Real Movies Fake History with Gari and Mel

Gari and Mel
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Real Movies Fake History is hosted by two friends, Gari (the film nerd) and Mel (the history expert), who each episode discuss, debate and laugh about the real history behind diverse and important cinema. We seek to discover the true story behind films apparently based on a true story. With a particular interest in gender and cultural representation, we love nothing more than to speak on how a particular film represents the world around us.

  1. Gorillas in the Mist

    FEB 24

    Gorillas in the Mist

    This time Gari and Mel critique Gorillas in the Mist, the 1988 true story of primatologist Dian Fossey, whose remarkable conservation work with Mountain Gorillas and unsolved murder have become the stuff of legend. Mel takes us through the true story to learn just how sanitised the movie is compared to the real history. Gari then takes us behind the scenes on the remarkable production where Sigourney Weaver and the crew really filmed with Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, often taking risks you wouldn't believe. It's an episode you don't want to miss. If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 33m
  2. Gladiator

    JAN 12

    Gladiator

    This is it. This is the big one. We finally critique Ridley Scott's Oscar winning Gladiator, starring the formidable Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius. He may be a father to a murdered son and a husband to a murdered wife, but does the movie he's starring in hold up after all these years? Mel takes us through the real history of Rome and its gladiatorial combat and gives us the lowdown on the many accurate and inaccurate aspects of the history that's represented. We also get into the detail on what it's like to work with the wild and legendary Oliver Reed, and how could we forget play the Russell Crowe Rotten Tomatoes game? If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 46m
  3. Nuremberg - Review Show

    12/14/2025

    Nuremberg - Review Show

    This time we're critiquing the newly released Nuremberg, where Russell Crowe fills the rather large shoes of Nazi leader Herman Göring, who is on trial for a host of appalling crimes against humanity at the newly-established International Military Tribunal. Rami Malek also joins him, playing his eccentric psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley. But is the film any good? We give you the honest appraisal - the movie may be hoping for Oscars, but does it really deliver? Mel also takes us deep into the true story and the book the film is based on to give us the verdict on how accurate the movie is to the real history. If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 2m
  4. King Richard

    11/01/2025

    King Richard

    We critique the true history behind Will Smith's Oscar winning performance in King Richard, where he plays Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. We talk about the real reason the family moved to Compton, the complexity of the real people that the movie leaves out, and ask ourselves how the movie holds up against the real story. We also fit in a great Rotten Tomatoes game where Mel gets to guess the scores of Will Smith's filmography! If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 34m
  5. We're Back! Upcoming Episodes | Best and Worst Movies from 2025 so far

    10/06/2025

    We're Back! Upcoming Episodes | Best and Worst Movies from 2025 so far

    A big announcement - we're back! In this short chat, we talk about what films we'll be covering in our exciting upcoming episodes so you can be all ready to join us. To warm up, we couldn't help but break down our picks for the BEST and WORST movies of 2025 (so far). If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    30 min
  6. Gladiator 2 - Review Show

    11/24/2024

    Gladiator 2 - Review Show

    Gaz and Mel review one of the biggest blockbusters of 2024, the sequel to the 2000 classic, Gladiator ll. There's a monkey fight, there's a rhino battle, and they even flood the colosseum, but is the movie any good? Is Paul Mescal a good Russell Crowe replacement? How accurate is the movie to the real story? Has Ridley Scott still got the old magic?  Listen now to find out. If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    55 min

  7. 10/01/2024

    Scoop

    Mel and Gaz critique the true history behind the 2024 Netflix hit Scoop, the compelling story of BBC Newsnight's infamous Prince Andrew interview by Emily Maitlis. We talk about how the real Sam McAlister played her pivtol role, discuss the relationship between Jeffery Epstein and Prince Andrew and the reasons behind how their crimes remained covered up for so long. We also fit in a great Rotten Tomatoes game where Mel gets to guess the scores of some of cinema's great (and no-so-great) Television themed movies! If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 31m

  8. 08/30/2024

    She Said

    Mel and Gaz critique the true history behind the 2022 film She Said, the compelling story of how NYT reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey investigated the sexual abuse and misconduct of film producer Harvey Weinstein. We talk about the brave women who inspired the worldwide #metoo movement, discuss the system of enablers that allowed Weinstein to stay in power, and provide insight into the real people. We also fit in a great Rotten Tomatoes game where Mel gets to guess the scores of some of cinema's great (and no-so-great) journalism movies! If you like the show, we'd love it if you'd support us and leave us a REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE. Thanks! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Spotify | Google | RSS

    1h 27m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Real Movies Fake History is hosted by two friends, Gari (the film nerd) and Mel (the history expert), who each episode discuss, debate and laugh about the real history behind diverse and important cinema. We seek to discover the true story behind films apparently based on a true story. With a particular interest in gender and cultural representation, we love nothing more than to speak on how a particular film represents the world around us.

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