Best/Worst 10 History Films of 2018 | Based on a True Story

[@CynicalHistorian]

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[@CynicalHistorian]

Thanks for watching, and please consider supporting the channel by buying merch: teespring.com/stores/the-cynical-historian Or by donating to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/CynicalHistorian See following replies for corrections and additional info, but first, here are some related videos to check out: 12 Strong: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opCZenl3mK1qhJo BL4C&&&L4NSM4N: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqWqi4GsdrWmn8k First Man: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4LEdZhqnZh6ZpY Mary Queen of Scots: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIeVg6eJp56JqK8 Bohemian Rhapsody: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haikYYeieZmHj7c Vice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWiUe5ynfMilick

[@CynicalHistorian]

*errata* 5:16 - that's supposed to by "misogyny" - I wish Premiere Pro had a spell-check (thx John Brakes and Norman M. Stewart) 12:05 - another typo: "apparently" (thx Easy8)

[@jayfrank1913]

@@CynicalHistorian Misogyny, not "mysogeny." Love your channel!

[@dwc1964]

19:11 "Richard V"?

[@HTHTucoTheRat]

You rail pretty hard against the historical music genre when discussing "Bohemian Rhapsody", and I tend to agree. One movie that fits into that category is "La Bamba". I was wondering how it stands up to scrutiny versus the actual events.

[@taoiseachjager9643]

Take a shot every time shade gets thrown at youtube.

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

Or Ollie Stone. The man has been shaded so much he may as well be the dark side of the moon.

[@CynicalHistorian]

To quote my father, "I use 'Oliver Stone' as a curse-word"

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

@@CynicalHistorian I need to work that into a conversation. Hey you sir! Your such an Oliver Stone so go DW Griffith yourself back to Mel Gibson! I'm sure the reaction will be priceless.

[@CypherActual]

Watched it with the intent to play this game, but had to stop drinking halfway through, cause i was getting to drunk. Fun, but dangerous, lol

[@Argacyan]

We should call the changes to youtube risking breadtube our new corn laws

[@mikeoxsmal8022]

Lol

[@Cityinlead]

FOR KHORNE Whoops wrong one

[@HebaruSan]

To remember where the "y" goes in "misogynist", think of "gynecologist"

[@CynicalHistorian]

yep, and noted

[@venusboys3]

I really enjoyed The Favourite, but I went into it knowing it was never meant to be 'historical'... it's more akin to something like Inglorious Basterds, just having fun in among trappings of a certain era. It does have a good story to it, but I'm not thinking it taught me anything about the true events.

[@jackiecook535]

I had fun with The Favorite, never taking it serious but it did intrigue me enough to look into that time period in British history and Queen Anne.

[@venusboys3]

@@jackiecook535 Yeah, same here. Just about any vaguely historical film where I'm not already familiar with the era will have me looking up more info.

[@politesse3914]

Best of luck with the dissertation! I well remember the "lost time" phenomenon of graduate school, and gleefully catching up with the 3-4 movies and TV I'd missed when I graduated and sort of had time to see things again! Frankly, I've no idea how you find time to make any of this content, but I greatly enjoy your contributions.

[@nobledrew23]

I’m sorry but Greenbook was the Crash of 2018

[@crozraven]

Kinda disagree with Outlaw King being on the "bad" list as the movie have way way way better (more historically authentic) props & cultural depictions compare to many medieval movies & somehow you put "murican' movie" like 12 strong on the good list. You should add The King instead for this year on that because it's not much of a "history" but more about drama play of "Henriad."

[@MovieGuy]

To be honest with you, I like BlacKkKlanseman. I see it more as "inspired by" less then "based on". I think is an important movie and I don't agree with you, but as Voltaire said: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

[@fremenchips]

I think you have to view The Favourite like Amadeus, if your main criteria is historical accuracy then both fail, but if your main criteria is story, or acting or mood then they're both masterpieces.

[@kylez8010]

But the former is the whole point of this channel.

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

I wonder if one day, the number 1 bad spot won't be a baseless conspiracy movie.

[@CynicalHistorian]

it would take people actually caring to correct conspiracy theorists and relegating anything conspiracists say to the trashpile where it belongs

[@af146983]

You have to review "the highwaymen" the set design alone is incredibly accurate

[@CynicalHistorian]

I do have it downloaded, so perhaps. Time constraints are really the only problem

[@paxonearth]

The greatest thing about Mary Queen of Scots was discovering that she was actually the world's first 21st century social justice warrior.

