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The People V. OJ Simpson (2016)
American Crime Story series
I wasn't sure if I wanted to revisit those infamous events that brought an American football hero to court on charge of first degree murder of his wife and her friend.
I watched most of these events happening live on my TV. Who could forget OJ running from the cops in his White Ford Bronco? Or the resulting trial that seemed to take forever. And who could forget the circus media atmosphere that ushered in the era of newstainment.
The OJ trial was the first and last time I got involved in watching a criminal news story. So why in the hell would I want to watch The People V. OJ Simpson and relive all that? Well, after reading Gideon's enthusiastic review of this, I decided to give it a go.
With the first segment, I was hooked! This folks is fine film making. I don't have the words or time to describe every single segment of it, as it was originally broadcast in 20 episodes. That's a lot of OJ, and it's a good thing too, as it takes that much time to get ones head around the social political events that drove the trial in the direction it took.
What I really, really liked about this is it doesn't take sides and say OJ was framed, or OJ was guilty as hell, it shows us the events starting with the discovery of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Coleman's bodies, then OJ's questioning and initial arrest, then the infamous Bronco chase. The re-staging of OJ and his football friend 'AC' Al Collins escape down the California freeway has to be see to believe.
But this film is not about seeing murders or car chases...this is all about the behind the trial scenes. We see both the 'dream team' OJ's defense team and how these giant egos thrash each other jocking to be top dog lawyer. And we see the overly confident prosecution team and their ever increasing troubles, which ultimately will lead to OJ being freed.
The actors who portray these people were nothing short of astounding! They all deserve a shout out, but I'll just hit on those that made the most impact on me.
Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) and Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown) have a look of defeat in their eyes.
Sarah Paulson as state prosecutor Marcia Clark. Did she look like Marcia or what? Even more importantly she channeled Marcia, I thought she was the real person. I loved her character as it gave us a personal insight into the prosecution's side of the trial and the frustrations they faced. She won a Emmy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Sterling K. Brown as assistant state prosecutor Christopher Darden. In many ways his portrayal gives us, the viewer a very humanistic connection to what could have been a film all about legalize. I could easily relate to this nice guy who ends up facing an uphill battle, both because the defense will stop at nothing to break his will and because as a black man, he's being called an 'Uncle Tom' by the other black lawyer, Johnnie Cochran who plays on race loyalty to make Darden feel guilty about prosecuting another black man. Powerful stuff, and this film has the balls not to back off from exploration of all the dirty tricks that were done to get OJ off. He was Emmy nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance), delivers his summary like a fiery preacher.
American Crime Story series
I wasn't sure if I wanted to revisit those infamous events that brought an American football hero to court on charge of first degree murder of his wife and her friend.
I watched most of these events happening live on my TV. Who could forget OJ running from the cops in his White Ford Bronco? Or the resulting trial that seemed to take forever. And who could forget the circus media atmosphere that ushered in the era of newstainment.
The OJ trial was the first and last time I got involved in watching a criminal news story. So why in the hell would I want to watch The People V. OJ Simpson and relive all that? Well, after reading Gideon's enthusiastic review of this, I decided to give it a go.
With the first segment, I was hooked! This folks is fine film making. I don't have the words or time to describe every single segment of it, as it was originally broadcast in 20 episodes. That's a lot of OJ, and it's a good thing too, as it takes that much time to get ones head around the social political events that drove the trial in the direction it took.
What I really, really liked about this is it doesn't take sides and say OJ was framed, or OJ was guilty as hell, it shows us the events starting with the discovery of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Coleman's bodies, then OJ's questioning and initial arrest, then the infamous Bronco chase. The re-staging of OJ and his football friend 'AC' Al Collins escape down the California freeway has to be see to believe.
But this film is not about seeing murders or car chases...this is all about the behind the trial scenes. We see both the 'dream team' OJ's defense team and how these giant egos thrash each other jocking to be top dog lawyer. And we see the overly confident prosecution team and their ever increasing troubles, which ultimately will lead to OJ being freed.
