Whether it’s a movie, a TV series or a book, crime is a genre that always compels me, even more so if based on a true story, which is exactly what we are asked to pick for the first Thursday of May for Wandering Through the Shelves’s weekly series Thursday Movie Picks. Without further ado, here are my picks — I kinda cheated this week though.
Amanda Knox (2016)
Netflix’s original documentary tells the story of the conviction and eventual acquittal of American exchange student Amanda Knox for the death of British exchange student Meredith Kercher in 2007 in Perugia, Italy. As you probably know, I’m Italian and this murder was on the news for years. And yet I’ve learned more about it by watching this documentary, which is very compelling and does a great job at showing how good (Italian) police is at screwing up.
Conversation with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
Another Netflix original, this one tells the story of one of the most notorious as well as one of the first serial killers, Ted Bundy, a nice and tremendously charming young man who confessed to 30 homicides after more than ten years of denials. I’m really looking forward to seeing the film with Efron that should release tomorrow(?) on Netflix and I checked this out while waiting and it made for such an interesting watch! There are also some funny moments and some unexpected ones — like the proposal. WTF!
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
It tells the story of Andrew Bagby who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend not long after breaking up with her. Soon after, she announced she was pregnant with Andrew’s kid and Andrew’s friend, Kurt Kuenne, decided to make this film as a gift to that child who would never meet his father. It’s not easy to sit through this as it’s incredibly devastating but it’s definitely worth watching.
Dear Zachary wrecked me. I wasn't crazy about the Amanda Knox documentary, I feel like Meredith has been truly lost from the conversation. I haven't seen the Ted Bundy tapes yet.
ReplyDeleteI agree on Amanda Knox but I still liked it. The Ted Bundy Tapes is great. You should check it out before the Zac Efron movie.
DeleteCannot wait to see Zac as Bundy tomorrow! That proposal scene will be so insane
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any of these. I don't know enough about the first one, Amanda Knox, to know if she is truly guilty or not. Ted Bundy I remember since I remember when they caught him (twice!) and the way women were swooning after him even after he admitted to his crimes. The last one sounds devastating and I hope she does not have the child and is in prison.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, she isn't. She killed the baby and then killed herself :(
DeleteIn what way did you cheat?
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of your picks, I just don't really watch that many true crime. But I do know of your first two documentary picks.
Because I picked 3 docs so of course they are true crimes 😅
DeleteAmanda Knox was on the news quite a bit in the UK also. Major news everywhere. Haven't seen any of your picks, but i read about Dear Zachary...that was messed up.
ReplyDeletePeople do horrible things but what that woman did? It angered me so much.
DeleteI've heard of all three but have seen none. I have only a cursory knowledge of the Amanda Knox case so I might give that one a look. Ted Bundy sickens me so that's a no and the other just sounds so gut wrenching I don't think I'll ever be in the mood for it.
ReplyDeleteI went with films rather than documentaries.
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)-Complex, provocative and at the time of its release scandalous story of on Army Lieutenant (Ben Gazzara) accused of the murder of a man he claims raped his loose moraled wife (Lee Remick). He’s defended by a laconic but wily lawyer (James Stewart) who goes up against an equally canny prosecutor (George C. Scott). Excellent Otto Preminger courtroom drama with a top flight cast that also includes Eve Arden and Arthur O’Connell is based on a novel whose source was an actual murder case.
Heavenly Creatures (1994)-When wealthy teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, she meets and quickly bonds with quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of singing screen star Mario Lanza and games of make believe. At first all is well but when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming something more the girls decide to run away to America. As the girls fears focus on anyone who might tear them apart they take extreme measures to remove anything or anyone they see as obstacles. Based on a notorious New Zealand murder case this brilliantly acted and chilling drama was the first major critical success for director Peter Jackson.
Zodiac (2007)-In the late 1960s and 1970s, San Francisco is gripped by fear as its residents are plagued by a serial killer who calls himself Zodiac. Investigators (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with learning the killer's identity and bringing him to justice. Meanwhile, Zodiac claims victim after victim and taunts the authorities with cryptic messages, cyphers and menacing phone calls. Unsettling David Finchner film has its share of good points but deals with an ugly, ghoulish story.
Yeah, my third pick is really hard to sit through. Zodiac is the only of your picks I’ve seen and I loved it.
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