The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story - From the Ashes of Tragedy - Review

Welcome to my very first review of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. I just want to start off this review by saying I wasn’t even born when the trial took place. So I don’t really have too much knowledge of the events coming into this show. Yes I’ve heard the stories and I do have an opinion, but I want to let this show inform me about the events that took place during that time. I also want to see if this show has as much of an impact as Ryan Murphy expects to have. This isn’t supposed to be a debate on if O.J. killed Nicole Brown Simpson. What is relevant and still is today is the role that racial issues play into our society. As viewers we are getting a closer look at what took place behind the scenes of the trial.

The Cast:
I can’t start off my review with mentioning the all-star cast. I break down each of their performances and their representations of the characters they portray. If you guys like this I can make it a weekly thing, just comment and let me know!

First off I want to give a big thanks to David Schwimmer for gracing our television screens again. It had been way too long. Oh how I’ve missed the days of Ross Geller, but I guess I’ll have to make due with him playing Robert Kardashian. When I first heard Schwimmer was going to play Kardashian, I couldn’t believe it! Being an avid Keeping Up with the Kardashians fan (don’t judge me for it) I did not see the resemblance. Even with the hair and makeup I still can’t picture it. Let’s face it who am I kidding? Resemblance doesn’t really matter to me, because I’ll take any excuse to see any member of the Friends cast on my screen again. Resemblance aside, boy can David Schwimmer act. He proved that like many others before him (including the shows very own Cuba Gooding Jr.), he can turn the switch and be a dramatic actor as well.

It’s been quite a traumatizing experience for me every time I see John Travolta’s face. I cannot get the image out of my head of him hugging Scarlett Johansson or him grabbing Idina Menzel’s chin, at last years Academy Awards. Let’s just be completely honest here the guy creeps me out a little and by little I mean a lot. It’s been a hard pill to swallow knowing that I’m going to have to watch him for the next 10 weeks. Not only that, but besides from O.J. his character Robert Shapiro is always going to be front and center. Us viewers should all just be thankful that Ryan Murphy cast him on American Crime Story instead of American Horror Story, because who knows how bad my nightmares would have been. Besides from the creepiness that is John Travolta, he does play the role well. I truly think that this role is his comeback, as long as he stays far away from the Academy Awards.

Ms. Sarah Paulson one Ryan Murphy’s favorites is playing Marcia Clark. It’s ultimately left up to the viewer if she’s the hero or antagonist of the show. I for one think she is the unsung hero of the show, but hey that’s just me. I do think it is somewhat unfair that Murphy casted her on this show, when she was just on American Horror Story. Maybe that’s because I’m all for unknowns getting their big break, but there is no denying how much of powerhouse Paulson is. She can handle her own against the Hollywood heavyweights. It will be interesting to see her range as she tackles this role each week. She is a character driven actor, so I know that we won’t be disappointed.

Then there is Cuba Gooding Jr. Every time I see this guy I always picture the "Show me the money” scene from Jerry Maguire. It’s too iconic not to think of. Like Schwimmer it’s truly remarkable to see him go from a comedic actor to a dramatic one. I can’t even critique him, because he proved with his performance in the premiere that he is the perfect choice for the role. I will be shocked if he doesn’t at least one award for his portrayal of O.J.

Notable mention of the supporting cast they were also great.

Episode:
Going into this show I knew the acting would not be an issue. It would be the entertainment aspect of the show. Majority of the audience already knows what the verdict of the trial is, so what would be the point of tuning in? Well so they know what actually took place behind closed doors.

Our episode begins with a montage of people across America protesting to racial hate crimes. It then jumps forward two years, to the night Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered. Our first introduction to O.J. is him getting into a limo to take him to the airport. A dog is then shown barking and man comes to calm him down. He notices traces of blood around his paws and follows the tracks of blood toward house. There we see a bloody body. The cops are brought in and find Nicole and Ronald Goldman dead, with envelope and glove by their sides.

