Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 2 -| Review Score – 4.5/5 Episode 3 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 6 -| Review Score – 4/5
The Peterson case was a mystery that shrouded in perception. Technically, there is no legal classification of its outcome due to the Alford Plea. But in the court of the public, Michael Peterson forever stands on either side of the scales.
The new HBO miniseries, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” stars Colin Firth as the alleged murderer and it is a mix of fiction and fact, brought to life in riveting fashion by creator Antonio Campos. The inherent urgency of the true-crime genre is well captured in his narrative, which is heavily influenced by Netflix’s original docuseries about the case. ..
The article tells the story of how a socialite in Durham county, Kathleen Atwater Peterson, was found dead in strange circumstances at the foot of the staircase of her posh house. Almost everything at first glance about the “crime scene” was inconsistent with a fall, giving way to investigative speculation of a homicide. Mike Peterson, Kathleen’s husband, was taken into custody after the coroner’s (Dr. Raddisch) report revealed the cause of death. This sparked the long, drawn-out process that had significant ups and downs for the Peterson family.
The Staircase is a documentary that promises something different than the adaptation. For one, Campos injects the story with a decadent perversity that makes it more addictive but at the cost of its subjects’ personal dignity. Secondly, the film offers new insights into how the dysfunctional family dealt with the tragedy and its impact on their lives. However, at what cost?
The documentary series “The Jinx” was created to negate easily made – and at times true – accusations of exploitation. For Jean Lestrade, the creator, it was to showcase the flaws and biases in the criminal justice system. For Campos, the goal seems uncertain.
Campos’ ghoulish tone is suggestive of a more sensationalized representation of the case, making optimum use of his high-profile star cast. He wants to step up from the serious-minded and meditative approach of Lestrade to give his own version a speculative and zany spirit. His color comes from the moral ambiguity in Lestrade’s work that is cleverly brought out in the two halves of the miniseries. ..
Campos uses the subjective objectivity of truth to his advantage by providing the right kind of dramatic heft to the characters. Throughout watching the documentary, we all wondered in hushed tones about the behind-the-scenes deliberations that ironically became the central focus here. The very real trauma that haunted the family didn’t come out as well, but Campos made sure that his narrative pulled the right strings. They may not have always been on the mark – at times guilty of being too wistful – but gave the audience an interesting dynamic to explore.
The Staircase is a gripping, creative story that benefits from the choice to present it in this structure. The cinematography blends the unique aspects of the documentary-style shots and the preciseness of modern-day filmmaking. The seamless weaving in of the footage from the different timelines was at its peak in the third episode and the final one; two sequences that reaffirm Campos’ creative genius.
In the season finale, Colin Firth convincingly portrays Michael, a conflicted character with a bouquet of emotions. He is mindful of human conflicts in his nature and brings these to the forefront in his performance. Collette does not have too much screen time but renders a performance that has the exact emotional nuance to be respectful to Kathleen’s persona and create a veritable portrait in the dramatic tone.
The series is compelling in parts. The gamut of choices – from casting to set design, are collaborative and calibrated in their attempts to leave a lasting impression. Campos offsets the banality of the legal process with the thrill of theatrics, which is a reasonable exchange given how inherent this element was in the story itself. HBO’s ‘The Staircase’ might not be completely truthful to its muse, but it presents a compilation that is well worth watching. ..
