American Crime Story

The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016) (S01) 

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. (17.11.2017)