PROSECUTING CASEY ANTHONY (2013 TV movie)
6.6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2 min
BASIC PLOT:
An engaging recreation of the flawed prosecution of Casey Anthony, seen from the point of view of the prosecutors, Jeff Ashton (
Rob Lowe) and Linda Drane Burdick (
Elizabeth Mitchell). This film was based on their book, "Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony".
This film, and the real trial, are perfect examples of confirmation bias. The police and prosecutors had a preconceived belief about Anthony's guilt. Therefore, they did not look for any other explanations. This is a dangerous precedent (this does NOT imply Anthony's innocence, it just states that ALL possibilities be looked at equally, not just the ones we "feel" should be true). Police & prosecutors should have investigated ALL possible causes of Caylee's death (George Anthony's guilt, a stranger abduction, an accidental death, etc), not just the ones that engendered the most feeling, and were easiest to win. This film shows the prosecutors stepping into their own traps, falling victim to their own egos, and showcasing the worst case of public confirmation bias in a prosection to date.
WHAT WORKS:
*THE SCORE IS GREAT The score gives the feeling of unease and trepidation, exactly what it should be for this type of movie. A successful outing from
Richard Marvin.
*EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES BY ROB LOWE & ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Rob Lowe &
Elizabeth Mitchell do an excellent job at portraying well meaning arrogance. The overall underlying theme running through the film is "we can't lose", and "we can't be wrong", two of the underlying problems with the real case.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK (Normally, I would add things that are flawed with the movie, but there aren't many, so these are more observations):
*NO ONE LIKES SMUG, ARROGANT, JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE, WHO THINK THEY ARE SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE. Trial attorney 101: It's NEVER ok to appear arrogant in front of your jury! It's ok to be well versed, well educated, better than the defense or prosecutor (depending on what side your on), even well dressed, but NEVER appear self-righteous. I guess Jeff Ashton missed that class at law school, or in the school of life, because he constantly shows his disdain for the defense, and their arguments.
Rob Lowe doesn't give enough of the arrogance the real Jeff Ashton had. Maybe he's too nice a guy in real life to portray that type of jackass?
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION:
*I definitely recommend this film, and not just to
Rob Lowe fans. It's a successful and entertaining depiction of the flawed prosecution of Casey Anthony. Recommended to those who are fans of courtroom dramas, made-for-tv movies,
Elizabeth Mitchell and
Rob Lowe.
CLOSING NOTES:
*This is a made-for-tv movie, please keep that in mind before you watch/rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.
