Ron Howard
Ron Howard has directed some of the most financially successful and critically acclaimed films of the past 10 years. His acclaimed films and blockbusters each have their own distinct formulas.
Ron Howard's Loose Grasp of 'True Stories'
While we've already pointed out the liberties that A Beautiful Mind and Frost / Nixon took with the truth, the historical boxing drama, Cinderella Man, is perhaps his greatest up-yours to historical accuracy. In the film, a down on his luck blue-collar boxer named James Braddock has to fight a terrifying heavyweight champion named Max Baer.
The movie is basically Rocky meets the Great Depression meets Rocky IV. There are of course a few key differences from the Rocky franchise, in addition to the Depression setting. For instance, Braddock is a down on his luck Irish city dweller, not a down on his luck Italian guy. And unlike in Rocky IV, his opponent unapologetically kills two people in the ring, not just one. Also, Cinderella Man probably isn't quite as historically accurate as Rocky IV.
Sure, Braddock fought Baer, and yes Baer killed a man in the ring. But he did it accidentally, and felt so bad about it that he spent the rest of his life donating the money he made fighting to the guy's widow and family.
In Cinderella Man, Howard makes Baer approximately as repetant as Jason Vorhees. Outside the ring, Howards version of Baer is basically a high school bully from an 80s movie with less emotional complexity, and worse hair. Sort of a dick move, since the guy was reportedly kind and charismatic, and spent his entire life trying to make amends for the accidents.
In fact, a tortured super star who spends the rest of his life trying to make up for his in-ring brutality might have been a more interesting character to make a movie about. But that would of course require subtlety, which isn't Mr. Howard's strong suit.
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I feel obligated to point out that, for the record, the way Howard portrayed Baer in his film is about the way he was portrayed in the media at the time. People simply want a villain, and while you could argue it's unfair to Baer and his descendants (as his descendants certainly have) I highly doubt he'd mind. He always said that boxing was a lot like professional wrestling; "part sport, mostly showmanship."
ReplyWhile I agree Ron Howard does take "based on" to an extreme he is hardly the only person to do so. I am not defending this I am just saying that it's not really fair to rake him over the coals for something that all of Hollywood is doing. Not only that but if we stopped watching these movies they'd probably stop making them.
ReplyAside from his creative liberties he is actually a technically brilliant director, plus you have to give him props for realizing that he was ugly but managing to keep his career.
Also does no one on cracked realize their are writers anymore? Yes directors have final say but the script doesn't always start with them.
He's Ron Howard; he can alter the goddamn script, or just choose not to do it.
Anyone else think it's kinda funny that Ron Howard's bald, yet Andy Griffith still has a full head of hair?
ReplyI agree with Purplestar. BASED is a great safety net. The same happened with the movie bios of Janis Joplin and Billie Holliday.
ReplyFunny, made me laugh a few times. I wish it was longer, though!
ReplyAgreed.
How could anyone think that the da vinci code and its sequel are "true stories"
Replywow, the movies aren't historically accurate. boohoo. the world's going to f*****g end. Who gives a shit. You guys are going to have a goddamn seizure if you watch Inglourious Basterds.
ReplyDid Inglourious Basterds tout itself as a "true story?"
Are you missing the point?
I think the key word is always "BASED" as in "based on a true story". Many people that don't (can't?) read the biographies that the movies are BASED on will believe everything they see in the movie version is absolute fact.
In the future, make a game of it...It's kind of a fun way to spot morons and suckers.
"also, Cinderella Man was not as historically accurate as Rocky IV"
ReplyLMAO!!!!
You have an infinite loop on "make revisions", add a counter on the yes option.
ReplyNo, he doesn't.
You simply go back to "make revisions" till the story has changed so much you can't honestly call it a true story anymore.
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ReplyI think anonmeter is absolutetly right, these movies do well despite the fact that Howard directs them. We should recognize all the credit goes to far more talented people as the director clearly has little to do on their movie other than shouting, "cut! lunch, back in 30"
ReplyRon Howard needs to start making the Arrested Development movie.
ReplyNo he needs to start making the Happy Days movie.
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Ron Howard had nothing to do with the writing of any of those movies. He simply directed the prewritten content. He also had nothing to do with makeup, costume or visual effects so the hairstyles had nothing to do with him. Furthermore, The Davinci Code and Angels and Demons were written as fiction. They reference true history, but are in no way supposed to be regarded as non-fiction. Come on writers, you're better than this.
