SYNOPSICS
O.J.: Made in America (2016) is a English movie. Ezra Edelman has directed this movie. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Mike Albanese,Muhammad Ali,Marcus Allen are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2016. O.J.: Made in America (2016) is considered one of the best Documentary,Biography,Crime,History movie in India and around the world.
It is the defining cultural tale of modern America - a saga of race, celebrity, media, violence, and the criminal justice system. And two decades after its unforgettable climax, it continues to fascinate, polarize, and even, yes, develop new chapters. Now, the producers of ESPN's award-winning "30 for 30" have made it the subject of their first documentary-event and most ambitious project yet. From Peabody and Emmy-award winning director Ezra Edelman, it's "O.J.: Made in America," a 10-hour multi-part production coming summer of 2016. To most observers, it's a story that began the night Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were brutally murdered outside her Brentwood apartment. But as "O.J." lays bare, to truly grasp the significance of what happened not just that night, but the epic chronicle to follow, one has to travel back to a much different, much earlier origin point, at not the end, but the beginning of the 20th century, when African-Americans began migrating to California ...
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O.J.: Made in America (2016) Reviews
Simply put: this is the ultimate documentary (and not just about the O.J. case)
Watching a 7.5-hour long documentary about a case we all think we know may seem a daunting task at first, but trust me: you'll have a very hard time to resist the urge to binge watch the whole mini series once you've started. This documentary (which to me felt like a seven-and-a-half-hour feature film) is - in my humble opinion - one of the greatest achievements in American filmmaking and utterly captivating from the beginning to the end. Where the equally brilliant but fictional series 'The Wire' took the topic of crime as a means to cast a look at all aspects and social layers of a whole city (Baltimore), 'O.J.: Made in America' examines the life and crimes of a single man (albeit one leading a very public life) to cast a very close look at American society as a whole, and the result is the most complete, in-depth analysis of the divided nation's collective psyche I have ever seen. The portrait that emerges is so fascinating and so revealing and educational (and I hate to admit: thrillingly entertaining) that I believe this should be recommended viewing in schools and colleges across the country. And if you think: "Meh, I know that story, it's been all over the news - not interested", think again. Trust me, you do not know this story (or better: these stories). And there's a big chance you'll understand a great deal more about America once you've finished watching this masterpiece. I know I'm dishing out superlatives here, but it's like director Ezra Edelman made the ultimate documentary - perhaps even the ultimate film. 'O.J.: Made in America' functions on so many levels; it's like watching a whole collection of films where the same protagonist inexplicably lives through a wide array of very different stories (which somehow STILL manage to end up as ONE cohesive tale). Just to give you an impression how rich this documentary is, I tried to count the stories and most dominant themes and found at least 10 (although you could probably find more): 1. There's the fascinating story of a poor kid from the ghetto rising through sheer will and enormous talent to become an American icon and superstar. 2. There's a great - and uplifting - sport story (especially for Football fans) that is usually the material of Hollywood films. 3. There's the very human drama of a genuine love story turning into an abusive relationship plagued by domestic violence. 4. There's the mesmerizing and shocking murder mystery; 5. the thrilling courtroom drama; 6. a razor-sharp satire about our and our media's unhealthy fixation on celebrities; 7. an unbelievable, surreal story of a nationwide man-hunt that gives Spielberg's 'Sugarland Express' a run for its money; 8. a close examination of the U.S. judicial system; 9. the story of the rise and the very, very steep fall of a man who had it all and lost everything; 10. an eye-opening story about race relations in America over the past 50 years And as incredible as it may seem, those stories are all real. The way Edelman managed to put them all together to forge this groundbreaking documentary can't be praised enough. A unique experience. 10 stars out of 10. Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: imdb.com/list/ls075552387/ Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/ Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/ Favorite Low-Budget and B-Movies: imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Is this the final chapter?
Well is it the final chapter? I seriously doubt it. We all must have seen numerous documentaries about OJ and what happened or didn't happen and we all have our own version of what we think happened. Some older people (like me) may remember watching this as it happened and some may have caught up after the fact but it's still a fascinating watch. This is as comprehensive as it gets, and at seven and a half hours does cover it very comprehensively. I did it in three instalments and never got bored on any occasion. It was factual, with actual footage of the trail, and is updated with commentary provided by many who were involved. I'm not gonna take sides and slam or praise anyone but be assured, you will. No matter how you think things went down you will have a good guy and bad guy scenario and like me you will become a little louder than normal. Well worth a watch even though it takes a while.