[@williamsledge3151]

You should do Midway when you have the time

[@angusyang5917]

Published eleven months after 2018, seems to make sense.

[@CynicalHistorian]

Yeah, well research and whatnot

[@Phantom1op]

by this point all we need is an Oliver Stone film vindicating Woodrow Wilson produced by KZbin.

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

In all reality Stone would probably make a film about how terrible Wilson was due to his attitude on the Soviet Union. Not the racism or anything like that. Ollie really loves Russia... to a very very uncomfortable to degree. Like going so far as to say they were the more humane nation in the Cold War.

[@chadatchison145]

I'm sure i'm a bit late but congrats on 100K subs, you deserve them and a whole lot more.

[@stalkinghorse883]

8:04 Eric Swalwell didn't like Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@michaelvandegriff6696]

I was a little upset at first when I saw you put Outlaw King in the bad category but I had the same issues with that masterpiece as well. You are redeemed.

[@_bulldogzrl_9471]

Good luck with your dissertation man, take all the time you need.

[@trogdoar149]

The Favorite was such a masterpiece. Lanthimos is a genius, loved The Lobster and Dogtooth.

[@AndyJP]

Maybe you can do best of decade next year :D

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

You know damn well the bottom five would be Oliver Stone. Oliver Stone. Oliver Stone, and some other hacks who wrote about conspiracies like Oliver Stone.

[@BioHunter1990]

You focus on your dissertation. That’s of significant importance. I look forward to the opportunity to read it in coming years.

[@multilad816]

Can you do Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday (2002), A Sunday in Kigali, Come and See, Zero Dark Thirty, Freedom Writers, The Looming Tower, and When They See Us

[@williamkarbala5718]

Someone told me that that last battle in Outlaw king wasn’t Banackburn.

[@Oxtocoatl13]

It wasn't. They say it in the movie, it's battle of Laudon Hill (I might have misspelled that)

[@somebody3143]

Mary, Queen is Skanks. Is a movie I would much like to see now that I have been reminded of it. Idk why, but I like these movies that have medieval battles. That being said, I have a good portion of Scottish heritage, so this stuff always interests me.

[@natelandherr5202]

My problem with Vice is that there’s plenty of ways you can make Cheney look bad without lying

[@theshenpartei]

Operation finale was pretty good they should do one about the hunt for Franz Stengel or a biographical film about Simon Wiesenthal or Ellie Wiesel

[@allinone-qz2gi]

I'm curious to know your thoughts on the Harriet Tubman movie

[@CynicalHistorian]

I have to see it to form an opinion, which i won't until it's out on Blu-ray

[@ImCarolB]

My cousin took my uncle to see Miracle at Santa Anna. Uncle, who was there, said, "It's a good movie. It's total fiction, but it was a good story."

[@rosiehappens7267]

I get that Vice isn't historically accurate but I love this film so much. It's got style, the editing is fantastic and I can't say I've had more fun in a non comic book film. Another film I love is Blackkklansman, there were changes but on a filmmaking level it's very good. I believe making the character of Flip Jewish in the film is a good way to add stakes.

[@FangAzi]

Do you have any plans on making a based in a true story on Midway?

[@CynicalHistorian]

eventually, yes

[@FangAzi]

Good, thanks Cypher, and tbf I was more disapointed by the movie as a whole...

[@L24-h8i]

Isn't Journey's End a 2017 film?

[@CynicalHistorian]

theatrical release was in 2018, I don't count festivals and limited releases

[@mikemontgomery2654]

One thing that "First Man" used for dramatic effect was Neil Armstrong's moodiness. The film maker seemed to make him an emotional wreck after his daughter died. That was highly exaggerated, as many photos of Armstrong show him with a smile on his face and a generally upbeat demeanor. This was pointed out to me by a family member that is an "Apollo fanboy", by his own admission, who presented this evidence after we watched the film. I have no reason to disbelieve him.

[@CynicalHistorian]

That's something that's generally up to one's interpretation. A smile can hide deep trauma. The fact that a number of people who personally knew the man said the movie for his personality correct is enough for me. He was known as a consummate professional, even to his family, and that's the main thing shows in the movie

[@Polygonyall]

i love your videos. just wondering would haunting of sharon tate count as a historical movie 2019

[@CynicalHistorian]

thx. from what I see in the movie's description on wikipedia, yeah probably

[@Polygonyall]

The Cynical Historian oh my god i am so sorry that movie is absolutely dreadful

[@Burkutace27]

The "it's just a movie" excuse does not fly for historical movies. If you're dealing with real people and events, you have a moral and ethical obligation to be as truthful as possible.

