The real-life drama that has surrounded jailed American exchange student Amanda Knox since she was convicted of murdering her British housemate gets even more drama with Lifetime’s original movie.
Despite objections from both Knox and the family of murder victim Meredith Kercher, the network will air “Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy” on Monday.
Is Knox guilty? Or has she been framed by her boyfriend, the police, circumstantial evidence and shoddy police work? Starring “Heroes” actress Hayden Panettiere, the film includes graphic images of the murder but it comes with no cheap sensationalism. It also doesn’t shy away from Knox’s adventurous romantic life.
It’s a complicated court case, and the movie adheres to the facts, as controversial as they are. The jury chose to accept the prosecution’s case despite there being no clear motive, no definite murder weapon, no credible witnesses and disputed DNA evidence.
Much has been written about the trial, including screaming headlines in the European press and several books written on the case. But little has been known about Knox, and the movie details how she spent her time in Italy before her housemate was murdered – although even a casual observer would admit her personal story is not really pertinent to the court case.
The movie’s creators didn’t talk to any of the families, but instead worked from courtroom documents, including a 400-page report written by the judge in the case.
The film feels underwritten, as if the producers began filming with only a screenwriter’s outline. Scenes are choppy and lack focus. There’s not a clear conclusion of Knox’s guilt or innocence. Most viewers may believe there to be reasonable doubt, but the film also does a fair job showing just why the jury found her guilty.
Under Robert Dornhelm’s direction, Panettiere vividly portrays Knox’s horror of being caught up in the court proceedings and how traumatic events of the murder may have led to the woman’s questionable behavior. Playing her distraught but strong-willed mother, Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden is as good as ever.
Following “Murder on Trial,” Lifetime will air the hour-long documentary “Beyond the Headlines,” which was not made available for press screenings.
Blair Howell has edited New York City-published national magazines and is now a freelance editor and writer.