O.J.: Made in America

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Someone posted a link about it in a thread about the FX docudrama.

I've watched the first three episodes. To this point it is one of the greatest documentaries I've seen and sets the standard for an analysis of the intersection of race, class, and celebrity in America.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

They covered Marcus' affair w/ Nicole in some detail, but I can't remember if it was in Part II or III.

Part 2

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Through episode 4 and this really is a great documentary. I graduate HS in '94 and most of what I knew about the situation in LA was from West Coast music. I wore out Ice Cube's The Predator in '92, which had lyrics like:

I waited on Ice Cube in the USVI when Predator was the #1 album in the country. His gf ordered a fruit plate, ate all the cantaloupe, then sent it back - for a refund. Nice guy though otherwise - not nearly as big as you expect, kinda short with rounded shoulders.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

Ok...I have to ask. Why?

Well, Im not Duane either, but I think its an incredibly well told and beautifully depicted story of our history. From the early 60s in SO Cal, racial tensions, The LAPD, good and bad, OJ's history and the fact he was "colorless" to so many. The story of his fame, celebrity and we gobbled it up as a society. It tells the story of his relationship with Nicole, and while some things will be familiar, there is a backstory, that even us who watched it didn't know.

I agree with the OP, this may be the best documentary I have ever seen.

[suzzer99]

I was waiting tables at Macaroni Grill when the verdict came in. It was in the afternoon so only a few tables and all the employees were sitting around watching it. Everyone was shocked except the black waiters and cooks who were jumping for joy.

I never really fully understood why until now after watching that doc. Terrible verdict - but just the feeling of the black community to finally win one after being trampled for so long. Ironically another terrible sentencing put OJ away for much longer than that crime should have warranted. So in the end - with two wrongs the system sort of got it right, and the black community in LA got to have a huge release that may have prevented more riots. Very American indeed.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Yeah, I know it. I will warn them. They can (and likely will) duck / cover their eyes. I will pretty much do the same (I'm not big on seeing extremely graphic violence).

I havent watched anything other than part 1-2, but during part 2, I couldnt watch the Rodney King Beating, which I found odd bc I watched it a ton of times back in the day when it happened. But I tell you what, I felt sick to my stomach the more they showed that video and I had to cover my eyes. That was so damn brutal, and the fact that they got off is still unnerving.

[suzzer99]

The most disturbing part about it is they followed what were accepted police procedures at the time. If the suspect charged at you (which happened early in the video, but it was out of focus), you were apparently allowed to beat him until he stops moving.

[InChiefsHeaven]

I too think this is probably the best documentary I've seen. It certainly covers the saga of LA Cops, Rodney King, OJ, all of it. It's weird having lived through it how long ago it seems, and in other ways I can't believe it happened the year my son was born.

I like that they are going to serious depths to show what the climate was in LA and WHY it was that way. It's not slanted in my opinion, they even gave Furhman (spoiler alert for episode 4) his little feel sorry for me speech.

In the end, (I still need to watch episode 5) the saddest part to me was the indifference that some in the black community had for the victims, who never got justice...but that's because they also felt that they never got justice...it's a big sick story, but it's fascinating for sure. Gives you a LOT to think about.

[B_Ambuehl]

Read a very interesting paper from F. Lee Bailey on the trial. There's a lot of stuff in there I never heard and he remains convinced of OJs innocence. Evidently the defense had plenty more firepower and witnesses they could have used, including someone who saw Nicole talking to 2 men outside her house that night parked in a truck, but they felt they were running out of time and didnt want to drag things out further as they felt the prosecution was trying to force jurors out and get a mistrial. They were terrified of that.

Here is the paper:


http://baileyandelliott.com/oj_simpson.htm

Among things I didn't know:

A man in the neighborhood was walking his dog thru Nicoles neighborhood that night, less than 100 feet away, and saw her outside talking to a man standing by a white F-350. There was another man standing close by in a threatening posture. The man had owned 11 ford trucks during his life so evidently knew what he was seeing**

Another witness walking another dog thru the neighborhood that night thru a parallel alley reported a dog barking and someone shouting "hey, hey!"

OJ did cut his hand on a glass in his hotel room in chicago. Police found parts of the glass in the sink with his blood on them, and more blood on the pillow.

Based on several witnesses and experts OJ acted nothing like a guilty man would be expected to act. On the flight to chicago he hung out with the captain of the fight. On the flight back to L.A. he sat next to a N.Y. area attorney. The attorney was so convinced of his innocence just based on OJs reactions vs what is typical he wrote a letter to the prosecution and defense.

The prosecution definitely planted evidence. There was a sock found in OJs room with nicoles blood on it. However, the blood went all the way thru the middle of both sides of the sock, which wouldnt happen if he was wearing the sock at the time. Additionally, there were pictures taken of OJs room when investigators got there which showed pictures of the room from various (all) angles with no sock on the floor.


** Alas, F. Lee Bailey presents a very good case but the front of an early 90's F-350 and Ford Bronco look too much alike, especially at night. It was, to me, obviously O.J. and someone else pulled up to the curb that night.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Read a very interesting paper from F. Lee Bailey on the trial. There's a lot of stuff in there I never heard and he remains convinced of OJs innocence. Evidently the defense had plenty more firepower and witnesses they could have used, including someone who saw Nicole talking to 2 men outside her house that night parked in a truck, but they felt they were running out of time and didnt want to drag things out further as they felt the prosecution was trying to force jurors out and get a mistrial. They were terrified of that.