[@fremenchips]

I'm curious, do you apply that standard to Shakespeare?

[@Burkutace27]

@@fremenchips Not exactly sure what you mean, but very obviously we can't enforce such a standard retroactively. More to the point, modern film makers don't have an excuse for historical inaccuracy and outright fabrications, not when so much quality scholarship is so easily available.

[@fremenchips]

@@Burkutace27 For Shakespeare I mean how plays like Richard III are Tudor propaganda, making Richard both physically and spiritually a twisted monster, yet Richard III is a masterpiece of theater. I don't think your rule holds true for modern film makers either. Salieri's popular image is that of a man driven to murderous jealously in Amadeus, a total untruth, yet Amadeus is a one of the greatest movies about envy, the artistic vision and hubris.

[@CerebrumMortum]

DAMN, I was really looking forward for the Mery Queen of the Scots movie. Is it still worth watching?

[@CynicalHistorian]

absolutely. as I said in the review, it actually wasn't bad, just ended badly

[@jimmy2k4o]

Great performances you can say that at least.

[@duckieforever]

I actually enjoyed all of the movies on this list that I've seen, flaws and all. But, that's because I a) switch my brain off during the movie and b) constantly tend to look things up about a movie while watching it if I think it's interesting enough to do so. It's that weird duality of man thing Carl Jung wrote about at work, I suppose. But, some, like "Vice" I just let be a movie that I watched because I wanted to, and didn't let the already raging dislike of Cheney that I have influence how I responded to it. Trigger control and personal responsibility are a thing.

[@scrambled5948]

Cypher, I like these videos but I feel like you only judge the quality of a movie based on a historical event/person based on how accurate it is and I don’t think that’s a good way of judging it. This is not to distill your opinion, I think it’s very valid, but there are films out there that are inaccurate to the history they’re based on that are good despite the fact.

[@konradvonschnitzeldorf6506]

I didn't know shit about the favourites backstory, I read it up afterwards. But technically speaking it is a pretty enjoyable movie, they also didn't really advertise it as "based on a true story" like VICE for example.

[@erinoriordan9808]

It's a constant of human behavior that conspiracy theories transcend political affiliation. Conspiracy theories appeal to whoever feels their power is under threat at the moment, and everyone feels disenfranchised at some point.

[@lord_boneman]

I’ll be honest, I really liked BlacKKKlansman (is that how you spell it?). I understand that it’s not historically accurate, and that is a shame, but I found it a fun film. Although I do agree the ending comparing Trump to David Duke seriously tarnished my view of the film. If they got rid of that, it would be one of my favorites. Oh well, I’ll read the book.

[@philingrouille7198]

Same. I kept in mind that it was Spike Lee who made it while watching it, and up until the end I really enjoyed it. Then it ended with news footage of Charlottesville and, ok I can roll with this too, and then BOOM, 'Trump is the new David Duke' and I remembered "oh yeah that's right, it was directed by Spike Lee". The movie didn't really end with a boom, it ended with the sound of diarrhoea. Trump wasn't even calling the KKK/Neo-nazi's there "Very Fine People", he was referring to the conservative group there led by Michelle Piercy; this idea that ONLY the KKK and Neo-Nazis wouldn't want these statues removed is outrageous, but that's what the media was trying to do.

[@onuscronus984]

So what was the best Catnip of the year?

[@hamishsewell4214]

The battle at the end of Outlaw King is Loudon Hill not Bannockburn

[@CynicalHistorian]

wait for the review, cause it's quite obviously trying to be Bannockburn

[@hamishsewell4214]

The Cynical Historian ok. I volunteer at the Battle of Bannockburn Visitors Centre over here in Scotland when we had a movie night for it. The inaccuracies were jumping out left right and centre.

[@awesomeinspector5270]

@@hamishsewell4214 Like what?

