Prosecuting Casey Anthony

Prosecuting Casey Anthony (2013)

*** (out of 4)

State lawyer Jeff Ashton (Rob Lowe) gets himself the Casey Anthony case just as he wanted so that he can turn her into the most hated woman in America but it ends up with her walking free. PROSECUTING CASEY ANTHONY is based on Ashton's book so it's to be expected that the film would show him in a positive light and Anthony in a negative one. For a Lifetime movie this here is certainly above average thanks in large part to Lowe's performance but there's still no question that there are many flaws. As someone who really followed this case, one of the first questions asked in the film is how Anthony walked away being found not guilty. In the film Ashton says he doesn't know and this is a problem with the film because the truth of the matter is that he never proved the case. For the most part the film spends way too much time going over the court case and all the big evidence or lack of evidence if you will. If someone has followed the case then none of this stuff is going to be of much interest because we know the evidence and have probably heard countless talking heads discuss it to death. The film would have been much better had it tried to give us something new including Ashton's state as these events started to unfold. The majority of the film just has him insulting the defense lawyer and this here really goes nowhere. However, as I said, the film remains watchable as a trashy made-for-TV flick but we've also got a very good performance by Lowe. I really thought he was believable as the lawyer and I liked the way the actor managed to perform with his eyes, meaning, we're able to see how he thinks and feels simply by looking into his eyes. The supporting performances are decent at best but the actors had a pretty hard job since most people are so used to their real counterparts. PROSECUTING CASEY ANTHONY certainly isn't a great movie by any stretch of the imagination but it's at least mildly entertaining.

One of the better made for TV movies about a real murder trial - very informative in so little time. My only complaint is the long and many commercials.

I thought the acting was quite good. The actual woman prosecutor during her endless opening statement was quite boring (it's on Youtube). The actress who played her was not – maybe that was poor acting.

After viewing it I could understand why it wasn't a slam dunk murder conviction.

Also the movie showed at least two jurors glaring at the prosecutor as if they didn't trust or like them. I felt the same way.

It's entertaining and moves along at a good pace. Watch it with an open mind and you might enjoy it.

I read Jeff Ashton's book and have seen most of the coverage on television. Sadly, the mixing of Jane Velez-Mitchell and Nancy Grace intertwined into the film here lost it's edge to me. I found the movie to be watchable. Kevin Dunn does a fantastic job as George Anthony. Elizabeth Mitchell is almost perfect as Assistant District Attorney Linda Drane Burdick. Rob Lowe is the star as Jeff Ashton but he doesn't resemble him at all. Oscar Nunez is surprisingly great as Jose Baez. I liked the fact that Casey's participation in the film was low-key. Most of the time it's the prosecution's responsibility to prove Casey killed little Caylee. Unlike the actual court case, we never saw the skeletal remain photos out of respect by the court. Here, I felt it completed the case. The woman who played Cindy Anthony was fine and adequate. We never see Mallory Parker. There was plenty of courtroom drama in the actual case. I was hoping to see the scene where Cindy breaks down while listening to the 911 calls. Of all the moments in the trial, it is something unforgettable and heartbreaking. Ashton's book was pretty sensitive to the Anthonys as a family and here as well. The idea of Cindy being prosecuted for perjury would add insult to injury. Cindy and George loved Caylee, their beloved granddaughter. Her loss is unbearable but they keep moving on. Finally, I would have liked to have seen what happened to those involved. I didn't stay to watch behind the scenes. Still for those of us, less Nancy Grace and Jane Velez-Mitchell. I followed the case quite closely myself and can never understand how somebody like Casey ended up this way. The film also misses key players like her brother, Lee Anthony; Leonard Padilla; and others involved in the case.

The law is not perfect, the courts are not perfect, people are NOT perfect. SHE DID IT. it's very sad that she got off with nothing. I would love to know where she lives, just to, you know, "congratulate" her...

PROSECUTING CASEY ANTHONY (2013 TV movie) 6.6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2 min

BASIC PLOT: An engaging recreation of the flawed prosecution of Casey Anthony, seen from the point of view of the prosecutors, Jeff Ashton (Rob Lowe) and Linda Drane Burdick (Elizabeth Mitchell). This film was based on their book, "Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony".

This film, and the real trial, are perfect examples of confirmation bias. The police and prosecutors had a preconceived belief about Anthony's guilt. Therefore, they did not look for any other explanations. This is a dangerous precedent (this does NOT imply Anthony's innocence, it just states that ALL possibilities be looked at equally, not just the ones we "feel" should be true). Police & prosecutors should have investigated ALL possible causes of Caylee's death (George Anthony's guilt, a stranger abduction, an accidental death, etc), not just the ones that engendered the most feeling, and were easiest to win. This film shows the prosecutors stepping into their own traps, falling victim to their own egos, and showcasing the worst case of public confirmation bias in a prosection to date.

WHAT WORKS: *THE SCORE IS GREAT The score gives the feeling of unease and trepidation, exactly what it should be for this type of movie. A successful outing from Richard Marvin.

*EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES BY ROB LOWE & ELIZABETH MITCHELL Rob Lowe & Elizabeth Mitchell do an excellent job at portraying well meaning arrogance. The overall underlying theme running through the film is "we can't lose", and "we can't be wrong", two of the underlying problems with the real case.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK (Normally, I would add things that are flawed with the movie, but there aren't many, so these are more observations):

*NO ONE LIKES SMUG, ARROGANT, JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE, WHO THINK THEY ARE SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE. Trial attorney 101: It's NEVER ok to appear arrogant in front of your jury! It's ok to be well versed, well educated, better than the defense or prosecutor (depending on what side your on), even well dressed, but NEVER appear self-righteous. I guess Jeff Ashton missed that class at law school, or in the school of life, because he constantly shows his disdain for the defense, and their arguments. Rob Lowe doesn't give enough of the arrogance the real Jeff Ashton had. Maybe he's too nice a guy in real life to portray that type of jackass?

TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I definitely recommend this film, and not just to Rob Lowe fans. It's a successful and entertaining depiction of the flawed prosecution of Casey Anthony. Recommended to those who are fans of courtroom dramas, made-for-tv movies, Elizabeth Mitchell and Rob Lowe.

CLOSING NOTES: *This is a made-for-tv movie, please keep that in mind before you watch/rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.

*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.