That's Not How It Went Down

It took Adam McKay over ten years to prove that he could write and direct a film that didn't star his legendary comedic collaborator Will Ferrell. And he did so with aplomb - cementing his reputation as a creative who knows exactly how to handle whatever story he decides. And I know what you're thinking - what else can be learned from a film that literally goes out of its way to make sure we know exactly what went down in the build up to the global recession in 2008? Well, here's award-winning podcaster Lewis Howard, and award-winning podcaster Elliot Fitzpatrick, sitting in a recording studio to explain. Was Mark quite as tempestuous? Did people really get mortgages under their dog's name? And why can't people just admit when an acronym doesn't work?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

The challenge of following up a smash-hit that happens to be the first of a series is commonly referred to in the world of music as the difficult second album. And with writer/director team George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wishing to make each of their sequels canonically disparate from their forebear, what better way to achieve this than by not making a sequel at all. Enter the (seldom-used) prequel then to establish a new timeline for Indy and introduce a darker storyline featuring Hindu goddesses, ancient Indian relics and mysterious cults to create the most heart-stopping adventure yet. But how much of this slice of Indian folklore and legend happens to be true? Are the Sankara Stones real? Did Shanghai have great nightlife in 1935? And was there really a demonic Thuggee cult?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

"The average table tennis player is different from most other sports buffs. He is unable to comprehend the enormous gulf in ability that separates him from the professional." So says the enigmatic prodigy that inspired the Chalamet-driven, white-knuckle, globetrotting romp through the lesser known theatre of post-war table tennis competition - and it's easy to see why this world appealed to Josh Safdie when we see the theatre it serves up. But how supreme was he? Was he robbed of his greatest opportunity by a layer of sponge? And what's with all the Penn's?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

Compared by Rachel Weisz to the classic 'All About Eve', this also is a film involving scheming, influence and no small amount of dark humour. Peppered with awards and lauded as a triumphant vehicle for its three leading female actors, the tale of Queen Anne's personal relationships with those in her close circle has often been the subject of debate and speculation. But there's no doubt here in the vision of Yorgos Lanthimos and the Shakespearean level of characterisation of these women is one of the many reasons for its success. But how overt were these relationships? Were there other reasons for such a rift? And is gout actually good for you?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

Although markedly different from previous film iterations of Mary Shelley's groundbreaking gothic sci-fi novel, Guillermo Del Toro still holds on to many of the key aspects of what truly makes a great Frankenstein adaptation. But whilst Oscar Isaac's morally dubious creator might not scream "IT'S ALIVE!" as in previous versions, what true to life aspects of the Age of Enlightenment may have inspired the writing of this all-time classic? Did scientists really believe they could reincarnate the dead? Is there a real Castle Frankenstein? And what sort of gruesome experiments inspired those of Victor Frankenstein?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

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!

"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!

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...