Hollywood treats real stories like taffy to be pulled in any direction the screenwriter pleases.
The best recent example? The minds behind “Bohemian Rhapsody” played so fast and loose with Queen’s rock history the final act played out like fan fiction.
Director Ron Howard takes the opposite approach with “Thirteen Lives.”
Based on the remarkable rescue of children trapped in a Thai cave, the film treads very carefully with more than just the narrative in question. It avoids Hollywood histrionics, the kind that might land south of the truth but juice the story for maximum impact.
That approach is wise, respectful and clearly has its limits.
Twelve Thai children and their football coach take an ill-advised trip to the Tham Luang cave complex as the story opens. It’s...