Anyone else bummed HBO’s PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY didn’t win Best Documentary feature at this year’s Oscars? Not that a piece of gold could compensate for the woeful judicial wrong doings of the state of Arkansas…but you have to admit, the film could have used the exposure. Oh well, at least we have Amy Berg’s upcoming doc WEST OF MEMPHIS, produced by Peter Jackson. You see, the flick just got a worldwide pickup by Sony Pictures Classics. How’s that for exposure?!?
West of Memphis is an examination of a failure of justice in Arkansas. The documentary tells the hitherto unknown story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. Told and made by those who lived it, the filmmakers’ unprecedented access to the inner workings of the defense, allows the film to show the investigation, research and appeals process in a way that has never been seen before; revealing shocking and disturbing new information about a case that still haunts the American South.
I know this isn’t your typical AITH fare, but damn is this an important subject. PARADISE LOST all but cleared the names of The West Memphis 3 (Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Miskelly), and WEST OF MEMPHIS is said to have even more incriminating evidence on the real killer culprit. Like Errol Morris’ THE THIN BLUE LINE, these are flicks literally changing, and some respects, literally saving people lives. What’s not to support?
No release dates have been given, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Sony waits awhile to build Oscar buzz for next year. Just a hunch…
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