American Crime Story - The People v. O.J. Simpson

There is some shaky acting and sometimes the series is slightly on the edge of excess stylization, but as a whole it is dramatic, layered, intelligently written and still extremely relevant socially. The People v. O.J. Simpson reveals how the debate on racism can turn into a utilitarian witch hunt in which the same crimes as the one originally opposed are committed. Along with The Night Of, an uncompromising look at the American justice system, which listens to stories rather than evidence. (18/12/2016)

Less reserved and procedural than one would expect. The procedural part is sidelined in favor of a great American engaged drama based on characters, stories, emotions, prejudice and social overlaps (racism, sexism, you know what I mean). Of course, it's not entirely bad, but it´s a let-down (at least for me). On the other hand, it goes hand in hand with the fact that this is exactly what completely controlled the process at the expense of evidence and similar "redundancies". But where else would this approach fit more than in the trial of the most famous overseas celebrity that was accused of murder. The media were overexcited and quickly covered every possible aspect of soap opera taking place in court room. And then the case of clear murder turned into a several months lasting "Process of the Century" that polarized the society on the racial issue. This is exactly the aspect the creators pay special attention to and they work with it not in a cheap way, reasonable, comprehensively and interestingly. Sadly, the opening is rather week and some of the performances too. There are absolutely excellent performances seen (Brown, Vance, Lane and of course Sarah Paulson) along with those that look almost like parodies. There are only a few of them, but they are even more striking. However, it is clearly worth watching, if not for the fact it´s astonishing up-to-date or for the captivating course (it is a series that can be binged in one go, especially from the fifth episode onwards), then for an great example of everything rotten in the US legal system. The prosecution has to deal with one procedural error after another (however unwanted they are, but it is something you would not expect for such a closely watched case, what is even more surprising is that these errors are not exceptional). The defense, on the other hand, largely "ignores" the case of double violent murder and proclaims the racial story line which the media (and gladly) agree with, along with the public and eventually even the prosecution with the jury. And this is what is the far most fascinating/disturbing in this respect. (23/01/2017)

Very few people have a sense of drama like Ryan Murphy, and the fact that he took on such a complex story and is now reaping the praise for it is satisfying. Because there's no point lying about it: it truly was the trial of the century. At the beginning it was clear that there wouldn't be any room for narrative shocks in a story where most viewers know the beginning and the end. And yet I was mistaken, because in the desperate battle between determined prosecutors and ruthless defense lawyers, a few surprising twists actually do occur. Until the whole thing reaches the actual trial, I had quite a problem with the storytelling, because O.J. Simpson comes across, however intentionally, as very unappealing, especially due to Cuba Gooding Jr.'s melodramatic performance, and I only just barely endured his hysterical outbursts where he constantly complains with his squeaky voice. But as the tension starts to build, it takes a completely different turn, and the actors get credit for that the most with so many unparalleled, breathtaking performances all in one place. Surprisingly, Sarah Paulson impressed me the most, and I cheered for her with every obstacle she faced from adversaries or the public. John Travolta, who is frightening, and Courtney B. Vance are also outstanding in their roles, especially Vance's portrayal of an almost bloodthirsty demon fighting for human rights, Johnnie Cochran, who thoughtlessly commits "good". However, my biggest favorite became Christopher Darden, who was initially unassuming but increasingly important. The uncertainty when it is expected that he won't be on this side of the fence – and when he is, his presence is solely seen as a racial issue – are masterful moments, and I'm glad that Sterling K. Brown's star is rising steadily, precisely because of the Juice's case. (26/03/2018)

An unusually skillfully shot and brilliantly stylised reminiscence of the nineties; a well-written and at times extremely dramatic procedural; a sophisticated and comprehensive probe into the American justice system of that era, plus racial overtones and a white vs black battle. Gooding Jr. is basically the only distraction, his acting is erratic to say the least. Otherwise, the cast delivers one ace after another, and apart from a few deaf spots, it's a memorable exchange of biting dialogue and allusions to the system. (09/06/2018)

Once again, one can't help but marvel at how far the production of TV series has come in recent years. A beautifully constructed narrative process with awesome actors and a swashbuckling retro coat that never overwhelms the viewer, but keeps them constantly and subtly on edge. Every episode relies on a different formal dominance (from the rhythmic alternation of multiple storylines to their imaginative overlapping to playing with time or documentary elements), and I outrageously enjoyed the shifting approach to the characters, which allowed for the incorporation of personal levels without distracting too much from the trial itself (the initially pragmatic and cynical lawyer is the most emotional and fully fleshed-out character by the end). We are constantly given crucial information and motivational threads, but the funny thing is that they often only start to make sense after a few episodes, when the viewer is already processing dozens of other and equally important cues. But the symbolic musical background and the aforementioned casting are also great – it's been long since I've seen actors impersonate real protagonists so grandly (ironically, except for Gooding, who doesn't look much like Simpson – but he's excellent), and it's been even longer since I've watched Travolta enjoy a role like this. I really wish I could watch it without knowing the verdict in advance, because it would fry me emotionally like an earthworm in the sun. But still, the best courtroom drama ever made, The Rainmaker or The Nuremberg Trial notwithstanding. (16/11/2017)