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Most recently published stories in Criminal.
A Filmmaker's Guide to: 10 Courtroom Dramas
The courtroom drama has been a big piece of interesting cinema for so long purely because it has the ability to show us the loopholes and problems with the judicial system in a way a crime documentary about innocence would. The only difference is that we don't get these side notes teaching us about the legal system, instead we get a very clever storyline told through numerous different voices. We are not swayed to believe either way until someone is completely exonerated and so, it is very much like watching a crime and courtroom play out the long legal process. The reason why we find this interesting is because we are not only fascinated by the dark and criminal side of human nature but, somewhere deep down, we are the only ones who actually know how this case is going to turn out. Musical scores, especially character themes and scene setters can give us hints and clues and, with the want for closure, we can normally guess the ending before it happens. The reason we watch it therefore, is to see what we don't see in real life: the madness of the courtroom.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Criminal
Review of 'We Hunt Together' 1.2
We Hunt Together 1.2 really upped its game. First, the killing team of Freddy and Baba got another two murders under their belts -- or, in at least one case, up hanging from a tree -- which is a lot more than the usual one you'd expect from serial killers in a single episode. And our detective team of Jackson and Lola seem even smarter than in the first episode, or at least Jackson did. Lola is revealed as a druggie, which may compromise her work (or maybe not, if we believe what Sigmund Freud said about at least one drug in his infamous Cocaine Papers).
By Paul Levinson5 years ago in Criminal
The Emancipation of Collette Martin - Part 5
FBI HQ – Las Vegas, Nevada October 16th, 1968 Special Agent Davis and Special Agent Henderson sit behind a long white table in the headquarters conference room. “Hey, Dale didn’t you bring your yarn and frills to fiddle with?” Special Agent Henderson shoots Davis an icy stare. “No Collin, I left it back at the hotel.” Davis lightly smacks Henderson against the arm and laughs. The sound of the heavy wooden door opening has both men quickly rise from their seats. A skinny balding man enters the room and nods at both men. He motions for them to sit and all three men slide down in their respective chairs in unison.
By Ashley McGuire5 years ago in Criminal
Review of 'We Hunt Together' 1.1
A different kind of detective show, just on Showtime: We Hunt Together. How is it different? British -- well, there are lots of those. Somewhat unusual format: About equal time to the build-up to a murder, that happens three days before the detectives begin to investigate. That's interesting, but not enough to make We Hunt Together compelling.
By Paul Levinson5 years ago in Criminal
One Man, One Store, and One ATM
There are millions of inspirational books and movies that have flooded our minds. People that literally come from nothing and they work to become millionaires. Super athletes, geniuses, and speakers that are all born for with this gift that all of us wish we could have. These stories always seem so far fetched and yet we still try our best to connect with these inspirational figures. However, people like Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, Malcolm X, Conor McGregor, John Cena, Bill Gates, and even Mark Zuckerberg are once in a life time people who cannot be replicated. I know what you are thinking right now... who are you supposed to look up to then?
By Eli Guardiola5 years ago in Criminal
The Emancipation of Collette Martin - Part 4
“Hey, can you give me a hand?” Collette struggles while pulling the body of an obese man from the driver’s seat of a dark green crew cab truck. Ben stands at the edge of the road nervously looking back and forth watching for other drivers. He slowly turns and walks over to the truck. He grabs the silk pantyhose that is wrapped around the man’s neck and tugs with all his strength. The body doesn’t budge. Frustrated, he places his hands around the man’s head and begins to pull. Collette grabs the now bluish-green arm of the dead man and leans back while pulling. A sudden loud pop and the head detaching from the spine sends Ben flying back and onto his bottom. Collette bends down slightly and looks in the cab, “There I see the problem. His large belly is getting caught on the steering wheel.” Ben struggles to his feet and looks back at the red town car they left together in from the diner. The front tire shredded from running over an unfortunate armadillo. Ben turns his attention back to the dead fat man and sees Collette pulling a large knife from her purse. She places the blade on the man’s large belly and gives a wink at Ben.
