Title: Dominick Dunne Presents: Murder
In Greenwich
Stars: Christopher Meloni, Robert
Forster, Maggie Grace, Toby Moore, Jon Foster, Beth Allen, Andrew Mitchell, and
Peter Rowley
Writer: David Erickson
Based on the Novel by: Mark Fuhrman
Director: Tom McLoughlin
Executive Producer: Bernie Sofronski
Running Time: 89 minutes without
commercials
Media: USA Network Original Crime
Friday Television Motion Picture (NTSC VHS Screener)
World Premiere Friday, November 15,
2002, at 8pm (ET/PT)
Network: USA Network Television (Check
your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: PG 14 L, V
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
“Dominick Dunne Presents: Murder In
Greenwich” is the inaugural film in Dominick Dunne’s true crime franchise
for USA Network and a critical component of USA’s new destination night
“Crime Fridays.” In 1975 15-year-old Martha Moxley was beaten to death and
despite being front-page news at the time, the police were never able to crack
the case. At the center of the investigation was Kennedy family nephews Tommy
and Michael Skakel. Years later, disgraced police detective turn author Mark
Fuhrman investigated the unsolved murder with the assistance of one of the
original police officers on the case. Fuhrman exposed new evidence that led to
Michael Skakel’s arrest and conviction.
This is truly an American tragedy
played with some dramatic license from the point of view of Martha Moxley
(Maggie Grace) narrating in various flashback sequences the events that led to
her own death. In between these segments is the more traditional dramatization
with Christopher Meloni embodying the role of detective turned author Mark
Fuhrman. This film does not pull any punches and does not pretend the events
surrounding the trial of O.J. Simpson did not happen. If anything we see Fuhrman
constantly reminded whether it were from appalled wealthy Connecticut residents,
African American citizens who encounter Fuhrman, disgusted policemen, and
spoiled rich kids asking Fuhrman to say racist remarks for kicks. Yet at the
heart of Meloni’s performance is not a character who is the whipping boy for
perjury, but an imperfect human being who is a bit of a belligerent guy that
appears to take some joy and ruffling a few feathers and has no regards for the
language he uses in public and yet one senses that Fuhrman for all his faults is
actually a great detective and maybe the kind of guy one might need to solve a
crime like this. His actions cannot be condoned, but he has helped bring
unsolved cases to an end so can he be redeemed if he has paid his price for his
crimes and has tried to put his expertise to use, even if he does profit from
the books and indeed this TV film, which he served as one of the producers?
Robert Forster has played the same kind
of character in the past, the sort of world weary, but wise mentor like figure,
but he does such a good job at it I cannot blame anyone for casting him in a
role he could essay from across the country if he wanted. Both Meloni and
Forster are great in their roles and this TV movie is terrific in the questions
it raises and in the way it compels the viewer from beginning to end. Of the
three USA Crime Friday Original Films I have reviewed so far, this is the best
one yet.
“Dominick Dunne Presents: Murder In
Greenwich” will premiere on Friday, November 15, 2002, at 8PM (ET/PT) as a
part of “Crime Fridays” on the USA Cable Network. Don’t miss it!
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.