The detectives decide to go over and deliver O.J. the news. He is nowhere to be found, but his car is and there is blood on the door handle. Not a very good sign. They hop the fence and enter his property. That can’t be too legal can it? Detective Tom Lange calls O.J. to deliver the news. Obviously O.J. acts surprised, but Tom finds it odd that O.J. didn’t ask how Nicole died. While Tom is making a call another detective finds a glove under O.J.’s air conditioner. This area is now pronounced a crime scene.

Next we are introduced to the only leading lady of the series Marcia Clark. She’s a single mom, who balances her work and taking care of her children. We see this as she gets a call about O.J. She tells the detectives “To bring him in.” This is the first indication that we get that Marcia is a ballsy women and doesn’t take no for answer. She’s willing to fight for what she believes is right.

Robert Kardashian first appears outside of O.J.’s house waiting to see him like the rest of the world. O.J. is taken in for questioning, but he doesn’t answer a single question. He dances around every question, which makes him look a lot guiltier. We also find out that prior to Nicole’s death she had called the police eight times to complain about O.J. being violent with her. It makes Marcia and quite honestly I’m hoping everyone watching this shows sick to know that police did nothing and let O.J. get away with beating her. Marcia says my favorite line of the night “He got away with beating her, but he wont get away with murdering her.” So far Marcia is turning out to be my favorite character of the show.

To add even more fuel to the fire, O.J. pops pills constantly. This seems to make him anxious and Kardashian looks on each time very concerned. I feel for Kardashian. He was put in a tough position. This was his very best friend and chose to be there for him. I don’t know if he fully believed O.J.’s story, but he chose to believe in the O.J. that he knew and loved. I cannot really blame him for that. It could also just be Schwimmer’s performance, he brought so much emotion it was hard not to feel empathy for him. Kardashian used to be a lawyer, but not a criminal one. He does however suggest that O.J. hire a top defense attorney.

The scene then cuts to Robert Shapiro. How many Roberts did O.J. know? Right away I can see that Robert has an ego. He brags to numerous women how he got one his clients to take a plea deal. Already I don’t like him. He takes a call from O.J. and agrees to be his lawyer. He also suggests that Kardashian join the team since he knows O.J. so well. Robert sends Kardashian out of the room and asks point blank if O.J. did it. O.J. says, “No I love her.”

Marcia interviews witnesses who can place where O.J. had been right before the murder. The timeline matches up and it’s evident that O.J. was in the area the night Nicole was killed.

Robert makes O.J. take a polygraph to see if he is innocent or not. Big shocker he fails it. O.J. starts freaking out and telling both Roberts that he failed it because as he said, “Every time they mentioned Nicole’s name my heart went crazy.” Lame excuse and it seems both Roberts aren’t buying it.

The funeral then takes place and we have our first appearance by Connie Britton y’all (that was for all the Nashville fans out there). She is playing Faye Resnick a good friend of Nicole’s. We also have our first appearance of Kris Jenner. Not going lie to I got little excited when she yelled out her daughters names.

O.J. stupidly also comes to the funeral and oh he brings his lawyers. That sure makes him look innocent. He also creepily stands over Nicole’s casket. It was a very eerie scene if you ask me, but I understand why they showed it.

The proof adds up and warrant is issued for O.J.’s arrest. He has until 11:00 am to turn himself in. Robert gets doctors to come over and examine him before he goes off to jail. After O.J. gets examined he writes letters and a will to his loved ones. Kardashian comes in and O.J. explains that he wants to commit suicide. O.J. holds a gun to his head and Kardashian attempts to convince him to give him the gun. Instead O.J. runs upstairs to Kim Kardashian’s room still holding the gun. The police come to collect O.J. but he flees the scene. It seems like the next episode will be centered on the famous car chase and I’m so excited for it!

Who do you think gave the best performance in the episode? Did you find the episode entertaining? What are you looking forward to in upcoming episodes?

Sorry for the late post guys! I promise to be more consistent with my posting schedule as things become less hectic with school! Be sure to check back next week for another review!