American Crime Story (TV Series) 100% Not Guilty (2016) User Reviews

Episode 4:100% Not Guilty..Amazing Episode!

[anthonymbaruch · 10/10 · 24 February 2016]

As the show has done the past 3 episodes including this one, Ryan Murphy has dissected the historical Oj Simpson trial by taking moments that defined the players, witnesses, and victims to a T. Before cutting to the title screen, we are shown several brilliant sequences, Lifestyles of the rich and the famous Oj Style "Appropriately backed by C and C Factory's Everybody Dance Now" before the camera cuts to him in his cell, basically a brilliant shot of how the case has affected him internally/externally..followed by another amazing segment of Johnnie Cochran having a heart to heart with Oj to lift his spirits saying he needs to start acting like the Oj people know and love, not someone who seems like they actually could have done the murder.. before cutting to the main title Cochrane sums up Oj's dilemma as the "run of your life" and from that point on the episode keeps a fantastic pace balancing the prosecution/defense point of view while also doing a great job of introducing other known faces like Fred Goldman(who was played brilliantly), Kim Goldman, Lance Ito, Margaret York, Vincent Bugliosi and even Faye Resnick. What could have been a sloppy dramatization ended up being an impressive examination of these characters. Everything from Fred Goldman's heartbreaking conversation about Ron to Marcia, to Marcia seeking advice on who to select for jury duty on the case from Vincent Bugliosi was done convincingly honest while still being able to deliver that entertainment value you'd want. Another thing I believe the episodes keep doing brilliantly is showing the issues which propelled the case to epic proportions such as race relations, Oj's celebrity status, LAPD corruption, and how important it was for those who wanted to be apart of the case no matter what role they were given. Courtney B. Vance is absolutely on point as Johnnie Cochran and I believe he will win some awards for his electrifying performance/portrayal. I'm excited to see African American actors like Vance and Bokeem Woodbines Mike Miligan in Fargo giving a run for televisions money this year instead of just the usual nominations. Another thing that I think makes it work is the dialogue between characters comes off as believable and not just scripted, reminding the audience that this actually happened. Thanks to exceptional performances, attention to detail, and a well written script The first season of the American Crime Story anthology continues to be a pleasant surprise that makes revisiting this case exciting and informative rather than dull/routine.

Favorite scene/s: -The relationship and tension between Shapiro/Cochrane is great! Vance feeds off of Travolta's wisdom/experience to deliver every time he shows up on screen.

-Fred Goldman's scene was powerful.. the actor who played him got the vocal/face inflections down to a T.. hard to watch.

-The scenes with Bugliosi's Focus Group and Jury selection were great too.

Least Favorite Scene: -The scenes with Faye Resnick. She was always spewing the worst aspects of Nicole, taking a dump on her grave.

Pitch perfect

[pradamanshorey · 10/10 · 5 February 2017]

This is probably one of the best episodes for any series in recent times. Writing, editing and directing is totally bad ass.. The music and facial expressions in the final scene of the episode are mind blowing.. I was totally blown away by the way it was acted. The silent treatment is totally worth it. Sometimes your expressions say it all & the actors did that perfectly.This episode highlights the 'race' card effectively & how people are affected by it. I like the way such a sensitive issue was handled with such grace.The story is on an interesting stage & I am looking forward for the next episodes. Kudos to everyone... Awesome stuff...

Best Episode Thus Far

[Samuel-Shovel · 9/10 · 12 May 2017]

Now we're talking! This show's hitting a fever pitch as jury selection comes swinging around. We got tension in the defense team, we got stratagems for the case, we got random chicks writing exposés about the deceased. This is a really enjoyable series to watch, especially for those not too privy to the original case at the time.

It can get a little tiresome watching some of these actors chew the scenery. The actor that played Fred Goldman, talk about over-the-top! And some of these lines, the constant sports metaphors in casual conversations... Completely takes me out of the scene sometimes. I was a little worried after last episode's decline but this was the best episode of the series so far. I'm excited to see what's next!

