Major cases, major bombs: the worst true-crime movies
the true crime that's worth your time
Remember that “worst true-crime movies” list I mentioned on The Docket last week? I don’t think I realized how many name directors show up on it — De Palma, Linklater, Egoyan, Mamet — or how many of the ranked turds I’ve already reviewed.
I don’t know if I entirely agree with the list; Murder in Greenwich isn’t very good, but I’ve seen worse. Alpha Dog is more tiresome than outright poor. Neither Eve nor I cared much for Devil’s Knot, but does it deserve to make a list like this ahead of (or, I guess, behind) misbegotten stinkeroos like American Boogeyman?
Of course, nobody watched American Boogeyman except me, so maybe that shouldn’t count — or maybe what the list is aiming at is the most wasted opportunity or potential, so let’s look at that idea. What’s the most disappointing scripted true crime you’ve seen — the biggest gap between cast or directing talent and what’s onscreen? What should have won awards but put you to sleep (or pissed you off)? And does the Flickchart list make some good points? — SDB