Search

American Tragedy

2001, Movie, PG-13, 170 mins

American Tragedy: Review

AMERICAN TRAGEDY
starstarstarstar
This mini-series fails to live up to its title, rehashing the over-analyzed trial of the century — as O.J. Simpson's lurid day in court was dubbed — and offers few fresh observations. Former football hero Simpson (Raymond Forchion) is arrested for the double homicide of his wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ron Goldman, Los Angeles entertainment lawyer Robert Shapiro (Ron Silver) springs into action. Prodded by Simpson's buddy Robert Kardashian (Robert Lupone), Shapiro assembles a high-priced team of advocates and experts. Using Simpson's insights into public perception of his persona, the lawyers fabricate a calculated, public relations savvy version of the truth. After his co-counsels deconstruct the spousal abuse theory put forth by prosecutor Marcia Clark (Diana Lamar), DNA expert Barry Scheck (Bruno Kirby) seizes upon flaws in the handling of evidence by the LAPD. Not only does the defense outsmart the prosecution during jury selection, but they also create reasonable doubt by playing the race card. Flamboyant attorney Johnnie Cochran (Ving Rhames) hints at an LAPD conspiracy spearheaded by racist cop Mark Furhman, who was at the crime scene, appeals to the jurors' racial pride and asks them to ponder miscarriages of justice against other African-Americans. In fact, the smooth machinery of the defense hits only one real snag, an internal power struggle between Shapiro and F. Lee Bailey (Christopher Plummer), who tries to recharge his stalled career at Shapiro's expense. Exploiting the ineffectuality of Judge Ito (Clyde Kusatsu), the defense strategists win an acquittal for for their client and, caught up in their own success, the lawyers' doubts about Simpson's innocence fall by the wayside. Featuring a top-notch cast in Dream Team drag, this courtroom docudrama never penetrates the veneer of questionable ethics involved in O.J. Simpson's defense. Instead of insight into the lawyers' self-serving ambitions, the teleplay settles for the same legal minutiae that Court TV covered at some length. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
Advertisement

Shop

American Tragedy
Buy American Tragedy from Amazon.com
From Lions Gate (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarnostar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $7.49
American Experience - Scottsboro: An American Tragedy
Buy American Experience - Scottsboro: An American Tragedy from Amazon.com
From PBS (Direct) (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $17.49

more American Tragedy products

Advertisement

Related Websites

You might be also interested in the following websites:

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. Dancing with the Stars
  2. The Game
  3. NCIS
  4. American Idol
  5. Wife Swap
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Michelle Obama
  2. Adam Lambert
  3. Tiger Woods
  4. Kym Johnson
  5. Donny Osmond
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  2. The Blind Side
  3. 2012
  4. Planet 51
  5. A Christmas Carol
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. Family Guy
  2. Dancing with the Stars
  3. #5 Adam Lambert - For Your En...
  4. Dancing with the Stars
  5. Cougar Town
more top videos