Biopic fiascos: 6 cringe-worthy portraits of historical figures

Author: Achu Krishnan

The Boy in Blue

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Fidel

[{"selector":"#anim-aab2fa9c-53d3-4e87-920a-4fe10537cd23","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce96fd79-09c3-43b8-923d-c969e150b946","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 130.89134%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-effe852e-345f-4cf0-9f30-b0453edef5e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2657edc1-f026-4816-af7c-5e1f0e888586","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 910.07012%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ec1719d-fc54-485a-b01b-7223fc1fed0b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.306249740935983%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A disappointing portrayal of the Cuban leader's life, leaving viewers with a shallow understanding of his complex persona.

Liz & Dick

[{"selector":"#anim-72511b0b-a6af-44fa-b710-3e5e09493dea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24514b79-edb1-43c1-b9c6-b89546844968","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 107.86404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-979ce638-23f4-470f-8dfb-3df3afee284c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab42d685-c113-427e-a39c-57ab6df01e19","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 910.07012%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b09e2eaf-7aea-44c7-993a-02ebed46ec67 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.018148596677396%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Experience the disastrous portrayal of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's tumultuous romance in this cringe-worthy biopic from 2012.

Alexander

[{"selector":"#anim-70b5b930-c785-4e38-b926-ef47fca9f420 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.471521016932542%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b78342f-bb53-4779-b6bd-15c9dc1397e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b76eebd4-7aa3-460c-ba94-3a60fb1d742d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 130.89134%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58e1eaa1-73d3-48ce-b1c9-f73c116fbb6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f86537b8-cc45-4b6d-b590-a1557e53080b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 916.32004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A misguided attempt to capture the epic life of Alexander the Great, resulting in a forgettable cinematic experience.

Melvin Purvis G-MAN

[{"selector":"#anim-63ebd797-0645-44b4-a404-e34e10297917 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.893749756636833%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2080e97b-0c8d-46b9-8d2d-90b3d6375cd3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69cafaec-f1fa-4b11-872b-17501db0dafe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.16589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-604dd9ce-9418-4e90-a8af-f4bb22b9166e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34d8048b-392b-4898-9779-20743d6a947d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 910.07012%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A lackluster portrayal of the famed FBI agent's life, failing to capture his true impact and significance.

Against the Ropes

[{"selector":"#anim-d43e75ee-f561-4f59-8d2c-f8ee950b78f5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.339843497207784%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-013ba3c6-da21-4e3a-9616-e115de76b25a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c0ff059-da1f-4327-91fe-7f49d0a3e270","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.16589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6a2b817-ad0b-4196-9914-bb30460d6475","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa8a8521-ba7f-485e-b957-4c387fa7626a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 910.07012%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A disappointing portrayal of boxing manager Jackie Kallen's story, lacking in depth and emotional impact.