The actors who portray these people were nothing short of astounding! They all deserve a shout out, but I'll just hit on those that made the most impact on me.
Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) and Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown) have a look of defeat in their eyes.
Sarah Paulson as state prosecutor Marcia Clark. Did she look like Marcia or what? Even more importantly she channeled Marcia, I thought she was the real person. I loved her character as it gave us a personal insight into the prosecution's side of the trial and the frustrations they faced. She won a Emmy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Sterling K. Brown as assistant state prosecutor Christopher Darden. In many ways his portrayal gives us, the viewer a very humanistic connection to what could have been a film all about legalize. I could easily relate to this nice guy who ends up facing an uphill battle, both because the defense will stop at nothing to break his will and because as a black man, he's being called an 'Uncle Tom' by the other black lawyer, Johnnie Cochran who plays on race loyalty to make Darden feel guilty about prosecuting another black man. Powerful stuff, and this film has the balls not to back off from exploration of all the dirty tricks that were done to get OJ off. He was Emmy nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance), delivers his summary like a fiery preacher.
The actor who played golden mouthed Johnnie Cochran, lit up the screen with one helluva a performance. If the real Johnnie Cochran was alive he'd probably hire the actor to do his trials for him, he was that good! And what a powerful character: he was smart, he was savvy, he was manipulative and by a stroke of genius he came up with the defense that would get OJ off the hook for the two murders. This is where the term playing the 'race card' first came into the vernacular. And once again the film does not shy away from exploring the tense situation in L.A. that had resulted in the acquittal of four white policemen caught on tape brutally beating a black man Rodney King, who was not even resisting them. The acquittal of the four white police officers then ignite the LA riots. With the racially super charged atmosphere that existed in LA, Cochran milked it for all it's worth. He was Emmy nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Kudos to the actors who played Judge Lance Ito. When I first saw him, I said to myself 'he looks more like judge Ito, than the real judge did!' I loved all the scenes with Kenneth Choi who plays the calm and collective Judge Ito. He gives balance to the craziness.
Robert Shapiro (John Travolta), Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer) and OJ Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
With all of this seriousness the film has lighter moments as we see these powerful people on the dream team act like babies. John Travolta as the defense lawyer Robert Shapiro had me in stitches! I don't know if the real Robert Shapiro was so whimsical, but Travolta rocks his role. He was Emmy nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
The Goldman family members, react to the shocking conclusion to the trial.
I'd like to thank the film makers for including a few brief but poigant scenes with the Goldmans, (the father and sister of the murdered Ron Goldman). Their utter grief helps to remind us this isn't all about show and powerful lawyers. The scenes with the Goldmans haught us with the real brutality of what was done to two people, Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman.
OJ Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr) trying on the infamous bloody leather gloves that were found at the crime scene.
This is amazing stuff and I verily told you a fraction of it!
Kudos to the actors who played Judge Lance Ito. When I first saw him, I said to myself 'he looks more like judge Ito, than the real judge did!' I loved all the scenes with Kenneth Choi who plays the calm and collective Judge Ito. He gives balance to the craziness.
Robert Shapiro (John Travolta), Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer) and OJ Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
With all of this seriousness the film has lighter moments as we see these powerful people on the dream team act like babies. John Travolta as the defense lawyer Robert Shapiro had me in stitches! I don't know if the real Robert Shapiro was so whimsical, but Travolta rocks his role. He was Emmy nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
The Goldman family members, react to the shocking conclusion to the trial.
I'd like to thank the film makers for including a few brief but poigant scenes with the Goldmans, (the father and sister of the murdered Ron Goldman). Their utter grief helps to remind us this isn't all about show and powerful lawyers. The scenes with the Goldmans haught us with the real brutality of what was done to two people, Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman.
OJ Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr) trying on the infamous bloody leather gloves that were found at the crime scene.
This is amazing stuff and I verily told you a fraction of it!