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Netflix offers another true crime series where the filmmakers put the media on trial. The most current example isAmerican Manhunt: O.J. Simpson,a series that, by the third episode, points fingers at the salacious nature of the case, which was perfect for the dawn of putting a trial on television.
However, the series offers eye-opening, fair treatment from both sides of the aisle. It correctly shows that putting the trial on television affected both sides. From the prosecutors to the defense attorneys, from the judge to the jury, everyone thought and acted differently because of it.
That makesAmerican Manhunt: O.J. Simpsonso compelling, gripping, and, at times, jaw-dropping. This behind-the-scenes true crime docuseries, the first original from Netflix on the case, pulls back the curtain on the maneuvering and explains why the infamous Hall of Fame football player was charged but never convicted.
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Netflix’sAmerican Manhunt: O.J. SimpsonReview and Synopsis
For those who don’t know,O.J. Simpson, who passed away from cancer last year, was one of the most famous people on the planet. A college superstar running back at the University of Southern California, he went on to a legendary career with the Buffalo Bills before becoming a film and television star in The Naked Gun franchise and Roots.
However, Simpson was charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and a young waiter returning her sunglasses from the restaurant, Ron Goldman. The case occurred during a perfect storm of events. For one, there were the L.A. Riots following the Rodney King verdict. Another factor was the rise of televising trials.
Lastly, it marked one of the most high-profile cases involving the use of DNA evidence in criminal trials. All of this was presented to Americans through a cable station called CourtTV, now rebranded as truTV. It was known as the trial of the century, and no one could get enough of every shocking detail.
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NetflixAmerican Manhunt: O.J. Simpsonis Gripping and Informative
Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Geraldo Rivera dedicated their professions for the next year to the case. It’s hard to quantify how many people built their careers around it. (Even Kim Kardashian’s father, Robert, a friend and family lawyer of Simpson, appears in a clip during the series, a teenager at the time.) A key point raised is when ethics begin to fall on the wrong side.
However, Jill Shively, who also madeO.J. Simpson’s Near Miss Car Crash (2024)andIs O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence (2017)presents both sides and highlights how challenging it was for the jury to conclude. For instance, after all we’ve experienced in the last decade regarding police corruption, how can we not question the evidence presented?
There is also the issue of Mark Fuhrman, a notorious ex-police officer, caught on video using racial slurs as casually as taking a breath. The documentary paints an informative picture of how incompetent the prosecution was in their professionalism. Simpson’s legal team did their job brilliantly, exposing Fuhrman’s lie about his character.
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Netflix’sAmerican Manhunt: O.J. SimpsonWorth Watching?
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpsonis worth watching because the true crime docuseries paints a vivid picture of how challenging it was to reach a verdict, given all the factors at play at the time. While not directly stated, the series almost puts you inside the minds of the jury. For instance, it was much easier to convict Simpson in the civil trial than in the criminal trial because the burden of proof was significantly lower.
One of the more compelling aspects of the series is its exploration of evidence not presented by the prosecution during the trial. District Attorney Christopher Darden placed much of the blame on lead prosecutor Marcia Clark, who is notably absent from the interviews. (To his credit, Darden took responsibility for his jaw-dropping, now infamous, glove blunder.) Seeing Simpson take the stand during the civil trial is shocking—he’s arrogant, almost brazen.
To that point, all of that is bluster because it doesn’t matter what side you fall on—whether you think Orenthal James Simpson was innocent or guilty. Race was put on trial in America, not murder or even domestic violence. After watching Shively’s Simpson trilogy, it is a compulsively watchable and riveting form from start to finish. You may not objectively set aside the bluster as that same jury did 30 years ago.
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You canstream American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson exclusively on Netflix January 30th!
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson Review — A Gripping True Crime Docuseries
M.N. Miller
Film & Television Critic
Articles Published :336
M.N. Miller is a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Mansfield University and a Master’s from Chamberlain University. However, he still puts on his pants one leg at a time, and that’s when he usually stumbles over. When not writing about film or television, he patiently waits for the next Pearl Jam album and chooses to pass the time by scratching his wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. M.N. Miller was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs but chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. you’re able to also find his work on Hidden Remote, InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Geek Vibes Nation, and Nerd Alert.