Outstanding Documentary. In Memory of Nicole and Ron.
This is one of the best documentaries i have ever seen. After recently watching the "not as good" "The People vs OJ Simpson" with John Travolta and Cuba Gooding Jr. This documentary was definitely a breath of fresh air. The depth of it, the attention to all the details, the interviews, the massive amount of research that has gone into it. It is massive, to make this documentary is a tremendous undertaking, and is nothing but outstanding. It manages to keep you nailed to your seat for almost 8 hours, you sit and watch as you shake your head in disbelief. This documentary is nothing short of a masterpiece. Even though most of us have heard about this story time and time again, and made up our minds years ago, the documentary gives you a new fresh look at things, you start from the very beginning. We follow OJ all the way back to when he started to become noticed as a good football player, and we follow him all the way to his fall from the top of the mountain. The documentary does not take sides, which would be a terrible decision for any director to pursue, so after you have seen it, you have the ability to make up your own mind. Did OJ do it? Or did he not? I was never in doubt he was guilty of killing his wife and her friend, and this documentary didn't strengthen my opinion or weaken it, but it made me feel so sorry for Nicole Simpson and what she had been through, it is truly heartbreaking. I sit her and feel i wish i could go back in time and save her. All the beatings, the abuse and the terror she had to endure through the years, she was the mother of his children, and was slaughtered as a pig, left to bleed out alongside her friend who were also bleeding out. And the guy who did it, got away free with murder. Horrible, just horrible. The documentary does not filter this by censuring crime scene photos, no it shows them in close ups. To see what rage a person must have felt the moment he slices a woman's throat right in to her neck while she is still alive. Now this is graphic, it is, but i think the documentary does it right by showing this to us. This is about the trial of the century, where a famous man faces the most famous justice system in the world. Will this justice system judge him based on the evidence?. Well most of us already know the outcome. But why did this end the way it did?. There are details we have never seen or heard before, there are people that has not been able to speak out properly, this documentary has gathered key people from OJ's life all the way back to his childhood, and it builds an image of him, detailed, slowly, but never boring, it shows us who OJ really was, and how he became that way. All the years after the murder of his wife, and OJ did nothing to find "the real killer". He was laughing and dancing, he had custody of his children, he lived a good life in a very nice house, and lived the dream as most others can't even dream of. Watching all these clips of him, doing all this, and celebrating life as it was himself that was the god of it all, made me feel deeply sad for Nicole. If only someone had prevented this, if only someone could have done something. I can never get those images of Nicole and Ron's crime scene photos out of my head. But i had to see them to feel how i do now. Amazing documentary, highly recommended, both for those who know about the case and followed it, and for those who know nothing about it. See it, learn from it, and take in that this can actually happen. My verdict is : 10/10
Well-Produced Episode Focuses on LAPD and Simpson's Pattern of Domestic Abuse
The second episode in the five-part series "O.J.: Made in America" attempts to weave together two stories. The film provides in-depth coverage of (1) the racially insensitive and abusive practices of the Los Angeles police department and the judicial system in the 1970s and '80s and (2) the troubled marriage of O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown, focusing on the well-documented pattern of domestic abuse. At the core of the film's depiction of LAPD is the Rodney King incident. The filmmakers' decision to play over and over the amateur film footage of the beating of King reinforces the severity of the violence of this disgraceful incident. The incomprehensible verdict in exonerating the four white police officers who committed the beating speaks volumes about the amoral police department and the judicial system of Los Angeles. The profile of law enforcement in Los Angeles was the backdrop for the substantial evidence of domestic abuse committed by O.J. Simpson. Through documentary materials (including Nicole's diary and police reports) and eyewitness testimony, it becomes clear that as a celebrity, O.J. Simpson had enough clout to prevent the star-struck LAPD from prosecuting him for domestic abuse. The hypocrisy of individual police offers is truly appalling, as depicted in the film. One scene recounts how two Brentwood cops would knock on the door of Simpson's home just to bask in the glow of the magical aura of "The Juice." The racist approach to law enforcement in the highly segregated Los Angeles basin was contrasted with the double standard applied to Simpson, whose celebrity status apparently offered him immunity from prosecution for serious offenses in domestic violence. One of the most shocking moments in the film was the testimony of a policeman with integrity, who arrived at the Simpson home after one of Nicole's 911 calls. The officer prepared a detailed report of the injuries to Nicole, then kept a personal copy, suspecting that O.J. would be given a free pass by the high command of the Brentwood police. According to the cop, the number of incidents and the severity of the abuse should have resulted in the prosecution of O.J. Simpson for a felony. According to the cop, O.J. even fled the scene in his Bentley in order to avoid talking to police. Apparently even fleeing a crime scene did not figure in the LAPD's brazen failure to enforce the law and protect Nicole. In this extremely well-researched and well-produced episode, the viewer is left with disgust at the conduct of the LAPD and the breakdown of the American judicial system that was apparent long before "the trial of the century." One also wonders why prosecutor Marcia Clark could not have presented the facts about Simpson's long-standing pattern of domestic abuse as effectively as the makers of this documentary film.
