The Trial Of The Century
I needed to make time to study for a forthcoming accounting exam, so I watched every episode of American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson in four days. That at least suggests that the drama is very watchable, although the performances are a bit of a mixed bag. There are parts of Cuba Gooding Jr's portrayal of OJ that feel believable, but it's difficult to imagine a whinier depiction of the character unless he was played by Tracy Morgan.
A lot has been said about Travolta's involvement including various speculation on whether he's had Botox or cosmetic surgery. That's neither here or there but it's difficult to get around the fact that
his facial expression seemingly fixed somewhere between pain and discomfort irrespective of what he's actually attempting to convey.
I've not seen David Schwimmer for a while and he's in solid form here as Robert Kardashian, who informs his children "Fame is fleeting, it's hollow. It means nothing without a virtuous heart". Not exactly subtle. But there's certainly a good deal more to the character as he struggles to come to terms with what his friend has done. A scene towards the end where he realises that OJ plans to move on as though nothing has happened is especially devastating. Courtney B Vance is in fine form as the charismatic Johnnie Cochrane, successfully stoking the underlying racial tensions in post riot LA as one of the strategies to acquit his client.
The star of this story is not OJ or Cochrane but prosecutor Marcia Clark. Sarah Paulson is utterly outstanding in the role, commanding each moment she's on screen as a woman struggling to balance the demands of her domestic life with her work and her profound desire to put Simpson behind bars. Her relationship with co-prosecutor Chris Darden (Sterling K Brown) provides the real heart of the series. There's a moment where Darden, at the end of a night's drinking, stands outside Clark's hotel room deliberating on whether or not to kiss her. Each second feels like an eternity for the viewer. It's excruciating, but completely genuine.
Even though you know the outcome of the story, American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson grips you with twists and turns across its ten episodes.
A lot has been said about Travolta's involvement including various speculation on whether he's had Botox or cosmetic surgery. That's neither here or there but it's difficult to get around the fact that
his facial expression seemingly fixed somewhere between pain and discomfort irrespective of what he's actually attempting to convey.
I've not seen David Schwimmer for a while and he's in solid form here as Robert Kardashian, who informs his children "Fame is fleeting, it's hollow. It means nothing without a virtuous heart". Not exactly subtle. But there's certainly a good deal more to the character as he struggles to come to terms with what his friend has done. A scene towards the end where he realises that OJ plans to move on as though nothing has happened is especially devastating. Courtney B Vance is in fine form as the charismatic Johnnie Cochrane, successfully stoking the underlying racial tensions in post riot LA as one of the strategies to acquit his client.
The star of this story is not OJ or Cochrane but prosecutor Marcia Clark. Sarah Paulson is utterly outstanding in the role, commanding each moment she's on screen as a woman struggling to balance the demands of her domestic life with her work and her profound desire to put Simpson behind bars. Her relationship with co-prosecutor Chris Darden (Sterling K Brown) provides the real heart of the series. There's a moment where Darden, at the end of a night's drinking, stands outside Clark's hotel room deliberating on whether or not to kiss her. Each second feels like an eternity for the viewer. It's excruciating, but completely genuine.
Even though you know the outcome of the story, American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson grips you with twists and turns across its ten episodes.
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