If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Glad ESPN (my favorite channel of all time) made OJ:MIA. Goes to show you prejudice pays (black and white) and Juice was a monster from the start. A cautionary tale about manipulation, discrimination, attention, selling out, etc. I also recommend June 17, 1994 (also made by ESPN), a collage full of news coverage of Juice, archival footage, audio of Simpson during car chase, coverage of other sporting events (Arnold Palmer's final competitive game, Ken Griffey Jr's home runs, NBA Finals between Rockets and Knicks) and the use of Talking Heads "Heaven".

O.J. Simpson was born in unpromising circumstances, but blessed with good looks, charm, and an athletic talent, grew to become one of the most famous men in America: a genius footballer, and an African American who became popular amongst all races, though the latter in part was due to his own willingness to abandon his original racial identity. But his second marriage turned bad, his suave public image increasingly at odds with his brutal treatment of his wife; and eventually, she (and her friend, and probable lover) were murdered. O.J. was on the record as having threatened them, had no alibi, and forensic evidence pointed strongly to his guilt; when the police called him in, he went on the run in a near-suicidal state, and the police followed on the freeway, trying to talk him out of doing himself in. They succeeded in this, only for O.J. to mount an extraordinary defence, in which his lawyers effectively put the Los Angeles Police Department on trial for its long and despicable history of racism. After a trial of months, a mainly black jury took just a few hours to acquit.But ostracised by the white community in which he'd made his home, O.J. soon lost a civil suit (in a different court, with a lower standard of proof), and motivated (it seems) by his desire for adulation, he fell in with a bad crowd. The new gangsta-style O.J. was perhaps no more the real man than the all-round nice guy or the evil killer; eventually, he threatened (with menaces, and armed friends in tow) someone whom he suspected of stealing his stuff and was finally sentenced to a gaol sentence that was both excessive (in the context of his latest crime) and overdue. He remain in gaol today.The strength of 'O.J.: Made in America', a marathon documentary that retells this extraordinary story, is that it brings out every facet: his remarkable sporting talent, his plastic personality, the horror of the murders, the grim reality of being poor and black in L.A., the theatre of his arrest and trial, and the sordid nature of his eventual downfall. It's long - possibly overlong - but the title is apt: this is a story that could only have happened in the U.S.A., and it says more about the country than the lurid headlines might have suggested at the time. There's no happy ending for anyone here - but what once seemed like soap opera, now feels strangely like a portrait of a nation, and yes, a dark reflection on the American dream.

The first part of the three part documentary looks at the rise of a successful black African American in a world of predominately white orientation. It is aptly named "made in America" on account of it being a rags to riches to rags story. In the second part the public reaction to the high profile trial is documented which according to the narrative shows the justice sought by the black community in Los Angeles at the time had less to do with evidence given in court than it did with a historic sense of grievance. The narrative then presents the trial as an opportunity for the black community to redress this historic issue of racial iniquity by supporting the defendant. The notion that the issue of racism is more significant than justice for the two victims is one supported by the juror's themselves which effectively negates the possibility of a fair trial. Its all about race.In the third instalment following OJ's acquittal there is a peculiar moment where a female radio host begrudgingly admits OJ's charm and beguiling manner are affable qualities as though it is some kind of guilty pleasure to do so. There seems to be a tangible dualism that is encapsulated, on one hand a fragile sense of fraternity and on the other maintaining reservations about his innocence and past. The uneasy dichotomy between respectability and criminality remains until the trajectory towards further criminal behaviour develops in Nevada. There are parallels with the darkly humorous TV series Eastbound and Down that in this case culminate in an armed robbery that proves to be the final straw in OJ's relationship with the general public.

Watching a 7.5-hour long documentary about a case we all think we know may seem a daunting task at first, but trust me: you'll have a very hard time to resist the urge to binge watch the whole mini series once you've started. This documentary (which to me felt like a seven-and-a-half-hour feature film) is - in my humble opinion - one of the greatest achievements in American filmmaking and utterly captivating from the beginning to the end.Where the equally brilliant but fictional series 'The Wire' took the topic of crime as a means to cast a look at all aspects and social layers of a whole city (Baltimore), 'O.J.: Made in America' examines the life and crimes of a single man (albeit one leading a very public life) to cast a very close look at American society as a whole, and the result is the most complete, in-depth analysis of the divided nation's collective psyche I have ever seen.The portrait that emerges is so fascinating and so revealing and educational (and I hate to admit: thrillingly entertaining) that I believe this should be recommended viewing in schools and colleges across the country. And if you think: "Meh, I know that story, it's been all over the news - not interested", think again. Trust me, you do not know this story (or better: these stories). And there's a big chance you'll understand a great deal more about America once you've finished watching this masterpiece.I know I'm dishing out superlatives here, but it's like director Ezra Edelman made the ultimate documentary - perhaps even the ultimate film. 'O.J.: Made in America' functions on so many levels; it's like watching a whole collection of films where the same protagonist inexplicably lives through a wide array of very different stories (which somehow STILL manage to end up as ONE cohesive tale). Just to give you an impression how rich this documentary is, I tried to count the stories and most dominant themes and found at least 10 (although you could probably find more): 1. There's the fascinating story of a poor kid from the ghetto rising through sheer will and enormous talent to become an American icon and superstar.2. There's a great - and uplifting - sport story (especially for Football fans) that is usually the material of Hollywood films.3. There's the very human drama of a genuine love story turning into an abusive relationship plagued by domestic violence.4. There's the mesmerizing and shocking murder mystery;5. the thrilling courtroom drama;6. a razor-sharp satire about our and our media's unhealthy fixation on celebrities;7. an unbelievable, surreal story of a nationwide man-hunt that gives Spielberg's 'Sugarland Express' a run for its money;8. a close examination of the U.S. judicial system;9. the story of the rise and the very, very steep fall of a man who had it all and lost everything;10. an eye-opening story about race relations in America over the past 50 yearsAnd as incredible as it may seem, those stories are all real. The way Edelman managed to put them all together to forge this groundbreaking documentary can't be praised enough. A unique experience. 10 stars out of 10.Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: imdb.com/list/ls075552387/Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/Favorite Low-Budget and B-Movies: imdb.com/list/ls054808375/