Clues revealed in ‘ Casting JonBenét’ not about case but about perceptions
Film deftly shows how media often drive public opinion with their true- crime specials
Casting JonBenét on Netflix is not your typical true crime documentary du jour. Rather, it’s a contrast to numerous programs devoted to the villainy that aired on CBS, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime and Dr. Phil last year.
The latest directorial exploit from Kitty Green ( Ukraine Is Not a
Brothel and The Face of Ukraine:
Casting Oksana Baiul) does not provide puzzle pieces or insight as to why the lifeless body of JonBenét Ramsey was discovered in December 1996.
Instead of focusing on friends of her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, or investigators, the lens turns to actors in the Boulder community to be featured in limited re- enactments. Contrary to what its title suggests, auditions for the role of the 6- year- old beauty queen are only a tiny fraction of the film.
Confused? Green’s approach is a unique look at the case. Over the course of 15 months, filmmakers met with the Coloradans and sought their beliefs about the crime. The result is a documentary that conveys popular theories and biases about the case.
During their auditions, many reveal a tie to the incident. A voice teacher’s students knew JonBenét. A hopeful vying for the part of Patsy revealed her parents met the Ramsey matriarch and patriarch “several times,” because her brother’s murder connected the grieving parents. Another actor revealed he was “effectively ( his girlfriend’s) alibi,” because she was slated to be John’s successor, therefore, police believed she had something to gain.
The amateur thespians recall details of JonBenét’s death, though not everyone’s speech is dripping with confidence or certainty. They talk about the ransom note, totaling almost three pages, which was addressed on CBS’ docu- series The
Case of: JonBenét Ramsey last September. Their comments are similar to ones that could be heard at a brunch with friends discussing the latest episode of the popular podcast My Favorite Murder.
They mention the length of the letter discovered by Patsy, the highbrow language used, and that it was written with pen and paper belonging to the Ramseys. A man declared that a kidnapper would typically request a rounded amount, not the $ 118,000 specified. It seems the media, with some sensationalized reports and a surplus of shows surrounding the 20th anniversary of the crime, have made us all experts.
Similarly, one actress expresses her doubts that a 9- year- old — the age of JonBenét’s brother Burke at the time of her death — would have the strength to inflict the head injury she suffered. In juxtaposition, the camera then cuts to young boys successfully splitting a watermelon with a flashlight, the weapon some believe was used to kill JonBenét.
Those who watch the film will quickly understand that its centerpiece is not a child’s untimely and cryptic death; Green’s focal point is not the stone but its ripple, the subsequent conversations and attitudes formed about a family that intrigues many but few actually know.
Would it be easy to release the white- knuckled grip on our convictions, formed with the help of experts, to admit that we may never know what happened to that little girl? Are we so desperate to make sense of the senseless act that we cling to theories even if it means persecuting innocent people? These are just a couple of questions to pose while peering into Green’s mirror.