Reply>> He also had nothing to do with makeup, costume or visual effects so the hairstyles had nothing to do with him.
What the hell do you think a director does? He has the last word on everything.
No they are not better than that. They lie on purpose. They have no regard for the truth. They just attack people who are liked better than them so they themselves can feel better. They are glorified insult comics, nothing more.
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Never was a big fan of Ron Howard. He always played the characters I just would have wanted to beat up all the time!
ReplyRT
www.privacy-center.de.tc
I disagree strongly that Cracked "hates" what they attack. I see Cracked writers often attacking things I love and I enjoy it wholeheartedly. I am assuming Cracked writers get the same enjoyment from making fun of what they love as I do reading about it.
ReplyThis could have passed for an article about Cinderella Man.
ReplyTranslation of kevinklaw:
Reply Hide All See All 7 RepliesWAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! Cracked made fun of the guy I fantasize about when I beat my meat! They can make fun of anything else but him! I want to suck his facial hair!
See kevinklaw, Cracked is an equal opportunity offender: everything and everyone is fair game. I wouldn't have it any other way. Since you seem to be one of those people who likes being offended, I highly recommend http://somethingawful.com. If that doesn't do it for you, try http://mostoffensivevideo.com. If that still doesn't work, let me know and I'll get to know you personally so I can find out what MOST offends you, and provide you with that. Have a s****y day!
Let's see... I give truthful reasons for my dislike of this crappy flow chart and you respond with a masturbation joke. Classy.
Also, Cracked is NOT an equal opportunity offender. They only attack certain things: Things that Pop Culture says are bad, things that they can attach dick references to, and things that are more popular than Cracked.
Also, they obviously hate good movies. Probably for their lack of dick jokes.
You want to know about me? I'm a high school senior who lives in a small town in rural Minnesota. I'm a Lutheran and a Liberal and will soon be attending college at the University of Minnesota at Morris, a college famous for spearheading alternative energy and liberal arts. I plan to major in Biology and eventually attend medical school. You have enough to offend me now?
No, actually I don't. You seem to be a run-of-the-mill whitebread heap of boredom with very little sense of humor. Let's hope you find that sense of humor before you hit medical school, because you'll need it more than you can imagine. Further, I don't feel inclined to defend Cracked to a kid who has yet to experience real life (hint: real life isn't college). It's probably the religion bullshit (which I hope you grow out of) that has you so uptight about an internet humor site. All that said, I wish you no ill will. You'll figure it out eventually (I think).
No, I don't. You seem to be a typical whitebread heap of boredom and ignorance. Any school which "spearheads liberal arts" is like a race car driver who supports going real fast around a racetrack. Yes, alternative energy is great, but you're a Biology major. So what? I hope you find a sense of humor before you hit medical school, because you're going to need it more than you can imagine.
The reason you get so uptight about an internet humor site is most likely the religion bullshit, which I hope you outgrow. Further, I'm not inclined to defend Cracked to a kid who has yet to experience real life. Hint: real life is not college or MTV. All that said, I wish you no ill will. You'll grow out of it eventually (I hope).
For the record, you can attach a dick reference to anything.
Cracked strives their hardest to offend everyone. Lighten up.
@Kevinklaw: Actually you give enough to insult yourself. Note that it's _University of Minnesota Morris_ not "at Morris" a small yet important distinction for a future student. And also, why point out their stellar Liberal Arts Curriculum and devotion to alternative fuels and then say you're majoring in biology. That's a bit like touting how great the seafood at a restaurant is and then ordering steak once you get there.
Whoops, double post...my bad.
Dear Kevinklaw,
It has come to the community's attention that you are an e-thug elitist without a sense of humor who is living off your parent's money at the moment and have come to our humble website in search of the flame wars. I feel I can speak for every member of Cracked.com when I say, "SHOO!"
Sincerely,
More Than Likely Everybody Here
P.S.
Great flow chart. It made me chuckle all day. And don't be disheartened by Kevinklwa, it's just Ron Howard.
"admit it kevinklaw , you are Ron Howard aren't you?"
Reply= win
Don't worry Cracked. I got the joke.
ReplyWhat joke? There is no joke here. All I can see are attacks.