8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Biography | 100% |
Period | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
History | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
One of the talking heads in the sole supplemental featurette included on American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson states that the infamous white Ford Bronco chase was one of those “where were you when it happened” moments that was to his generation what “where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated?” was to an earlier generation. I’m not quite sure I buy that formulation (it seems to me the horrors of September 11, 2001 are probably more in line on the tragedy scale with the killing of a leader than the attempted flight of a former football star), but it raises a host of interesting questions nonetheless. Perhaps ironically, I personally can’t recall where exactly I was when the Bronco chase took over American television for several hours, though I was probably in New York City tying up the loose ends of the estate of a dear departed Uncle, for I clearly recall that I got into Manhattan on the morning that the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Brown were found and that I watched the unfolding coverage on the Today Show that morning. Like many who were around during this era, the “Simpson Show” became must watch television as the various events from the murders themselves to the interim period (including the Bronco chase), and ultimate arrest and trial of O.J. were covered in a breathless manner that broadcast television had never really experienced before. That almost unbelievably rabid response by the media is a major part of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, but it’s just one part, with the simmering disconnect between “all men are created equal” and the sad exigencies of actual “race relations” in the United States in general, and Los Angeles in particular, providing potent subtext (and actual text, as a matter of fact). This “limited series” opens with a montage of newsreel footage documenting all sorts of social unrest tied to various police handlings of events, including the infamous beating of Rodney King and the subsequent riots which enveloped Los Angeles, something that doesn’t just provide background, but ongoing context for what Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) and the rest of the defense “Dream Team” would go on to exploit, ultimately winning O.J. (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) a not guilty verdict in the process (hopefully no major spoiler alerts are needed for this review). American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson is an often viscerally thrilling ride (slow motion Bronco chases notwithstanding), but it suffers at times from what I might term “name dropping”, where future famous people (including folks who became famous because of their connection to O.J.) are quickly introduced with a telling use of their names, as if labeling them were enough to create a character. Still, the miniseries does present some fascinating data, including some twisted behind the scenes shenanigans that even inveterate “Simpson Show” watchers back in the day may not have been aware of.
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer (largely) in 1.78:1. Once again the IMDb contains no data for the camera used on this shoot, but a podcast featuring cinematographer Nelson Cragg suggests the Arri Alexa was utilized. The miniseries has the sleek if occasionally just slightly flat look of this technology, with excellent detail and fine detail levels when normal lighting supports the imagery. Fine detail is excellent, especially in some extreme close-ups (take a look at the crags on Bruce Greenwood's face in screenshot 4 for just one example). There is occasional slight if noticeable color grading employed at times, with brown tones being emphasized a lot of the time, especially in the courtroom sequences. Occasional actual archival video footage is utilized which understandably often looks pretty ragged. (In a weird lack of consistency, some archival footage is anamorphically stretched to 1.78:1 proportions while other footage is kept at or near 1.33:1.) While the miniseries doesn't really offer a lot of opportunity for "wow" visuals, there's commendable sharpness and clarity throughout the presentation and no problems to address in this review.
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson features a workmanlike DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix which, somewhat like the video component, doesn't have a ton of opportunities for true "wow" moments. Instead, immersion tends to come in fits and starts like in scenes featuring cacophonous press conferences or some of the noisier arguments in the trial sequences. Dialogue is always presented very cleanly and clearly and rarely if ever has much if anything to compete with in the prioritization sweepstakes.
Note: Both of the supplements on this release are found on Disc Three of this three disc set.
It's obvious that American Crime Story is using its production team link to American Horror Story, at least with regard to its branding strategy, but the two properties of course could not be more different. This first "at bat" for the series is often fascinating, but it also suffers from some overwrought writing and a kind of patently ridiculous "spot the future star" gambit on the part of some supporting characters. Several of the central performances are top notch and the miniseries is generally well, if floridly, directed. The miniseries has already taken home several technical Emmys and has a bevy of additional nominations. Technical merits are strong, and even without much in the way of supplements, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson comes Recommended.
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