TV Reviews: "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"

[DAME]

Great review from Variety except for one performance which they found awful :

" and without putting too harsh a point on it, John Travolta is simply awful in the role. Yes, Shapiro spoke in stiff, measured tones, but the actor’s overly mannered line readings turn the attorney into a buffoon, in sharp contrast to the more nuanced portrayals around him."

 

http://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/the-people-v-o-j-simpson-american-crime-story-review-fx-john-travolta-cuba-gooding-jr-ryan-murphy-1201684402/

[DAME]

They are all liking the series but hating Travolta.  YIKES.  

 

"Travolta has built a mesmerizingly bad performance from the eyebrows down. His unnecessary accent varies by episode, and Travolta's laser intensity feels arch and almost kabuki at times, turning Shapiro into a terrifying character from the next American Horror Story installment, rather than a part of this ensemble."

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/people-v-oj-simpson-american-856052

[Kad]

I suppose it's good Murphy is helming something that has a story arc already.

[ArtMan]

If you believe what I read in Entertainment Weekly, Travolta needed the most convincing to sign onto the role.  He wasn't sure if he wanted to go back to tv.  I really like him and he couldn't have been sweeter when I met him in the late 90's, but at this stage in his career, he can't be really that choosy.

[Bettyboy72]

ArtMan said: "If you believe what I read in Entertainment Weekly, Travolta needed the most convincing to sign onto the role.  He wasn't sure if he wanted to go back to tv.  I really like him and he couldn't have been sweeter when I met him in the late 90's, but at this stage in his career, he can't be really that choosy.

Hes loaded. He never has to work again. He can be choosy. He really should lay low and enjoy his life. 

 

"

 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I am sure Ryan Murphy will find a way to fvck it up but the reviews and, especially, the promise of another great Sarah Paulson performance (after that nothing role she was saddled with in HOTEL) have me very excited about it. 

[EricMontreal22]

Kad said: "I suppose it's good Murphy is helming something that has a story arc already. "

 

To their credit (I suppose) Murphy/Falchuk are not writing this (though may write the already planned second season)  The script was brought to them and is by the team who wrote Ed Wood and (more similar I guess) The People VS Larry Flynt.  But Murphy is very involved I guess with the visuals and did all the casting (shock there.)

All the reviews I've read have said how great the acting is (except Travolta who has been reviewed as horrible to slightly capable.)  But I still have zero interest in this. The article I read emphasized how absolutely based on fact it was--dialogue taking right from the televised trials, etc, etc.  YAWN.  I lived through that constantly being on tv when I was a teen.  I was barely riveted then--I just don't see how this illuminates anything or they are even bothering.  Especially for ten hours--I might be convinced to tune into a tv movie or short miniseries (maybe.)

But yes, Kad, at least I guess they'll have an actual story arc on a Murphy produced show.

 

[Mildred Plotka]

I'm a bit more excited for this when I tead this week's Entertainment Weekly. From what I gathered the scripts were already written before 'Murphy signed on and he really only helped with the casting. 

 

I find Travolta insufferable. I have a hard time departing his acting with his questionable life choices. 

[ArtMan]

Betty, "But hes an actor and an actors gotta act".  Seriously, of course he's loaded.  That wasn't my point.  John Travolta, as much as I like him, is not at the top of the list of starring projects  in 2016 nor will he probably be ever again.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Did anyone watch this?  I didn't think Travolta was any worse than Cuba Gooding Jr, who I found laughably bad.   And every time David Schwimmer or Selma Blair would mention a Kardashian daughter by name I'd roll my eyes.  I'm also surprised the main board hasn't been creaming over the fact that Stephen Pasquale is in it.  

I gave it a look for the curiosity factor, but I can't fathom wanting to continue watching it, not even to hatewatch.

