The People v OJ Simpson Review: BBC bring us the story sensationalised

Last night BBC2 aired the first episode of The People vs OJ Simpson: American Crime Story to a British audience, a star studded account of the infamous murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, OJ’s ex wife. Having watched more than a handful of documentaries on this incident I consider myself some what of an expert on the matter, except I’m not, no one but those involved in the case can give an accurate and detailed account.

Having seen the advert for the show, The People vs OJ Simpson promises to give new insights into the case. This is a docu-drama in which the people involved in the matter at the time are given words that are presented to us the audience, a script if you will, that brings the scenario to us like a reality TV show. We get to know each character in this show. So let’s review the cast….

Cuba Gooding Jr as the main character OJ isn’t a perfect choice because though he is a great actor there is very little OJ in him. When you look at him you cannot see OJ. Gooding feels too diminutive and soft although his FIFA rage quit moments do bring him closer to a realer depiction of OJ.

The head prosecutor on the case Marcia Clark, played by American Horror Story’s Sarah Paulson, was not only cast well but also played incredibly believably. Her undying passion to gain control of her team and convict OJ for the murder seeps through the television. You may have to look far and wide to find a more determined woman on your TV screen this year.

The best character by far in terms of closeness of character and how close to the bone he is being portrayed is Johnnie Cochran, played by the charismatic Courtney B. Vance. It’s so damn obviously good we were only served snippets of it in the first episode - he hasn’t even been introduced by name - promising more as the series develops, because I feel he WILL steal the show.

Rob Kardashian was played by Friends star David Schwimmer, who actively brought Ross Geller to the character, and it works as he has to a play a friend who is torn between loyalty, disbelief, concern, suspicion and having to revive his lawyer career to help his friend. The focus on a Kardashian in the story was so obviously going to be used seeing as the name is huge in today’s society.

There is a slight comical mood in this adaptation of the story that I’m not sure is well advised considering that this was a very real and brutal double homicide. In fact the first episode kind of skips over it, perhaps purposely to set it up later as more details are revealed in the court proceedings. Still the humorous mood clearly plays a part as I found myself laughing to myself on more than one occasion.

For instance, the inclusion of Kris Jenner (Selma Blair), Robert Kardashian’s ex wife, shouting at younger Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian in the funeral scene seemed a blatant attempt to pull us further into the ridiculousness of Hollywood. For a moment it was as if we were watching a Keeping Up With The Kardashian spinoff, God forbid. I almost expected Bruce Jenner to appear in a nightie in one scene just so the show could say it had complete insight - we may still get that.

Then there is John Travolta who plays the extravagant Robert Shapiro, who never seems completely serious, never missing an opportunity to call Robert Kardashian “Bob”. Perhaps this is just an accurate depiction of the man himself and Travolta is simply mimicking his actual nature. This is where the show wins. It is giving us more of each person involved in the situation, more personality than any documentary account has done before.

So does this show work and what will you get from it? We all know the story but this seems like it is giving us finer details that may seem silly but are probably completely true. Remember this is Hollywood, this is LA, this is the lifestyle of the rich and the famous. For this reason I, and the audience, will be compelled to view more.