Here is the paper:


http://baileyandelliott.com/oj_simpson.htm

Among things I didn't know:

A man in the neighborhood was walking his dog thru Nicoles neighborhood that night, less than 100 feet away, and saw her outside talking to a man standing by a white F-350. There was another man standing close by in a threatening posture. The man had owned 11 ford trucks during his life so evidently knew what he was seeing**

Another witness walking another dog thru the neighborhood that night thru a parallel alley reported a dog barking and someone shouting "hey, hey!"

OJ did cut his hand on a glass in his hotel room in chicago. Police found parts of the glass in the sink with his blood on them, and more blood on the pillow.

Based on several witnesses and experts OJ acted nothing like a guilty man would be expected to act. On the flight to chicago he hung out with the captain of the fight. On the flight back to L.A. he sat next to a N.Y. area attorney. The attorney was so convinced of his innocence just based on OJs reactions vs what is typical he wrote a letter to the prosecution and defense.

The prosecution definitely planted evidence. There was a sock found in OJs room with nicoles blood on it. However, the blood went all the way thru the middle of both sides of the sock, which wouldnt happen if he was wearing the sock at the time. Additionally, there were pictures taken of OJs room when investigators got there which showed pictures of the room from various (all) angles with no sock on the floor.


** Alas, F. Lee Bailey presents a very good case but the front of an early 90's F-350 and Ford Bronco look too much alike, especially at night. It was, to me, obviously O.J. and someone else pulled up to the curb that night.

Hard to say but in the end everyone thought he was guilty...even the jurors that voted him innocent are now starting to think he did it. In the end...they took his lifestyle, his money, his possessions, his kid, tore his house down, and eventually threw him in jail where I think he belongs.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

In the end...they took his lifestyle, his money, his possessions, his kid, tore his house down

It took more than 14 years for everything to catch up to him and had he not been so dumb, he'd still be out, living his life same lifestyle.

He owned a mansion in Florida until recently and lost it because his daughter failed to make the payments. His NFL pension is $25k per month. While he lost all of his endorsement deals, he was still living high on the hog. He was also earning a reported $1 million per year in autograph sales alone, yet only paid the Goldman's $3 million of the $33 million dollar settlement.

If he's paroled in 2017 (which I find doubtful but possible), look for him to be everywhere once again. The public is fascinated with him, the trial and the murders.

And Fred Goldman will be lurking, every step of the way.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Did the documentary include the eyewitness coverage of Robert Higgins?

Lookie here...

I see OJ man, and he looks scared.

Totally farcical.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Lookie here...

I see OJ man, and he looks scared.

Totally farcical.

Al Michaels was on Howard's show shortly after "The Chase" and it was absolutely hysterical. Peter Jennings had absolutely no idea what was happening and Al had to butt in.

But the call was a classic. So freakin' funny.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Al Michaels was on Howard's show shortly after "The Chase" and it was absolutely hysterical. Peter Jennings had absolutely no idea what was happening and Al had to butt in.

But the call was a classic. So freakin' funny.

Yeah, he's been on several times - and they always go out of their way to say, "lest anyone think" or "totally farcical."

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Read a very interesting paper from F. Lee Bailey on the trial. There's a lot of stuff in there I never heard and he remains convinced of OJs innocence. Evidently the defense had plenty more firepower and witnesses they could have used, including someone who saw Nicole talking to 2 men outside her house that night parked in a truck, but they felt they were running out of time and didnt want to drag things out further as they felt the prosecution was trying to force jurors out and get a mistrial. They were terrified of that.

Here is the paper:


http://baileyandelliott.com/oj_simpson.htm

Among things I didn't know:

A man in the neighborhood was walking his dog thru Nicoles neighborhood that night, less than 100 feet away, and saw her outside talking to a man standing by a white F-350. There was another man standing close by in a threatening posture. The man had owned 11 ford trucks during his life so evidently knew what he was seeing**

Another witness walking another dog thru the neighborhood that night thru a parallel alley reported a dog barking and someone shouting "hey, hey!"

OJ did cut his hand on a glass in his hotel room in chicago. Police found parts of the glass in the sink with his blood on them, and more blood on the pillow.

Based on several witnesses and experts OJ acted nothing like a guilty man would be expected to act. On the flight to chicago he hung out with the captain of the fight. On the flight back to L.A. he sat next to a N.Y. area attorney. The attorney was so convinced of his innocence just based on OJs reactions vs what is typical he wrote a letter to the prosecution and defense.

The prosecution definitely planted evidence. There was a sock found in OJs room with nicoles blood on it. However, the blood went all the way thru the middle of both sides of the sock, which wouldnt happen if he was wearing the sock at the time. Additionally, there were pictures taken of OJs room when investigators got there which showed pictures of the room from various (all) angles with no sock on the floor.


** Alas, F. Lee Bailey presents a very good case but the front of an early 90's F-350 and Ford Bronco look too much alike, especially at night. It was, to me, obviously O.J. and someone else pulled up to the curb that night.

The NY lawyer is an idiot. A killer can act normal if they are at peace with themselves. Killers do that all the time. When he was really put to questions at the civil trial and busted cold for owning the boots that made bloody prints at the scene he had no answers that were believable. He did it or at least participated while another person helped him.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Tuckdaddy

The NY lawyer is an idiot.

The man is/was a successful Harvard educated copyright lawyer that immediately made notes about OJ's behavior on the plane. He copyrighted the notes so that no one could publish them without his permission, then sent a copy to the DA's office and to the defense team.

He never tried to paint OJ as guilty or innocent. He took notes because as he was sitting next to OJ, his demeanor changed immediately after he was informed of his wife's murder and thought that his notes would be helpful if a court case was to move forward.