[DAME]

Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "Did anyone watch this?  I didn't think Travolta was any worse than Cuba Gooding Jr, who I found laughably bad.   And ever time David Schwimmer or Selma Blair would mention a Kardashian daughter by name I'd roll my eyes.  I'm also surprised the main board hasn't been creaming over the fact that Stephen Pasquale is in it.  

 

I gave it a look for the curiosity factor, but I can't fathom wanting to continue watching it, not even to hatewatch.

 

"

I also didn't find Travolta any worst than the others.  But I will disagree with you to say that I found this totally watchable in a trashy and fun sort of way.  I actually found the whole thing to move really fast.  I'll record the series and view it from playlist when there is nothing else or in the mood. 

[Tag]

Thought it was very well done.  Travolta was not even close to being as bad as the reviews made it seem.  Gooding on the other hand….
And yes, the Kardashian children filler should have been left on the cutting room floor.

[FindingNamo]

I enjoyed it while hating myself for it because it's entertainment based on real death.  An odd but similar reaction I had at the movies to "Son of Saul."


But David Schwimmer! Oh. Em. Eff.  He looks as if he has been hit just between the eyes with a ball-peen three seconds before the director yells "Action!".  In every scene he's in.  Why is Travolta playing every SNL cast member's impersonation of Lorne Michaels?  What has Cuba Gooding done to his vocal chords?

[SmoothLover]

They should have used Zack Grenier from The Good Wife for the Travolta roll because he has been playing that part of years with a droll sense of humor where Travolta looked like he stepped out of the wax museum, was wooden and had not made the leap. The Cochran and Clark interpretations were spot on. I did not think Gooding was that bad although he seemed physically wrong for the part. OJ's frame made him appear more menacing. I did not mind Gooding's childish and winey behavior because OJ  was such a baby through the whole process. Believe it or not some of the harshest critics have said this is one of Gooding's best performances. I thought the program moved along quickly and it had a wink or two of camp about it which I liked. Connie Britton especially...

[bwaylyric]

Billy's Kato Kaelin impersonation was comical.

I found it hard to believe that Kim Kardashian had posters of Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Joey Lawrence in her bedroom.

[FindingNamo]

She woulda had the Mandingo movie poster.

[BobbyBubbi]

Tavolta wasn't /that/ bad. I think the reviews were especially harsh on him. I think he's making a smart move by trying to reignite his career in TV. Murphy seems up to the challenge after doing the same, more or less, with Jamie Lee Curtis on Scream Queens. 

Sarah Paulson was great, I thought she really filled up her role. 

Connie Britton as Faye Resnick . . . wow. I had to laugh out loud. Gooding Jr. feels miscast to me. 

I'm going to keep watching because I found it entertaining, as DAME put it "in a trashy way" but it also gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I mean, is this something we really want to live through . . . again? Whats season two going to be? JonBenet Ramsey? Oy. 

[FindingNamo]

What is Travolta doing when he speaks?

[BobbyBubbi]

. . . making it rain silk purses. 

[SmoothLover]

I think Travolta did not know what he was doing and he was winging it hoping something would land. His wife looked really different with that wig.

[doodlenyc]

I have not seen this yet, but the mention of Steven Pasquale, who I did not know was playing Fuhrman, made me peek at the full cast list. Jonelle Allen!! She's playing Darden's mother.

[ClydeBarrow]

BobbyBubbi said: "Whats season two going to be? JonBenet Ramsey? Oy."

 

That would have been a 1,000 times more interesting than what season 2 is really going to be about - Hurricane Katrina. How a natural disaster is a crime is beyond me.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Aspects of the response to it, I'd imagine.  

[FindingNamo]

Let's see, the police murdering people on the bridge?  The criminal negligence?  So many crimes so many stories.

[rosscoe(au)]

David Schwimmer saw a clip with him in it last night where he walks out the door and says the SUV is gone, got the biggest laugh ( saw it before the movies last night AMC ) I mean what was that, surprise, a forced reading, deadpan or just an awful actor! 

[FindingNamo]

He's quite terrible!