By Ashley McGuire5 years ago in Criminal
The Emancipation of Collette Martin - Part 3
Cincinnati Ohio – October 2nd, 1968 FBI Special Agent Collin Davis walks down the brightly lit hallway of the District 5 Cincinnati Police station. He passes several male officers who are clean-cut and look like they just graduated from High School. He hears them whispering as he turns and knocks on the door of Cincinnati Police Chief, Stanley Buck. A loud, “Enter” beckons from the other side of the door. Special Agent Davis turns the doorknob slowly and opens it slightly. He slides in and shuts the door quickly. Chief Buck stands slowly with a nervous grin on his chubby face. He reaches his hand out offering a friendly, but professional greeting. Special Agent Davis extends his hand and grabs the sweaty palm of the Chief. He lets go immediately and wipes the residual moist onto his pants. The Chief motions for him to sit, but Davis continues to stand. “So, what brings the Feds to come visit me on this fine Wednesday morning?” Davis clears his throat loudly and straightens his tie, “ I am here to discuss the bank fire from four weeks ago and the residential fire from last week. I believe they are related in some way.” The Chief leans forward, a concerned grimace spreads across his face. “Do you know the whereabouts of Mrs. Collette Martin?”
By Ashley McGuire5 years ago in Criminal
The Emancipation of Collette Martin - Part 2
“Direct from our newsroom in New York City, this is D.E.F News with Richard Cronenberg.” Collette Martin sits upright on her cherry-red loveseat devouring a mixing bowl full of vanilla ice cream. Her nightgown is heavily stained from not being washed in weeks. She brings the heaping spoon towards her mouth and the melting contents plop down on her chest. “Dang it!” She scoops the mess up with her fingers and into her mouth.
By Ashley McGuire5 years ago in Criminal
The Emancipation of Collette Martin - Part 1
An average looking woman with an average shaped body leans against a marble post smoking a cigarette. She is so unexceptional that no one notices the bulging tan bowling bag lying next to her feet. Her light brown eyes scan the lobby of Oakwood National Bank. Happily married couples sit side by side discussing mortgage loans with their plump and grumpy male lenders. Male tellers are discussing the outcome of the Cincinnati Reds game the night before. It was a shame Pete Rose had to miss the All-Star Game. A tall blonde with a nice bust comes prancing over to the woman. "Mr. Montgomery will see you now." The average woman smirks and drops the half-finished cigarette on the marble floor. She gently snuffs the life out of it with the heel of her cherry bomb Mary Janes. She lifts the bowling bag struggling to keep it up and follows the blonde to an open office.
By Ashley McGuire5 years ago in Criminal
Did Texas execute an innocent man?
On October 31, 1981, children dressed as goblins, ghouls and monsters were out in force looking for candy. But in Amarillo, Texas, there wouldn’t be any treats for Sister Tadea Benz, a 76-year-old Catholic nun. Someone had brutally murdered and raped the elderly woman at the St. Francis Convent in Amarillo, Texas.
By Marc Hoover5 years ago in Criminal
A Filmmaker's Review: “The Innocent Man” (Netflix, 2018)
John Grisham is probably best known for his dramas of law and order in the world of literature. Films like “The Rainmaker” were based on his novels and his newest novel “Camino Island” is just as good as the others, I can assure you. As an incredible writer of fiction, there was one time when Grisham took a dip into the world of nonfiction, much like Truman Capote and others, he chose to cover the topic of true crime. The focus of his book being false confessions, coaxed interviews and wrongful imprisonment. The problems with the judicial system are probably Grisham’s forte in exploration but this took him far beyond anything he could imagine. He not only discovered a law enforcement team that were wrongfully imprisoning the ones they had coaxed to confess to crimes they didn’t commit, but he also discovered a law enforcement team that were corrupt as to ask for half of whatever the prisoner who had actually committed the crime was getting: whether it be drugs, money etc. In this incredible limited series, John Grisham not only explores what is wrong with the law enforcement in small towns, but also what people would do when given far too much power in a situation where they would have no requirement to give it up against their will.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Criminal
