That's Not How It Went Down

Lewis Howard & Elliot Fitzpatrick
  • 4.5 (2)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

*Winners of Best TV & Film Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2025 Many movies claim to be 'based on a true story', but how much truth actually makes it onto the silver screen?  Whilst one of us queries the less believable moments from the film, the other takes a deep dive into the fact behind the fiction to educate us and answer… is that really how it went down? Produced by 2020 Recordings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6D AGO

    'American Made' (2017)

    Tom Cruise plays someone that can competently fly a plane. But that doesn't really narrow it down. How about, 'Tom Cruise plays a man on the wrong side of the law'. That whittles it down a fair bit. Tom Cruise is in a 21st century 'comedy'. We're into single figures, which is the last thing that can be said about the box office for this film. But something isn't sitting quite right despite a robust set of filmic ingredients in this story of one of the most infamous American drug smugglers to ever work for the CIA/Colombian cartel. Was cigar smuggling his first crime? How well did he know Pablo Escobar? And is Seal the perfect surname?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    'The Imitation Game' (2015)

    "Are you paying attention? Good". Whilst our computational skills might not quite be up to the standard of, say, Alan Turing our ability to weed out the fiction from the facts is no secret. But given the undeniable critical praise for 2014's Turing biopic, "The Imitation Game", arguably Benedict Cumberbatch's breakthrough cinematic role, can it really be said that the story of the men and women behind Britain's codebreaking triumphs in WW2 has been told accurately - or in this case is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Were Turing and his colleagues the first to crack Enigma? Was Alan fired from Bletchley Park? And was his first computer really called Christopher?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m

  3. 12/23/2025

    BONUS: 'Home Alone' (1&2)

    Much like a year ago, the temptation to bend a holiday classic towards our rules forces us to meet it halfway. Whilst exploring the initial nucleus for these festive mainstays gives us something to talk about, it's when we explore stories that may have even been inspired by the exploits of Harry and Marv, or anecdotes that bear an uncanny similarity to Kevin's situation that we can really indulge. Join us in this bonus episode of That's Not How It Went Down as we expand the brief to speculate on where the truths might lie... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    'The Man Who Invented Christmas' (2017)

    With the festive season upon us once again it seemed fitting to not just look into the veracity of a classic Yuletide movie, but perhaps even the very origins of our modern Christmas itself. There are very few amongst us who won't be aware of the source material for lines such as "Bah! Humbug!" and "God bless us, every one!" but when a movie was produced in 2017 exploring the genesis of Dickens' enduring festive fairytale it seemed ripe material to discuss just how much truth there was on this Victorian journey of self-discovery. Was Marley a venerable waiter at Dickens' club? Was Dickens' father really sent to debtors prison? And was there a real Ebenezer Scrooge?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    'In the Heart of the Sea' (2015)

    He may admit to having a slight fear of the ocean, but that didn't stop Ron Howard tackling the huge budget and epic story that is said to have inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick. For the 'thalassaphobic' (sic) among us, this film is a challenging watch - and for those that struggle hearing inconsistent accents, this film is a challenging watch. But putting aside petty grievances, pursuing the truth in the vast ocean of Hollywood surrounding such a classic novel is too good to miss. Was there a white whale? Should Chase have been captain? And seriously, some of these accents... Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    'Saturday Night Fever' (1977)

    "Listen to the ground. There is movement all around. There is something goin' down and I can feel it". The iconic opening lyrics to The Bee Gees smash hit, "Night Fever", hint at something of a cultural revolution. With vast swathes of America's youth feeling increasingly hopeless by the end of the 1970s, disco dancing on a Saturday night became a surefire outlet where under the thumb young people could shine. With producers on the hunt for a vehicle for their up-and-coming new star, John Travolta, an article in New York magazine about Brooklyn down and outs cutting loose at the weekend seemed like the perfect jumping off point. But just how truthful was this so-called "honest" account? Did Tony really work in a paint store? Were The Faces at war with a Puerto Rican gang? And was 2001 Odyssey a real club?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    'Roofman' (2025)

    As we've explored before, there's a small part of the human psyche that wants the fugitive to escape when we watch crime capers. Maybe not those films where the crimes committed are particularly evil, but how can you not feel for the cheeky and charming Channing Tatum attempting to start a brand new life, whilst hiding in the now nostalgia-inducing Toys "Я" Us? But then again, he did threaten innocent McDonald's employees at gunpoint... Was his escape so seamless? Was his recapture so seamless? And does it all seem less serious, because we're in a toy store?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    'Cheaper By The Dozen' (2003)

    Family movies featuring innumerable children are a dime a dozen. But whilst The Sound of Music, The Swiss Family Robinson and Home Alone might boast extraordinarily large family units, nothing compares to Cheaper by the Dozen. And upon learning that this unfeasibly large clan was based on a real household I felt it was my domestic duty to investigate this unusual brood. Were there really twelve children living under one roof? How did the parents support their litter financially? And what exactly is a "Therblig"? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

*Winners of Best TV & Film Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2025 Many movies claim to be 'based on a true story', but how much truth actually makes it onto the silver screen?  Whilst one of us queries the less believable moments from the film, the other takes a deep dive into the fact behind the fiction to educate us and answer… is that really how it went down? Produced by 2020 Recordings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Lewis Howard & Elliot Fitzpatrick
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Recordings
  • Show Website
    That's Not How It Went Down

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