News Taffy

If you asked me to name the last film I saw in my neighborhood theater, I would have to really think about it. I just don’t see many movies anymore. However, for the last five years I have spent nearly a week solid seeing as many films as I can see at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

I am drawn to the documentaries as they are usually very compelling. This year was no exception. When you get the chance I recommend seeing The Queen of Versailles, Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, About Face and West of Memphis. All four are fascinating on different levels. The Queen of Versailles started out as a film documenting time share billionaire David Siegle’s adventure in building the largest home in America. It didn’t end up that way. The market crashed in 2008 and his rag to riches story quickly turned into a riches to rag story. Escape Fire delves into the health care system. One thing it highlights is the military’s use of acupuncture to aid in the rehabilitation of soldiers addicted to narcotics. About Face explores the rise of the modeling industry with the pioneers of the profession discussing among other things how their families thought they were really working as prostitutes and not models!

And then there was West of Memphis. Filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh who wrote, produced and directed The Lord of The Rings and Amy Berg unveiled their two and a half hour documentary about the miscarriage of justice surrounding the trial of the West Memphis Three. With Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelly and Jason Baldwin’s recent release from prison the film created lots of buzz before I arrived in Park City.

The filmmakers highlighted the things that most of us would agree went wrong in the trial. That was not surprising to me. What did shock and sicken me were the numerous images in the film of the little boy’s bodies at the crime scene. I kept my hands over my eyes for several scenes. I had never before seen any of the photos and would have preferred to never have seen them at all. If I were a parent of those children, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers, I would go after the filmmakers with everything I had at my disposal. As I watched the rest of the film, I could see why Jackson, Walsh and Berg would use the photos. They were trying to make the most sensational film possible in order to point the finger at their prime suspect, Terry Hobbs. Those horrifying photos along with Hobbs own testimony during a deposition fuel that suspicion. The filmmakers have been supporters of the WM3 for many years and have invested lots of money in the cause. It’s in their best interest to point the finger at someone other than Echols, Baldwin and Misskelly.

If I were Hobbs and had a multi-millionaire filmmaker hell bent on framing me for murder, I’d be a little scared. I have no idea whether or not Hobbs was involved, but there seem to be some holes in his story about what happened the day of the murder. Hobbs really didn’t help his cause when he filed a lawsuit against Dixie Chicks band member Natalie Maines. Once Hobbs filed suit, he was deposed by the defendant and asked some very pointed questions. What I saw in the film left me wondering if he was involved or not.

I was saddened to see that many of the new witnesses interviewed in the film appeared, in my opinion, to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or possibly both. If you pay someone for an interview, they will probably tell you anything you want to hear in exchange for money to fuel a bad habit. Once you see the film, let me know if you agree with my observation.

Judge David Laser’s comment at the end of the court room proceeding in August was to me the most impactful moment of the whole film. Judge Laser pointed out the tragedy on both sides of the case He even went so far as to recognize the people who had help make that day possible including the filmmakers.

I feel certain the men convicted of the crimes didn’t receive a fair trial. I am not 100 percent certain they are innocent though. I don’t think we’ll ever know what really happened to Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers. What I do know is that the voice for the three little boys has been silenced. The state stands behind the original convictions. The filmmakers are focused on the miscarriage of justice and the goings on of the WM3. And the families of the victims are busy pointing fingers are each other.

Read more about D.J.’s adventures in New York City and beyond at www.djduckworthyoga.com/blog Follow her on Facebook at DJ Cunningham Duckworth and on Twitter @mrsdjduckworth