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TV and movie notes
Dec. 17th, 2023 06:25 pmSome 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.
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.
