Movie Review - Amanda Knox

Amanda Knox (2016)

Directed by Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

A compelling true-life murder-mystery, Amanda Knox delves into the story behind the title character when on November 2, 2007, Meredith Kercher, a young college student studying in Italy, is murdered in the apartment she shared with Knox.  After an investigation by the Italian authorities, Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaelle Sollecito were convicted of the crime and sentenced to jail despite their insistence that they had nothing to do with the murder.  The "trial by media" that ensued in the worldwide papers created a frenzy, portraying Knox as a sex-crazed party girl.  However, as time progresses, "stunning flaws" in the investigation and a media frenzy that demanded a "frantic search" for guilty parties may have caused the Italian police to jump the gun when it came to a conviction.

Rather surprisingly, Amanda Knox is fairly even-handed when it comes to its investigation into the crime.  Through interviews with Knox, her boyfriend Sollecito, and the head Italian police officer, we see both sides of the story detailing how Knox could be guilty or how she could be innocent.  While I have a personal opinion given the evidence as presented, filmmakers Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn create a very solid case for either side, adding in rather sly digs at the worldwide tabloid media that drummed up much more excitement and disgusting unjustified indictments than they should have.  Tackling this aspect of this well-known case adds another layer to what could've been a simplistic real-life Law and Order episode, but ends up being something much more compelling.

The RyMickey Rating:  B+