100% Not Guilty

[Michael_Elliott · 23 February 2016]

The People vs O.J. Simpson: 100% Not Guilty (2015)

As entertaining as the first three episodes were there's no question that this one here takes it to a whole new level. This time out both sides are preparing for jury selections as Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) makes a push to become the lead attorney since he can communicate better with the people they're wanting on the jury. While this is going on Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) begins to realize that people's view of her might come into play once the trial starts.

Well, the fourth episode in the series certainly jump-started a rather amazing amount of drama as the two sides begin their search for a jury but we're also introduced to various other subplots that will eventually come into play. This includes the book that Faye Resnick wrote as well as Fred Goldman being brought into an extremely dramatic sequence. Of course even more drama comes from the fighting inside The Dream Team's offices as Shapiro (John Travolta) and Cochran begin to battle one another.

As I said, up until this point the series had been extremely good but this episode just took everything to another level and by the time the end credits started here I was dying for the next episode to start. There's no question that director Anthony Hemingway knows how to build up all this action and even though the viewer knows what's about to happen in the trial, the drama is still on full display.

Episode: A+

Jury selection at fever pitch

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 20 March 2017]

A lot happens during '100% Not Guilty' and it all goes to show how crazy the pre-trial stage was; when even a quickie tell-all book can be a potential monkeywrench. The defense goes on full offense even by stonewalling over a routine hair sample. Meanwhile, key players (Lance Ito, Faye Resnick) fall into place. Plenty of moving parts.

And that's got nothing on the main event: Cochran's power grab and Shapiro's ousting as lead attorney. So much sermonizing and scenery-gobbling. Not very much about this show is nuanced, but hell if it isn't entertaining.

8/10

Jury Selection and Beyond

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 19 February 2017]

We go into the next step that the dream team needs. We are given insight into jury selection. Johnny Cochran moves in and pushes Shapiro aside, even though he has done a lot of work. He is seen as a loose cannon. The issue that must be tussled with is how to frame the jury. How many African Americans. How many women. How many African American women. And on and on. O. J. is getting depressed and seems in despair. Johnny Cochran comes in and gives it the old-college-try speech and raises his spirits. It is becoming more and more obvious that whether Simpson actually committed the murders is of secondary importance. It's all about winning. It's sort of like our current political system. Well done court drama.

Jury Does Not Select Justice

[hamidullahgenc · 9/10 · 26 December 2016]

In this episode we find that both sides try to strengthen their claims as they dig into the narratives suitable for their "side" of the murder story.

Jury members should be "bias-free", we know and accept that. And the system inquires into their background while asking a lot of questions. It looks like a good idea. So, we will see the result at the end.

Ms. Clark is shouted out the fact that the "Ron is a footnote to his own murder" when she sees Ron's family in. Because it seems to them that crime is not by the heinous act but by being unheard-of. To me, this is an important point evaluating our legal systems across the world. And the father well-said it.

Mr. Cochran and his newly "entourage" seem to build up a strategy leaving ego-full, attention seeker Mr. Shapiro and take "blackness" of the defendant Mr. O.J. Simpson into account as they will make it a race "thing". It?.. I mean "justice...

Mr. Shapiro may be an egocentric, win-all-by-himself kind of guy; but his move cleared out something; "if Mr. Simpson is guilty, there is no clear conscious that can allow him walking the Earth freely." But then again, we are not sure if he is guilty. Oh am I caught; I am biased! :(

Things accelerate from this episode on. And all the drama and skulduggery deepen day after day... As a nation looked up to this case once in the 1990s, now whole world is doing the same by simulation. Hope it results in justice. (A "8.9" to it. Yep.)

Justice is all that matters.

Here is what the Gracious Koran says on the matter:

"Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between people, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things."

(Chapter 4, Verse 58)

great episode

[Lythas_85 · 9/10 · 17 April 2023]

This episode shows why Courtney B Vance and Sarah Paulson got their Emmy awards.. dude, Cuba should have gotten one as well.. he was awesome on this one, much more than travolta and schwimmer..

anyway, now things are moving and who doesnt love watching a trial in a show?

The strategy is laid out, vance is shining.. even tho he didnt do much on the last 3 episodes LOL.

Well, travolta was good too.. his face, the look of always being constipated and annoyed was priceless..

finally some action going on.. we really needed that to make it more interesting..

well, we all know what happaned in the end but good thing to see how it all played out.