Welcome to History Lesson, where we take a closer look at the movies that dare to tackle real-life events with varying levels of accuracy, drama, and WTF casting choices. These films promise to educate and entertain, but more often than not, they rewrite history with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. We’ll be your guide through the land of miscast biopics, dramatic embellishments, and historical “inspired-by” liberties, breaking down whether these flicks are Golden Reel Award-worthy masterpieces or just a big-budget Wikipedia summary. Either way, it’s more fun than your high school history class—and there’s popcorn.
This time around we will take a look at Season 4's fact-based slate....
HISTORY LESSON: Nation's Pride
Nation's Pride is a film that dares to ask: "What if we cast two Hemsworth brothers as the same character at different ages and just hoped the audience wouldn't notice?" Spoiler alert: we noticed. Liam Hemsworth starts the movie as Lieutenant Charles Upham, a clean-cut New Zealand soldier with nerves of steel, an infinite grenade supply, and a face that doesn’t quite match his older counterpart. Then, halfway through, Chris Hemsworth takes over as the exact same character but aged a whopping.... ten years? Five? Honestly, it’s unclear, because the Hemsworth brothers don’t look like different ages of the same person — they look like different guys who might hang out at the same gym.
The movie itself has lofty aspirations, mixing war-hero action with a gritty POW escape drama, but the Hemsworth tag team keeps pulling you out of it. One minute, you’re invested in Liam’s Upham mowing down machine gun nests with heroic bravado, and the next, Chris storms onto the scene with his signature angry Thor energy, and you’re left wondering if Charles Upham aged in dog years. It’s like they slapped on a beard, handed Chris a scowl, and called it “character continuity.” The jarring transition almost overshadows the film’s actual story — although, considering how it turns Upham’s awe-inspiring life into a slightly bloated, overly dramatized slog, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
HISTORY LESSON: Delaware
Delaware sets sail on the icy waters of Revolutionary War drama with Christian Bale donning a powdered wig as George Washington. Directed by Scott Cooper, the film captures the desperate, Hail-Mary energy of Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River. Bale is all-in as the stoic, determined general, flanked by Sam Rockwell as the loyal and witty Hugh Mercer, and Eric Stonestreet as a surprisingly charming (if perpetually panicked) Henry Knox. Meanwhile, Ed Helms’ Col. John Glover shoulders the thankless task of steering the doomed boats while likely questioning why his character is surrounded by literal ice and figurative chaos.
The movie thrives in its depiction of Washington’s audacious plan to save the Revolution, with a mix of high-stakes tension and flashes of humor that mostly land. The stormy river-crossing sequence is a visual standout, delivering a sense of dread, determination. The interplay between the officers — particularly Jack Huston’s capable Gen. John Sullivan — keeps things moving at a solid clip, though Will Arnett’s Horatio Gates is little more than a punchline after Washington dismisses him with the kind of sass that feels a bit too modern. The climactic ambush at Trenton is a triumphant payoff, balancing historical accuracy with cinematic flair, even if the outcome feels preordained. Delaware may occasionally struggle to row its narrative boat straight, but it ultimately delivers a stirring and surprisingly spirited retelling of one of America’s most iconic moments.
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