Unbroken Movie Controversy: Oscar Hopefuls 'Foxcatcher,' 'Big Eyes,' 'Unbroken' And 'Imitation Game' Spark Controversy

Voting for this year's Oscar nominees has started and with this has come fresh controversy surrounding so-called "fact-based" films such as "Foxcatcher," "Big Eyes," "The Imitation Game" and "Unbroken."

These films have come under fire for a number of reasons including what many perceive is the subtle mix of fact and fiction to increase their appeal.

"Foxcatcher," which focuses on the events surrounding the death of wrestler Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), has been criticized by the wrestler's brother, Mark Schultz.

Mark Schultz had earlier supported the movie. However, his views changed dramatically when he read reviews of the film which stated that his brother had a sexual relationship with John du Pont before he was murdered. "Foxcatcher" has received several Golden Globe nominations and even saw its director winning the Best Director award at the Cannes film festival. It is viewed by many as the leading Oscar contender.

Meanwhile, historians in England have assailed "The Imitation Game" for excessively heightening the impact that Alan Turning had on the code breaking efforts undertaken by the British government during World War II. Others have pointed out that the film also takes a large amount of artistic license in depicting Turning relationship with Joan Clarke.

"Big Eyes," directed by Tim Burton, has come under fire as Susan Keane, daughter of Walter Keane, launched a new website to defend her father. She claimed that her father's former wife Margaret Keane had falsely accused him in the film of not being the true creator of the "big eyes" paintings.

Meanwhile, "Unbroken," the real life story of Louis Zamperini directed by Angelina Jolie, was never going to be warmly received in Japan. Soon after its release, many questioned how Zamperini managed to survive for 47 days on the open ocean. Likewise many Japanese questioned Laura Hillenbrand's book on which the film was based, saying that she had not verified the claims that Zamperini made.

Deadline, commenting on the controversies on these films that are in the race for the Oscars, said such differences of opinion are normal. In previous years, it said, several fact-based film nominees, including last year's "Zero Dark Thirty," saw their Oscars chances scuttled because of such controversies.