[@hamishsewell4214]

Well the movie shows Edward II of england being at the Battle of Loudan Hill, which he wasn’t. An understandable change was the age of Robert the Bruce’s second wife, Elizabeth. In reality she was 13 when she married him but in the film, she’s a grown woman. Again, an understandable change. Also the film depicts them marrying two years later than they did in reality

[@hamishsewell4214]

And Robert the Bruce’s motive is changed - the film depicts him as a man of the people, fighting for Scottish independence while in reality, his claim to the Scottish throne was a far bigger motivation than depicted in the film. His was an independent Scotland but an independent Scotland with him as king

[@pbh9195]

When is ur outlaw King review

[@nickrustyson8124]

While Bohemian is bad, Motley Crue's the The Dirt is pretty fun, given it's more than just the music, it's the crazy bullshit they did we all wanted to watch.

[@chrislondo2683]

@TheCynicalHistorian can you do a review of Tinto Brass’ Salon Kitty from 1976? It’s about a group of SS officers who take over a brothel by espionage. Though it’s in the Nazi exploitation film category. But warning there’s a bunch of nudity.

[@hellstorm2004]

The Favourite is one of the best, in a decade that has been pretty shambolic for films overall.

[@rayyanma1608]

Cypher: "First Man is the best space film since Apollo 13." Interstellar wants to know your location

[@CynicalHistorian]

First Man > Interstellar. Fight me, haha

[@rayyanma1608]

@@CynicalHistorian Me, an intellectual: "They're both great."

[@CynicalHistorian]

@@rayyanma1608 agreed

[@turtle3670]

Ok when will you be doing a video on "They Shall Not Grow Old"?

[@CynicalHistorian]

I don't do episodes on documentaries

[@turtle3670]

@@CynicalHistorian Darn cause I wasn't so much thinking of a review type situation. As much as seeing your thoughts on how the footage was treated and mixed in with spoken stories of the veterans. And what this could mean for how this might change views later on more modern conflicts that are covered by news media etc.

[@specialed1444]

Time to nearly die from alcohol poising because of all the youtube bashing going on. This is in the name of history by the way.

[@dwc1964]

5:45 - 5:55 killed me

[@slyfox0086]

Lesbian here. We will watch absolutely anything with lesbians in it. I give The Favorite a 10/10

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

Dumb question, exactly how big a genre is historical lesbian films? I can think of that HBO show Gentleman Jack and not much else honestly.

[@williamkarbala5718]

I don’t think that was supposed to be the battle of Bankburn at the end I remember someone saying it was different battle

[@CynicalHistorian]

telling and showing are two different things

[@Swift-mr5zi]

I loved the favourite, I don't care what you say.

[@jwiking62]

Black panther aint that good, its just okay, 5/10

[@Pikachu-ob4gw]

Could you review the movie glory from 1989

[@Prolific_333]

I haven’t watched marry queen of Scott’s but I had no problem understanding outlaw king, idk maybe it’s just me.

[@CynicalHistorian]

joke

[@CerebrumMortum]

7:58 Godwin's Law CONFIRMED

[@granth3506]

How is bohemian rhapsody a dud but rocket man got glowing reviews? I get they both have to time compress a lot of content, but rocket-man is framed terribly imo. Anyway love the videos, keep pumping them out

[@guyincognito3253]

I'm sorry but you wanted what to win best picture?

[@gandalfandferg280]

Made you don't understand. The favourite isnt like downton abbey. yorgos lanthimos has made films like the lobster and killing of a sacred deer. If you watch those you'll better get the favourite

[@mathieuleader8601]

the 2016 movie Race about Jesse Owens is great

[@lawrencedockery9032]

I don't think it's an accident that the reviews you make calling out bad movies for being leftists propaganda are the same videos that KZbin takes issue with.

[@elalcalde3362]

Loudoun Hill isn't Bannockburn

[@CynicalHistorian]

True, too bad the movie doesn't know that

[@ahadkhosrawi2485]

you should review first king about the founding of rome

[@IndyGuest]

13:46 Is that Dale Earnhardt Jr???

[@starmaker75]

13:31 an tf2 references, nice!

[@CinemaKnight]

I personally enjoyed Vice, not really knowing much of the history they were rewriting to fit the narrative, so it was interesting to see you break it down. I do have a bit of a lefty knee-jerk reaction to just want to see Cheney for the pretty bad guy he was, but I try to separate my picture of evil mastermind Cheney from the actual Cheney, who was, as said before, not a very good guy, and shares at least some blame for leading us into Iraq and justifying torture (just as much as W. and the rest of the intelligence community does and whoever else I'm missing), but wasn't literally Darth Vader. I also just get worried that people have already forgotten the numerous illegal and terrible things that the Bush Administration did (I'm talking about Ellen), often for the sake of trying to look back and say "Remember when Trump wasn't the face of the GOP?", to which I respond "Yeah, they were still pretty fundamentalist and corrupt. Just got a worse face on the enterprise now"

