Mg6

Oddly, I am a student of Manson and Tate-LaBianca. Have read all the books, seen all the documentaries, watched all the interviews. I consider myself knowledgeable about this topic.

I am also a student of Errol Morris, own Thin Blue Line, read his book on the Jeffrey MacDonald case. He's a skilled director and competent author. However, I really feel he has gone in to the high weeds in recent years and this documentary shows signs of it..

There is good archival footage here and the interview with Bobby Beausolei is quite educational and more than sums everything up. Stephen Kay's interviews are also illuminating. However, this historical incident has been discussed to death. How does one breath new life in to it? Explore a ludicrous theory that Manson and the Family were in cahoots with the CIA and were trained and used by the federal government to wage war against a perceived left-wing threat to our country. Sound stupid? Yeah, it is and doesn't really warrant attention.

I do strongly agree with the criticism of Bugliosi and his nonsensical take on "Helter Skelter." That theory is ridiculous. So in effect, Morris is being objective in presenting multiple silly theories.

What happens when a college professor and his students set out to end capital punishment in the state of Illinois? Would ending said executions be worth overturning the conviction of a guilty man? This documentary boldly asks this question.

There is a lot to unpack here, but the biggest takeaway is that a lot of these innocence projects will use any methods they can to end capital punishment (and advance their own fame), including distorting the truth to free a murderer. One needs to ask, was it naivete that led them to do this or a deliberate attempt to free a guilty man and imprison an innocent one? And if in fact that is the case, are these groups really about justice.

A lot of documentaries and podcasts today seem to focus on exposing corruption and freeing defendants purposely wronged by an uncaring state. There is big money in it, all of us have seen some of these on Netflix. But what if, the injustices weren't perpetrated by the state, but the self-appointed crusaders fighting for a cause?

Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate and Adam Scott? Sorry, but with those three on board it is literally impossible not to make an entertaining film. And this film is entertaining. No, it's not a classic, but few films are.

The movie tells the story of Bill (Kroll) and Robbie (Scott). Bill is going nowhere and living in the shadow of his celebrated brother (star athlete), who although blind, also happens to be an absolute self-absorbed jerk. Things are made worse when the girl (Slate) Bill is crazy about, becomes Robbie's girl as a result of a guilt trip related to her dead ex boyfriend.

I must admit, it is refreshing to see the "disabled" character turn out to be something other than an inspiring hero, although Robbie does raise money for his blind charity, but his motivation seems to be centered around his fevered ego. As previously said, breaking from the traditional narrative that all disabled people are saintly. People are people, regardless. The dynamic between Kroll and Slate is great, as it was in The Kroll Show. Scott's character is also great, who although flawed, is not completely irredeemable, but close.

If you want to see a talented cast be given a vehicle to show their stuff, this film is more than 90 minutes.