O.J.: Made in America (3-DVD + 2-BD)

This is a five-part documentary, each part running approximately an hour and a half, that, as a whole, tells of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, from his childhood growing up in the projects of San Fransisco, his excellent college career at USC, his professional football career, his life outside of football, of course, the murder of his ex-wife and friend and the resulting trial, his post-trial life, and ends with his arrest in Las Vegas for armed robbery and kidnapping. Within that, it also tells the story of the LA police department and the interaction with the black community which is essential to understanding why the trial played out as it did.The series gives a raw, uncensored look at OJ's life, revealing the parts that he really tried to keep hidden, and shows that he was basically an arrogant, abusive, womanizing, jackass who used whomever he could, yet managed to be so charming and charismatic that even the people being used had a hard time cutting themselves free from him and seeing him for what he is. The last two parts really focusing on the trial itself, and what an s-show it really was all around. One of the more interesting things was seeing the finger-pointing between the defense attorneys, the prosecution, and the police, between not only the other sides but oftentimes on their own side. A couple of the jurors also agreed to be interviewed for the documentary. One of who basically said she thought the prosecution really failed to prove their case, with the colossal blunder of Chris Darden (whom she thought was in over his head and only brought in at the last minute because he was black (which the DA basically admitted) of having O.J try on the gloves in court. While another juror admitted she was always going to find him innocent as "revenge" for Rodney King, the black motorist who was nearly beaten to death by a group of LA cops who were later acquitted when tried for the beating. The documentary went over some of the mistakes that were made by the prosecution, the judge, and the brazen crap that the defense was allowed to get away with. You also hear how people who knew OJ, including his former friends, and former agent (to whom O.J. basically admitted he was guilty to) come to the realization that he was guilty, while others maintain he could have never committed murder. It is also interesting to see how the defense attorneys who agreed to be interviewed put their spin on things, with Barry Sheck twisting himself into a pretzel to avoid answering the question of whether he actually believed the blood evidence was planted or tainted. I have always found it ironic that a guy that did everything he could to turn his back on the black community, was never shy about referring to poor blacks using the n-word, actually palled around with LA police officers, and was treated with kid gloves by the police both before the murders and during the murder investigation was let off the hook by jurors who (at least some) wanted to stick it to the LA police and court system that had screwed blacks for decades.The set comes with three DVDs and two Blu-rays, each of which has the exact same content. There is a lot of swearing in the documentary and you see unedited crime scene photographs, including the pictures of the horrific neck wounds on both Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman as one of the prosecutors talked through how he believes the actual murders were carried out. So, it is definitely not something that you would want kids to see. For bonus material, there are a collection of ESPN shows in which O.J. was interviewed throughout the years.Overall, it is a wonderful, eye-opening documentary. I think the fact that it did not just focus on the murder trial itself was good. It was definitely not a re-hash of everything else that had been produced about the trial and provided a lot of new information, even for people who, like me, watched a lot of the trial as it was going on. It is a great retrospective, and definitely worth watching.

The murders and trial are central here of course, but time and focus is also given Simpson's pre murder-case history as one of our greatestathletes, his personal attitudes about race and his own role in society, his adolescence, the racial tensions that seethed in the country at the time of the trial, and then goes on to examine his years after the trial, including Simpson's arrest and conviction for armed robbery in Las Vegas.What emerges is a sad, chilling and complex portrait of a deeply disturbed if once brilliantly talented and charismatic human being, onewho seemed to have mislaid his sense of inner self and identity paradoxically allowing a whole nation read into him whatever they wanted to see.At the same time, the film is a scathing indictment of a society for years willing to overlook O.J.'s violence towards women, and - simultaneously - the L.A.P.D.'s violence towards African-Americans -- leading to a trial featuring was a face off of the most extreme anddysfunctional of anti-heroes on both sides.The documentary presents a very different O.J. than the one in FX's docudrama "American Crime". That fictionalized O.J. seemed hapless, and weirdly unaware of himself or how he comes off. This O.J. comes off as more of a very smart sociopath, aggressively helping direct his own defense, and brilliantly manipulating those in his life -- lying with confidence and ease. There's also a sense of the epic Shakespeariantragic irony of the man's story; his journey from brilliance to hubris and violence, to escaping punishment, only to be brought down whileattempting to steal back things that were once his.It's a powerful look at both a man and his society, and it addresses the complexity of the racial issues around a man who never saw himselfas black, but who became a symbol for millions of people so long denied justice that they hitched their wagon to a very questionable hero. Italso makes a little clearer just how badly the police and prosecution messed up the handling of the case, making it a bit easier perhaps forthe white audience to understand that finding O.J. innocent wasn't simply a case of willful blindness, but of punishing a system that was for years shockingly, deeply dysfunctional. And that, wildly unjust though the verdict may have been (polls show even most African Americans now believe O.J. was guilty), there are arguably worse things than one man getting away with murder. Like centuries of a whole society accepting a murderous attitude by law enforcement and the justice system towards a race of people.The film does have flaws: certain ideas, thematic elements and even specific stories are repeated needlessly, bogging the narrative down atpoints, while other elements that one would seem crucial (e.g. : O.J.'s early childhood and how it helped shape him) get less attention andfocus than they would seem to deserve.But whatever it's minor shortcomings, this is an important and epic look at both a man who was is/was both a dangerous human being and asymbol, how America looks at race, fame, wealth, the justice system, and how one person could both hold and represent the grace of the gods and the violence and destructive anger of his own devils.

Diese Reportage müssen Sie sich ansehen. Für mich war es Nicht OJ Simpson Das ist meine Meinung. Sie können sich ruhig das anschauen. Bin gespannt, ob sie auf die gleichen Meinung kommen. Okay, er hat sie geschlagen, aber dafür ist er noch lange kein Mörder

I brought this a few years ago now and rewatched this on TV recently and was reminded just how great this DVD is. This is without a doubt the BEST full story of OJ Simpson and his rise to become a superstar in America and the story of the murder of both Nicole and Ron, the trial and the aftermath including his jail time for the Las Vegas armed robbery. Its literally hours of watching featuring countless lawyers opinions and comments on the trial. You are able to come to your own conclusion with the stack of information your given. Its an absolutely intriguing watch and as I said if you want to learn about the story this is the DVD you need. It does feature some graphic images from the crime scene.

Un documentaire à voir et à revoir. On reste sidéré par une parodie de justice qui puise ses fondements dans la haine raciale qui sévissait dans les années 80 à Los Angeles. Cette version que j’ai achetée en septembre 2019 est soit sous titrée soit en traduction française pour les intervenants interviewés. Donc pas de problème de compréhension.

Un documental imprescindible si te interesa el caso de OJ Simpson, muy interesante y esclarecedor.

Je cherchais ce DVD depuis longtemps, en version sous-titrée. Pour ma fille qui avait adoré voir ces 5 heures sur arte . Joli coffret en plus.