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The Staircase

The Staircase

2004
Documentary
TV Mini-Series
10h 29m
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller... (imdb)
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The Staircase

2004
Documentary
TV Mini-Series
10h 29m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 77.41% from 289 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(289)
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Rated 05 Jun 2010
83
75th
Such an interesting and gripping documentary about a murder case that I almost find it hard to believe that all this actually happened. The insight we get into it all (at least, from one point of view) is unlike any other documentary I've seen about these kinds of cases.
Rated 16 Sep 2012
7
88th
It doesn't matter whether he did it or not because this film is less about getting to "the truth of the matter" and more about how the legal system operates in accordance with game theory principles, where perspective is equivalent to truth, and where the outcome of man's life is decided amidst an emotionally draining war of prejudices and feelings. The film is all the more powerful because of how fully and empathetically it captures each of these perspectives, especially in the children.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
89th
Taken as an effort to show the prosecution has an unfair advantage in the American criminal justice system, this was a poor case to choose. Taken as a penetrating inside look at how both prosecution and defence are involved in a strange game of chess with bizarre rules and where money is king, it is a very good case to choose. Taken as an intimate document of a real-life courtroom drama, it is excellent. Cf.: https://www.academia.edu/12687013/From_Philosophical_Cinema_to_Cinematic_Politics_2007_
Rated 18 Oct 2009
86
82nd
Although heavily slanted toward the defense's side, this courtroom documentary does an excellent job of showing the details of what goes into a murder trial. The insight into the very non-scientific process of criminal forensics is especially fascinating.
Rated 09 Dec 2010
95
98th
This is an absolutely superb documentary and what every courtroom drama strives to be. While it's slated in favour of the defendant, as the prosecution wouldn't let Lestrade film them I'm sure, it manages to present both sides of the case. In the end I really don't know whether or not it was a murder or a horrible accident however I do feel like there was reasonable doubt. How you may feel is certainly up in the air and that's why this is such a masterful documentary.
Rated 15 Mar 2007
9
97th
Real-life courtroom drama at it's most gripping.
Rated 16 Feb 2013
100
99th
Okay so I'll admit I watched this whole thing under the impression it was just a perfectly-observed, brilliantly-acted docu-drama... and finding out it's all real makes it even better. The credit can be given to the direction and editing, unveiling the story like a master crafted crime novel and keeping the did he/didn't he question balanced perfectly throughout. You're screaming for more, but this covers about as much as eight punchy 45-minute episodes allow. Amazing stuff.
Rated 20 Aug 2011
90
93rd
This would be a perfect documentary if it was honest in its presentation of the facts. Unfortunately, Lestrade omits many important facts as he shoehorns reality into his thesis. Biased presentation aside, it is one of the most complete depictions of a murder trial - from the perspective of the accused and defense team - ever. Its 6 hour running length is justified; it is the cinematic equivalent of a page turner. Warning: you may feel manipulated after learning more about the case.
Rated 26 Jul 2018
90
95th
One of the most infuriating, unbelievable documentaries I've ever seen. Absolutely astounding how things turn out. It's quite one sided, but in the end, it's not really about Michael Peterson being innocent or guilty. It's about how crazy the court system can be in America. Many curse words and heated comments were made by me and the person who was watching this with me, during and after the episodes. Fuck.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
95
97th
Simply phenomenal.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
45
13th
Regardless of the technical ability and production values, I expect documentaries to present the facts as they best know them. This film is so one sided I actually felt lied to after learning more about the case.
Rated 30 Jun 2018
90
97th
Reminded me of 'Capturing the Friedmans' in several ways, and if you like this, you should definitely watch that film. And the other way around, of course. What makes both so great is that we get access to so much of the defendants' private lives.
Rated 04 Jul 2018
81
94th
A really nice watch with Petersen being incredibly hard to read at times and some fairly shocking facts bouncing all over the place.
Rated 21 Jul 2018
45
7th
I'll concede it's riveting, and technically well-made. But this is the most one-sided, biased "documentary" I've ever seen. When you research about the things left out of the series (his massive credit card debt, Kathleen's $1.4 mil insurance policy, his love affair with the series' editor), you will realize that you've been lied to. Michael Peterson is a sociopath, and regardless of how this shameless show tried to present him, obviously a murderer.
Rated 30 Jan 2014
71
79th
Misleading title! There isn't a single soup can in the whole movie. I thought this was going to be about Andy Warhol.
Rated 30 Jan 2016
80
77th
In a time when Making a Murderer is attracting a lot of attention (and rightfully so), this documentary tv mini-series must be the next in line for all that are intrigued by the apparent holes in the American justice system. It is even more thorough, and even though it's biased, it's not as one-sided as MaM. It does, though, share some of the gruesome and gigantic lapses in the system.
Rated 12 Jun 2015
70
76th
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.
Rated 23 Jun 2018
94
95th
Fantastic documentary filmmaking. In my limited experience with docu-mini-series this is 2nd in line behind The Jinx
Rated 10 Jul 2018
90
97th
Riveting. Meticulous. Addicting. The definitive documentary series.
Rated 23 Dec 2018
73
25th
A very good documentary that does tend to stretch things out a lot more than they needed to be.
Rated 22 Nov 2019
80
95th
Excellent.
Rated 24 Nov 2019
65
24th
Interesting and almost comical how things played out across the years (same judge!). Unfortunately extremely biased towards Michael Peterson. The prosecution barely gets to speak and when they're on screen, they're villains (e.g. transporting the body). The biggest issue is that the documentary does not cover certain elements until late. We never hear about the blood inside the shorts or the strangulation until right near the end. Other facts are omitted too.
Rated 11 May 2020
82
80th
I was the only person who didn't find anything funny
Rated 29 Nov 2021
72
62nd
A solid documentary series which follows the defendant, his defense team, and his family in the original run leading up to the verdict and 3 follow up episodes. It suffers from being so insanely one sided it makes Capturing the Friedmans or Making a Murderer look objective. They leave out so much key information it'll make you angry when you look into the case. Also one of the producers as it turns out was in a long term relationship with M.P.
Rated 24 Jul 2022
80
60th
The series is incredibly long, to the point where it feels as though we're spending too much time watching derivative or unnecessary footage that should have been cut. That being said, there is so much evidence going in both directions with this question of did he or didn't he push his wife to her death, that you kind of need to see him and the family in every way to make your decision. Thank God I wasn't on that jury cause I genuinely don't know which way I'd lean.
Rated 28 Dec 2022
82
84th
Gripping and intriguing. I was amazed not only by the editing (the editor must have gone blind at the end) and sound production but also by how the crew could shoot very intimate moments without making the people feel their presence. I shouldn't mention the content, laying bare all the peculiar characteristics of the US judicial system, where people become unimportant when prosecutors, experts, and lawyers fight. And the most you could get from that is "not guilty", not "innocent".

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