“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” premiered Tuesday on FX, and under the supervision of executive producer Ryan Murphy, the show is able to revive the infamous case and captivate a new generation.
There is hardly a need to put a spoiler tag on this review because it’s quite easy to assume that everyone is aware of the O.J. Simpson case and its subsequent verdict. The massive coverage of the case allowed for everyone watching to gather all the information, or so they think.
Younger generations know this case solely by its lore, as they were never able to see the actual trial. We think we know the facts, but Murphy and the FX show us that it is much more nuanced, complicated and downright intriguing than we may have thought before.
The episode begins with archival footage to establish the political and social contexts of the time. The first thing we see is a ring of police officers beating Rodney King, and the Los Angeles riots follow. More than 20 years out, it is sometimes hard to recall the tense racial climate that contributed to this case and was a necessary addition to start the series.
Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story,” “Scream Queens”) is well versed in the world of television, but is usually known for over-the-top, often theatrical shows and subjects. The O.J. Simpson case is intricate and serious, and it was a concern that, as the showrunner, Murphy would not be able to handle it the way it deserves.
This notion could not have been further off. As a whole, the production is outstanding — the sets and costumes perfectly bring you into the time and place of the story, and the direction is subtle and nuanced, which was a nice surprise, all things considered.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the show is the acting. These characters are in fact real people, making the casting for the narrative drama difficult, but Murphy and his team do a phenomenal job. However, the most forgettable acting performance is in Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of Simpson.
It’s a fine casting decision and he does a fine acting job, but the real magic comes in the supporting cast. David Schwimmer and John Travolta play Simpson’s legal team, Robert Kardashian and Robert Shapiro, respectively.
Schwimmer does a great job as Kardashian, Simpson’s good friend, and is engaging and enjoyable to watch. It is a bit annoying, though, how many times the characters reference Kardashian’s famous daughters. It feels forced, implemented to get laughs and nods from the audience, and takes viewers out of the story.
Another interesting performance is Travolta’s portrayal of Simpson’s eccentric litigator. Whenever Travolta is onscreen, it is hard to look away from his unnaturally high eyebrows, Botox-tight face and stiff speech — for better or worse.
The rest of the cast, including Sarah Paulson’s Marcia Clark and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran, deliver very strong performances and hit all their marks in every scene. They are not featured as much as Schwimmer and Travolta in the pilot episode, but as the show progresses, the audience will become more familiar with them.
It is very difficult to bring a real murder case to life on the screen and do it justice. Every creative decision that you make can influence the audience’s interpretation of the story and can taint the truth of what happened. Of course, Murphy is trying to tell the most accurate story possible, but he also has to make the show entertaining.
It is a fine and dangerous line to walk, but they handle it very well. The show feels authentic and doesn’t feel like it’s pushing a specific agenda or stance on the case.
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” is an impressive feat at tackling one of the most famous and intricate murder cases in U.S. history. The production is top-notch and features an all-star cast who delivers every scene.
It is a fun watch, while still being extremely informative and gripping. The biggest problem with it is that we must wait until next week to watch the second episode.
