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Life Through the Lens: ‘O.J.: Made in America’ reveals

“Please remember me as a good guy. Please.”

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This will seem an odd review, but, with the Oscars this weekend, this film has received a new dose of attention. Let me be another voice in the chorus: this documentary is phenomenally constructed and endlessly interesting!

The ESPN documentary “O.J.: Made in America” is not your typical movie-going experience, but it is worth every minute of its 467-minute run-time. It isn’t like a Peter Jackson movie that refuses to end; you will, instead, find yourself wishing it would keep going!

O.J.’s beginning is the American dream: poverty, hard work, success … and, every American’s favorite, FAME. He earned what he had; it was not handed to him. He was admirable, honest, humble, and relatable. Wow, he was talented, as well. O.J. took his sports fame and translated it to something much bigger. He was used in advertisements and movies, owned businesses and controlled finances — he was unlike anyone before him. He was the most recognized sports figure of his era … he was stinkin’ O.J.!

It is entirely true, while watching the first few episodes of the documentary, I was under the “O.J.-effect.” I liked him. I couldn’t help but respect the guy. His smile was genuine and his attitude infectious. Even his goal of “transcending race” was admirable. He wanted to be O.J. and nothing else. Even at the trial and the years following, he could woo people with ease … even when he was pretty-much-a-guaranteed-murderer. “Yeah, he probably killed two people … but, dang, he is likable.”

Slowly, as the 80s closed and 90s began, you started to hear about the other side to this super-star. Rage. Anxiety. Paranoia. It wasn’t surprising, however, because he was always above us. He sought to be separate: he would brag of his willingness to stop and be kind to everyone, sign every autograph, smile for every picture … but that was just it! He did what he had to do to remain separate; sure, he was kind but only to remain awe-inspiring and larger-than-life. He wanted his image to stay intact … nothing more. His obsession with himself grew stronger. He worked for his fame and respect, and he was going to keep them (no matter the cost). He worked for his image, and he was going to fan that flame.

The thing the documentary does beautifully is provide context. It isn’t just about O.J. – it is equally about the world in which O.J. lived. He lived in LA, which was a completely volatile place to live in those times. It was bubbling with racial tension and inequality, police brutality and retaliation. It was nasty … and then there was O.J. He was on TV. He was public and respected … but he wasn’t black; he made that very clear. He stood for no cause or movement – he was just O.J. This is when it became apparent that his position above everything started to hurt rather than free him. All around him, people were at war, but O.J. was a nation in-and-of-himself. The film’s contextual approach makes the trial and outcome so clear and profound. No wonder he was found not-guilty. He became a poster-boy for racism (whether he wanted it or not). He was a “cause” and not a man (which totally undermines his main battle).

Fast-forward to his life after the trial (insert fast-forwarding sound of a cassette tape). He has no real friends. He has no real support. He was loved but released after the trial. Sure, he still signed autographs and posed for pictures … but that isn’t relationship or real appreciation – it is just celebrity. He spent nearly a decade searching for genuine connection and coming up empty. After all, he is above us, right? He was alone at the top and alone at the bottom. The end of his story (for now) is haunting: he is isolated, hated, and put in prison (for 33 years … for stealing his own memorabilia!). O.J. is rejected by the very people he kept at a distance. He is detested by all the people with whom he refused to share ground, footing, and roots.

O.J.’s story is the metaphorical “American story” — rags to riches, do it by yourself, pride-infused, whatever it takes. He is ambition instead of contentment. He is increase instead of value. He is status instead of stability. He is popularity instead of prestige. He is reverence instead of relationship. He is depression instead of acceptance. He is stuck in regret instead of seeking renewal.

The final words of the documentary are amazing: it is audio of O.J. after he was initially taken into custody for the murders of Nicole and Ron Goldman. The recording plays, “Please remember me as The Juice; please remember me as a good guy.” Dude (or dudette), this documentary is extraordinary. It held me captivated for almost eight hours! Ezra Edelman has done something quite special: piled-high-detail and emotion-so-real-it-hurts.

Lesson for all of us: don’t be above — be integrated and connected — be genuine – do not seek attention and glory — don’t foster perception over reality — don’t fan your own flame to unsustainable levels.

“O.J.: Made in America” can be streamed on ESPN or Hulu or purchased on iTunes.

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