Great American Crime Saga
This documentary explores the murder trial of O.J. Simpson - but it focuses not only on the lives of the people involved - but also the socio-political backdrop of Los Angeles. A city where the police acted as a militarized force against the black communities at a disparaging rate - and the courts seemed to protect the police and persecute the blacks. At the same time - to be rich in Los Angeles - was to be able to literally - get away with cold blooded murder. From out of this landscape - came the crime of the century. Where the beloved and wealthy O.J Simpson - a college football star, professional player, move star, and celebrity, was accused of a horrific homicide - taking a knife and butchering his wife and her friend. He would then lead the police on bizarre chase that was watched by millions of Americans. He was even cheered on by thousands of people who waited on the road to watch him pass by. After his arrest came the trial of the century - a tale that not even Shakespeare could have written. The trial would be broadcast live and watched by millions of people around the world. It was one of the biggest events in history. The defense was made up of a team of specialists who were paid fifty thousand dollars a day to poke holes in the prosecutors case - and boy did they ever! Racist cops. Allegedly planted evidence. Murder gloves that do not fit. But what makes this more interesting - is that despite the defense theories - the evidence against O.J Simpson was overwhelming. He was home at the time of the murders. He had a history of severe domestic abuse. Stalking. He had cuts on his hands from a knife that he could not explain. There was simply no one else with the means, motive, and opportunity to murder these people. Yet - the jury acquitted him after only three hours of deliberation! The jurors were made up of nine black women. The DA had decided to keep the trial in downtown Los Angeles so it would seem to be a more balanced prosecution. But the jury would later admit that O.J Simpson was acquitted because they wanted revenge on the city of Los Angeles for the mistreatment of the black community at the hands of the police department. After the footage the documentary shows - it is difficult not to sympathize with the jurors plight. Their community was under siege. They retaliated. Even more astonishing - was that OJ Simpson had never been a defender of the black community. In fact, he had distanced himself from the black community almost all of his life. Yet they protected him - and to the black community it was a sign of progress for a black person who be acquitted in a court of law - even if they were guilty. Perhaps that is a racial quagmire that I - and all other white people - should fathom - before we pass judgment? OJ Simpson would be found not guilty, but his crimes would haunt him for the rest of his days. His friends distanced themselves. He lost much of his fortune. He was even found liable in a civil trial of the murders. His life imploded into drugs, alcohol, and buffoonery. He ran with a crew of misfits and losers and scumbags and con artists. Finally - he would commit a stupid armed robbery to get some of his old memorabilia back and he would at last be sentenced to decades in prison. One cannot help but notice that all of America is on trial in this documentary - and that in a sense - justice was indeed done. The city of Los Angeles was punished for their crimes. O.J. Simpson was finally punished for his crimes. Perhaps there is no way to make sense out of all of this - except to learn from this story - and try not to repeat history? I should ad - this documentary is simply far more complex than any written review can explain. It had tremendous interviews with the colorful cast of characters involved. Footage of heartbreaking loss. Intense struggle. And even the heroic actions of the family of the murder victims - whose pursuit of justice would not go unanswered.