07-13-2013, 02:23 PM
This movie covers the story of the five kids convicted of the rape and assault of a jogger in Central Park back in 1998. It is where the term 'Wilding' first came into vogue.
Basically, all the young men were coerced into their confessions and went to jail. This movie, by Ken Burns, aims to set the story right and tell their tale. The convictions were overturned in 2002, so all of them are out of prison, which means freeing them isn't one of the documentaries aims. But it does set up good grounds for the civil case against the city.
It probably would have made a great one hour film, but it comes in closer to two. The interviews with the victims were exhaustive. And I was exhausted by them. It quickly becomes apparent the boys were rail-roaded, but every bit of their testimony is gone over minutely. It was interesting to see the impact the prison sentences had on their lives and where they are now. But it was all just a bit too long.
And none of the detectives or District Attorneys involved in the case were interviewed about their side of the story. that would have made for a much more fascinating tale to see their motivations as well as the destruction their decisions caused.
Basically, all the young men were coerced into their confessions and went to jail. This movie, by Ken Burns, aims to set the story right and tell their tale. The convictions were overturned in 2002, so all of them are out of prison, which means freeing them isn't one of the documentaries aims. But it does set up good grounds for the civil case against the city.
It probably would have made a great one hour film, but it comes in closer to two. The interviews with the victims were exhaustive. And I was exhausted by them. It quickly becomes apparent the boys were rail-roaded, but every bit of their testimony is gone over minutely. It was interesting to see the impact the prison sentences had on their lives and where they are now. But it was all just a bit too long.
And none of the detectives or District Attorneys involved in the case were interviewed about their side of the story. that would have made for a much more fascinating tale to see their motivations as well as the destruction their decisions caused.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit