sasha_feather: the back of furiosa's head (furiosa: back of head)
sasha_feather ([personal profile] sasha_feather) wrote2023-12-17 06:25 pm
Entry tags:

TV and movie notes

Some things I watched!

The Innocence Files, Netflix, documentary series of 10 episodes about 8 people whom the Innocence Project helped get out of prison. Along the way they do take-downs of "bite mark anaylsis," which it turns out is a completely fake thing, no basis in reality, yet still admissible as court evidence in all 50 states. They also talk about how powerful and theatrical eye-witness testimony is, while being riddled with mis-identifications and hugely subject to manipulation.

This was kind of slow, and included a lot of details about brutal crimes. Some of the people they interview are deeply creepy and, well, evil. But, it's well made and I learned things. It functions as anti-copaganda.

All the people in this series were "railroaded" meaning, basically set up by police and prosecutors. Many spent decades in prison and one was on death row.

Weird: the Al Yankovic Story

I like Daniel Radcliffe who plays Al, and this was some fun 80s nostalgia. It's a satirical pastiche (of course) and as such, doesn't really say much. I had a good time watching it but found it very forgettable.

Harriet, Netflix, Biopic about Harriet Tubman.

As I was watching this I thought, wow this feels weirdly familiar, have I seen this before? I had, but forgot the whole thing. My friend asked me, is that from the concussion or is the film just really forgettable? I think the answer is "both."

This film leans into Tubman being literally god-touched, which is a fantasy trope that I am not necessarily against but seems odd for a biographical film. The film fell flat for me, partly because I like "Underground" (the TV show) so much more. Aisha Hinds' performance of Harriet Tubman on that show was stunning.
jesse_the_k: Text: "backbutton > wank / true story" with left arrow button (Back better than wank)

[personal profile] jesse_the_k 2023-12-18 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)

The Innocence Files sounds like it accomplishes the anti-copaganda goal.

Aisha Hinds was indeed stunning -- Underground was the first time I saw a TV show depicting enslaved people grabbing control of their lives and the genuine risks involved