O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA (2016) – My rating: 9/10

Through interviews, new footage, and archival audio and video, O.J.: Made in America traces the life and career of O. J. Simpson, starting with his arrival at the University of Southern California as an emerging football superstar and ending with his incarceration in 2007 for robbery. Throughout the documentary, Simpson’s life – the football success, television career, relationship with Nicole Brown, the domestic abuse, Nicole and Ron Goldman’s murder, the trial – runs parallel to the larger narrative of the city of Los Angeles, which serves as host to mounting racial tensions and a volatile relationship between the city’s police department and the African American community.

TV critic James Poniewozik described the director’s technique in his New York Times review: “Ezra Edelman pulls back, way back, like a news chopper over a freeway chase. Before you hear about the trial, the documentary says, you need to hear all the stories — the stories of race, celebrity, sports, America — that it’s a part of.”

O.J.: Made in America premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2016, was released in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles in May 2016 and debuted on ABC on June 11, 2016, and aired on ESPN. The documentary has received widespread acclaim and has won numerous awards.

After seeing this documentary, I was impressed at how factual and straightforward it was.  I thought I knew everything about OJ, this gave me a new perspective and something to think about.  O.J.: Made in America is an excellent source of information into the whole picture from beginning to end, so if you care to know as much as you could about the life and times of O. J. Simpson, this is a great documentary to learn about him and all that went into shaping who he is.  O.J.: Made in America is currently streaming on Amazon, and can be gotten on Netflix.

[O.J.: Made in America WON the 89th ANNUAL OSCAR AWARD for Best Documentary Feature]

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RESURRECTION – My rating: 7/10

OK, the suspense level is high, the mystery level is high but my expectations are  apprehensive at best.  Because of Flash Forward, I am skeptical about this new series, starring Omar Epps as immigration agent, J. Martin Bellamy.  The story focuses on Arcadia, a small town in Missouri.  First, an eight year old boy who drowned 32 years ago, trying to save his aunt who fell in the lake, resurfaces, alive and well and unaged.  His parents, Henry and Lucille Langston are played by Frances Fisher and Kurtwood Smith, respectively are 32 years older and now suddenly have their son back, except that he’s still 8 years old.  Their son, Jacob is played by Landon Gimenez.  His DNA matches his father’s and his memory is impeccable.  Next, Caleb Richards, who died of a heart attack and has been dead for 8 years, resurfaces with no knowledge that he died of a heart attack.  No one knows what’s going on.  At last episode, Tom, the local preacher, discovered his former fiance, who committed suicide 12 years ago, has also been resurrected and was seated in his church alive and well.  All of this makes for an exciting series but so did Flash Forward, which was about almost everyone in the world falling unconscious for 2 minutes.  For those 2 minutes, you were able to see your future or not.  Those who didn’t see their future knew they didn’t have one.  The network left us hanging in midstream, without closure.  ABC is known for pulling the plug without explanation.  I’m sticking with this one in hopes that they will let Resurrection run its course.  I heard it’s still in the probationary stage.  I find it entertaining — check it out!