New True Crime Reads, Amanda Knox's New Gig, and the Ryan Gosling - Robert Durst Connection
While the field of true crime podcasts has gotten a little crowded, a new entry into the genre from Sundance is sure to stand out given the notoriety of its host. On October 25, the network will launch The Truth About True Crime with Amanda Knox. The first episode will examine the tragedy of Jonesville. Because of her own ordeals with the press and the justice system, Knox herself is not really a fan of the true crime genre, believing that it too often veers into sensationalism. However, in a press statement about her new venture, Knox says, “But these stories are very important when told with compassion and context. I’m excited to partner with Sundance to bring nuance to the story of Jonestown.” And I'm excited to tune in.
Speaking of true crime sensationalism, few cases have garnered the kind of attention received by the decades-long saga of Robert Durst. Director Andrew Jarecki first explored the case in his fictional 2010 film All Good Things, which starred Ryan Gosling as a Durst-like character and Kirsten Dunst as his wife. Durst was such a fan of the movie that he provided commentary for the film's DVD release. Now prosecutors want to use that commentary as an "adoptive admission" by Durst that he murdered his wife Kathie. They plan to try him for the 2000 murder of his close friend Susan Berman, who they allege Durst killed because she knew too much about Kathie Durst's disappearance. In paperwork filed by the prosecution, they argue, “After reading the script and watching this movie, Defendant did not sue the production company for slander, nor did he object to how the movie portrayed him. Instead, he contacted the director and expressed how much he had enjoyed the film and agreed to sit for a series of interviews, including the DVD commentary for the movie." It will be quite interesting to see if the judge rules the commentary as admissible.
Before true crime podcasts and documentaries became the latest craze, we had true crime books, which still have quite the huge readership. Adding his two cents to the true crime book mix is Dave Sweet, a homicide detective with the Calgary Police Service. His new memoir, Skeletons In My Closet, is an account of the cases he's encountered and the lessons he's learned over the course of his 20-year career. While co-writing the book with author Sarah Graham, Sweet wanted to take a different approach to true crime, sort of a Chicken Soup For The Soul for police work.
Australian novelist Sarah Schmidt offers a new take on a very familiar case with her new book, See What I Have Done. The book begins from the perspective of Lizzie Borden, just after the murders of her father and stepmother. It goes on to explore the Borden family dynamic and how it was affected by the death of Lizzie's mother and her strained relationship with her stepmother. There is plenty of creepiness, foreboding, and dysfunction, making a great read for the Halloween season.
Speaking of true crime sensationalism, few cases have garnered the kind of attention received by the decades-long saga of Robert Durst. Director Andrew Jarecki first explored the case in his fictional 2010 film All Good Things, which starred Ryan Gosling as a Durst-like character and Kirsten Dunst as his wife. Durst was such a fan of the movie that he provided commentary for the film's DVD release. Now prosecutors want to use that commentary as an "adoptive admission" by Durst that he murdered his wife Kathie. They plan to try him for the 2000 murder of his close friend Susan Berman, who they allege Durst killed because she knew too much about Kathie Durst's disappearance. In paperwork filed by the prosecution, they argue, “After reading the script and watching this movie, Defendant did not sue the production company for slander, nor did he object to how the movie portrayed him. Instead, he contacted the director and expressed how much he had enjoyed the film and agreed to sit for a series of interviews, including the DVD commentary for the movie." It will be quite interesting to see if the judge rules the commentary as admissible.
Before true crime podcasts and documentaries became the latest craze, we had true crime books, which still have quite the huge readership. Adding his two cents to the true crime book mix is Dave Sweet, a homicide detective with the Calgary Police Service. His new memoir, Skeletons In My Closet, is an account of the cases he's encountered and the lessons he's learned over the course of his 20-year career. While co-writing the book with author Sarah Graham, Sweet wanted to take a different approach to true crime, sort of a Chicken Soup For The Soul for police work.
Australian novelist Sarah Schmidt offers a new take on a very familiar case with her new book, See What I Have Done. The book begins from the perspective of Lizzie Borden, just after the murders of her father and stepmother. It goes on to explore the Borden family dynamic and how it was affected by the death of Lizzie's mother and her strained relationship with her stepmother. There is plenty of creepiness, foreboding, and dysfunction, making a great read for the Halloween season.
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