[@CynicalHistorian]

we still see lots of people who idolize Reagan and were somehow surprised by his racist recording. It's the same as all the folks saying this is the worst president or that he's the most racist, and I'm just like he's not even significantly more racist than the ones within living memory, let alone folks like Wilson. But movies like Vice reveal the death of honest appraisals of the past, not the opposite

[@CinemaKnight]

​@@CynicalHistorian I can agree with that, certainly. I think you also have to take into account the fact that Adam Mackay is a DSA member and a definite Hollywood lefty, and the left can twist history the same way as the right, it just usually (in my personal experience) isn't as blatant as the right (see people like Dinesh D'Souza). By no means am I saying that Vice tries to 100% honestly examine history, simply that I thought it was rather entertaining, had some interesting performances and a message that's pretty relevant today, but tries to smuggle that through a story that is much more nuanced than it portrays. If they were going to portray Cheney as basically a villain, though, there's plenty of material that actually happened that could be used without going overboard, but the idea of the one guy being responsible for all the dark and sinister forces working against the common man today, I think, is just a more easily marketable story, and that's why they probably ran with it (I say this because The Big Short also deals with a relatively political issue, and doesn't really fall into the traps that Vice does). PS. I read a comment at one point saying we sound similar. Just remembered and thought it was interesting.

[@TheWolfgangGrimmer]

@@CynicalHistorian The historical Reagan was thoroughly authoritarian at that, not much in common with his popular image.

[@brockbayley5279]

Please review Danger Close

[@Ennio444]

Oh come on, Green Book was a dull, cookie-cutter Hollywood pleaser. It's a fairly mediocre script with conventional, unsurprising cinematography hold up by very good actors and made to pander to Academy voters. It was obvious Oscar bait, and it worked. I can't believe it won over Roma.

[@antivalidisme5669]

No "The worse" section this year. Guess that Oliver Stone newest conspiracy pseudo theory didn't land on screen. Always a good year! But still, they fucked up so hard with Bohemian Rhapsody in my opinion. PS: Wait what "Green book"?

[@zingingcutie8421]

I’m a left wing radical but the film vice was like Michael Moore propaganda. Neurotic paranoids can be on either side of the political spectrum

[@PortaTerzo]

Richard V?

[@alejandrokaplan7243]

Should I see kursk

[@greggi47]

Yes, but don't take it literally. The deaths of those men was horrible, but came about in a much shorter time frame

[@bigyin2586]

Oliver Stone. Left wing good, right wing bad.

[@MemestiffGaming]

Thank you for adding in Green Book, I loved it and never understood why the media hated it

[@perkinsvalentine]

thanks for the reviews, although you're about one quarter as funny as you think you are. How's that for a review?

[@dariacoates3034]

Do 2021

[@Ma_ksi]

Hi

[@tomfirth01]

I think the favourite signals that it is clearly ridiculous in a way that something like Bohemian Rhapsody does not - that’s why I like it as an avid history buff myself

[@isaacschmitt4803]

How did I miss this? I'm really looking forward to your Chappaquiddick review! I liked that movie a lot. And apparently KZbin really just wanted to shoot itself in the foot. With a ricin laced bullet.

[@ImnotCarlSagan]

I thought that the favorite was probably one of the best films of the year. I thought it was an intelligent drama INSPIRED BY an interesting rumor. I didn’t go into this movie expecting a completely historicity accurate depiction of Queen Anne’s life. I assumed everyone to be fictional except for Queen Anne. The movie was an interesting character study of a politically powerful woman who has gone through multiple miscarriages and the strain it has taken on her mental health. The ideas of how women gained power and could have fought over it at the time was interesting to me. I feel you criticize a films worth on the merit of their historical accuracy’s and not their technical craft. But I understand why you would. As a historian you would prioritize historical accuracy and that’s ok. It gives a fresh outlook on films like the favorite that are only criticized on the framing and writing. I’ll end off by saying that Paths of Glory is my favorite WW1 film but I wouldn’t say that because of its historical accuracy. Love the channel. Keep up the good work!

[@pineycolada3075]

Become more nationalistic than

[@nannyoggsally]

I don't understand your The Favourite review. The movie is really really funny and looks stunning. Very entertaining. Not historical? Ok. That's annoying. But if you pretend it's a fictional movie then it's really well done and entertaining.