*You got caught up in all 10 episodes of FX’s “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” and now you must watch what is surely the definitive documentary film on the man at the center of it all.
“O.J.: Made in America,” running over seven hours in total, debuts in theaters today (May 20) ahead of its 5-part run on ABC and ESPN starting on June 11. Beyond FX’s dramatic retelling of his murder trial, this film covers the entirety of O.J. Simpson’s life, from his childhood and rise to fame to his downfall.
“It’s by and large chronological. The story more or less starts in the mid ’60s and goes to today,” says director Ezra Edelman “It intersects – not in some sort of perfect sequential, like, one scene, one scene, but the non-O.J. related narrative about the black community in L.A., the migration to L.A., police department, leading up to Watts, all that. That is sprinkled throughout the first two parts in various degrees as you’re seeing and living in O.J.’s story.
“There was, a history that sort of led up to in terms of who O.J. was from both a celebrity standpoint, as a black man in America, as well as what was happening in the city of Los Angeles that is necessary, fascinating history. If nothing else, I do think that what is hopefully different about this is a total engagement of a narrative that takes place over the course of 40 years and not one.
Below, director Ezra Edelman talks about the difficulty in convincing people from the case to participate in the film.
The first part of O.J.: Made in America premieres on June 11 on ABC. The remaining episodes will roll out on ESPN June 14-18.
The full documentary is in select theaters now.
Watch the trailer below:
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