach even though, they are not based on any true events of real life events. There are also chances with the ‘based on a true story’ tagline movies to add fake characters and situations just to keep the viewers captivated. Let’s have a look at 2 ‘based on a true story’ tagline movies that actually lied.
Fargo
Fargo is directed by Joel Coen and was released in the year 1996. The star cast of the movie includes Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, and Harve Presnell. Fargo tells the story of car salesman hiring two criminals to kidnap his wife so that he could get a ransom from his rich father-in-law and a series of roadside homicide follows.
The movie starts with the text – “THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.” But something really contradictory was shown during the end credits and the text read – “The persons and events portrayed in the production are fictitious. No similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is intended or should be inferred.” After 20 years of the release of the film, in 2016, director Joel Coen revealed a truth. He said that only two main events in the film were based on true events and the rest were imaginary and made up. There were no murders and kidnapping as shown in the movie.
Argo
Argo is directed by Ben Affleck and was released in the year 2012. The star cast of the movie includes Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. Argo received overwhelming response both from the critics and audience. The movie is based on the Iran Hostage Crisis and the rescue of American citizens from Tehran, Iran. The movie has won 3 Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing) out of 7 nominations.
But some of the events shown in the movie were not true and was later criticized. The Canadian embassy played a vital role in the rescue operation, but their participation was shown with less importance. Former US President Jimmy Carter said: “My judgment is that 90% of the credit for the heroic and brilliant move should have been with the Canadians, and the movie ignores practically any contribution by the Canadians.” The movie also exaggerated some of the events to make it look more dangerous which were contradictory to the actual events.
