Murder One, Chapter 09 -- Summary/Review
Paul S. Manson
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Murder One, Chapter 9 Summary/Review
Ah yes! The much anticipated return of M1. This is, without a doubt,
the best show on tv.. but then, I was an OJ junkie (but then weren't we all?)
I thought I would post some of my thoughts on Ch. 9 -- "Jury Selection", for
discussion and feedback purposes.
1) Jury Selection has gone from an art to a science, with hired analysts.
This is, of course, a fascinating development in society, but was also
great in the show. The process of analyzing the jurors was in fact a
study in human behavior. The ex-marine (Patrick Mckuen) who looks bad
for Neil on surface, but is potentially sympathetic b/c his won son was
in a harassment suit; the ex-cop (Mr. Coorveer) who might've had problems
with the LAPD; the "card carrying feminist" (Julie Antonelli) who works
at the rape crisis center -- ostensibly bad for Neil -- yet who has a
live-in byfriend, and who might be sympathetic to Neil; the psychiatrist
receptionist (Ms. Milligan) who was thought perhaps to be good for Neil
shown in fact to be bad. The legal wrangling over the possible interpretations
of potential jurors by Hoffman (Benzali) and Grasso (Bosson) was as
riveting as tv gets.
2) The jury consultant lady, whose name I didn't catch, was also
quite interesting. I thought her prediction on what Ms. Milligan
would say maybe a little too much, but on the other hand, I bought
it. I know there are those out there that hate jury consultants
-- "buying a decision" -- but they are merely another weapon that
has to be used. Here analyses of human behavior, based on the
jurors’ backgrounds, was again, very interesting. But how do
they get all that info on people? I have to think they that get
at least some of it via extra-legal means.
3) Avedon continued to grow, and from the punk of the first few eps,
he has now become somebody quite likable. In fact, as I've said
before, he may be the only one on this show whose character has
developed. I thought his handling of Holly Gurgiss -- the
"psycho-fan" -- (and *boy* was she scary -- and you *know* there
are people out there like that-- just look at the Madonna stalking
trial) was both interesting and admirable. I was writhing in my
seat from disgust when he kissed her, but the actor he is, he made
it look like it was something he enjoyed! ;-)
But this leads to another point: is Neil's "likeability" and "growth"
merely Neil going into his acting mode? It is hard to tell whether
Neil is becoming more likable, or is merely -acting- that way.
Which is, of course, what Hoffman's wife said at the end of ep 8.
4) The Hoffman/Grasso duel/rivalry, a centerpiece of the show, continues
to be both interesting and intriguing. Two old vets going at it! Hoffman
for the money, of course, but both of them for the love of the contest
-- and to see that "right" is done (I say that seriously). Of course,
Benzali and Bosson are arguably the two best actors/actresses on the
show. And Barbara Bosson! If you remember her from Hill Street days,
as I do, then you probably really hated her whiny character. But then,
maybe you were supposed to, and she did it all too well. Bosson's
Grasso is, otoh, a -great- character.
5) The Hoffman-Polson rivalry has none of the grace of Hoffman-Grasso,
in fact because the two dislike each other. Nevertheless Polson
(Dylan Baker?) does a good job, and his rivalry with Hoffman is
also great.
6) But it is of course, the Hoffman-Cross friendship (?) rivalry (?)
that is the most interesting part of the show. Which brings me to
Teddy's outburst at Cross at the end of the show -- "the sickness at
the core of your being" (ouch!) line he says to Cross at the end of
the show was understandable, after Cross's lawyer floated the rumor
about Francesca's affair with Hoffman. Which brings up a question:
if Hoffman thinks Cross is so evil, why did he represent him early
in the show? Why, up til now, did he continue to treat Cross as a
friend? Legal tactics? Not showing all your cards? I guess so...
7) The suggestion that Cross had Gurgiss killed in prison -- if
he did it, *why* did he do it?
a) to help Neil -- her "confession" stands unrefuted...
OR
b) to hurt Neil, by taking away another possible suspect for
Jessica's murder…
8) Teddy doesn't shy away from the camera, does he? In fact, he
seems to be irresistibly drawn to it (like some of us are to
newsgroups and this show). Does this attraction to the camera
come from an ego trip? If so, wouldn't that be something of a
moral failing from our otherwise pristine Hoffman? Or, does he
merely recognize the essential and practical advantages of tv
coverage, such as putting your own "spin" or interpretation on
events, to compete against other "spins"; or the fact that
attorneys do better (financially) the more they become "stars",
and that the tv camera is the basic avenue to that?
9) I love the cinematography. The black and white shots, the negative
shots, juxtaposed with the color shots, the close-ups, the interposition
of different shots on top of each other, the slow motion shots, all
together with the dark classical type music create and image and
feeling that I don't think exists anywhere else on tv, and maybe
never before on tv.
All in all, a great show! Happy for feedback,
Bruce Andre
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Copyright 1996, Bruce A. Beaubouef All rights reserved, but feel free to ask...
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Paul S. Manson -- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
pma...@inforamp.net
The truth is out there --- Be seeing you --- Thanks Sweetie, Darling
So. Five card stud, nothing wild. And, The sky's the limit. -- JLP
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