REVIEW: AMERICAN CRIME (What John Ridley did WAS right…but it doesn’t mean I like it.)

​Ok… so I wasn’t like a super fan of American Crime like the rest of the world was. I actually didn’t watch it until a few weeks ago. I know, I know. How can I be a TV fanatic and not be up to date on what’s trending…crucify me later. Anywho, I only took the time out to watch for three reasons: 1. John Ridley extending his deal with ABC (must’ve impressed someone) 2. Regina King wining an Emmy for her guest star role (which should’ve been a supporting role because she was on EVERY episode once introduced. Lol) 3. A friend of mine has a small role in the first episode of Season 2 and I felt like I had to watch Season 1 first (yep, I’m that kind of TV person).

Once I started watching, I wrote a Facebook post midway through the season saying something like… I’m not sure if I like this but I’ve started so I’lll finish. How could I not like this award-winning program dealing with current issues? It just felt sooooo on the nose. Like does everyone in your family deal with a racial issue every damn day? But I digress.
 
Let’s talk about what I did like, the direction and cinematography. The filming was just so interesting to watch. Did you notice how we never saw the faces of some characters? How a person could be talking and we’d be looking at someone else who may or may not be reacting to what’s being said? As viewers we’re used to the back and forth camera-angles during a conversation. John Ridley said, “Nah, who cares what the other person is doing. Let’s just watch this guy for a few minutes.” It’s the same tactic used in 12 Years a Slave but in far more gruesome scenes.
 
Ok. Let me get to what I didn’t like but made the show very appealing to me at the same damn time. Nothing was ever certain. It left the audience in such a grey area. Who did what? Was the right person punished? Is it ok to help people who are wrong? I’m the kind of person who wants answers. I live in black and white. BUT, the world, especially America, especially our judicial system lives in pure, hazy grey. Lawyers are just guessing at a point to prove with evidence that is or isn’t real. Families are just looking for justice in seeing someone be given consequences for their families’ wrongdoing, whether that person is guilty or not. People just want to love even if it’s the worst thing for them. That’s life. That’s reality. Well, done, John Ridley. Well, done…but you can tell me (just me and not my readers) who did it?

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AUTHOR

Shannan E. Johnson is a former creative executive at The Syfy Channel turned CEO + Head Consultant of The Professional Pen, a script consultancy that develops screenwriters from idea to pitch to become more confident storytellers ready for a professional screenwriting career, and consults with scripted development teams at entertainment companies to streamline their notes process to get to pre-production more efficiently.