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Weird, murky, disturbing... words that describe both the case itself, and this rather uncomfortable and odd documentary about it.
I'm amazed that Hollywood hasn't made it into a movie yet. If there ever was a movie, I really hope that the role of Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong could be played by Tim Curry (pre-stroke), because although they are different genders, he bore a striking resemblance to her, and could certainly play her with chilling accuracy.
I'm surprised that I somehow missed the Pizza Bomb case as it was unfolding at the time, despite the media attention, but given its murky and confusing nature, it is perhaps easier to take in the details as collated here, with the benefit of elapsed time and a broader vision to put the fractured pieces into some sort of order.
However, it is a shame that the documentary wasn't better organised, and seemed to suffer from the assumption that its audience already had some prior knowledge of the case and the people involved.
For most of the first episode I was totally confused by the narrative lurching from the robbery and the bomb collar to Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong - whose involvement wasn't explained at all to begin with - and how the various other people fitted in. Although it is, perhaps, too simplistic for dramatic tension, I would have preferred a more linear narrative and clearer explanation.
Also, it was very confusing the way the documentary switches from a first-person account of the investigation by the journalist/filmmaker, in the style of a poor man's Louis Theroux, to a third-person historical documentary style with interviews and a narration. In short, it was messy.
However, as the messiness and uncertainty of the documentary fully reflects the exact same qualities in the events depicted, it is perhaps somewhat fitting. Overall, a compelling story that could have been better told. Well worth a watch, though.
score 6/10
kitellis-98121 11 July 2018
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4233760/ |
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26-1-2021 02:01:09
