USA TODAY International Edition
Depicting villainy boosts great storytelling
But dramas sometimes lose focus of the victims
Maybe crime really doesn’t pay, but it seems tougher to make that argument with the recent spate of film and TV projects highlighting real people best known for their worst actions.
Historical names and events — Gianni Versace, the Waco siege, Harding vs. Kerrigan — draw viewers’ attention. But writers often change details or shift focus, softening the rougher edges of the transgressor or losing sight of the victims.
FX’s limited series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Wednesdays, 10 ET/PT), is less about the acclaimed Italian designer than Andrew Cunanan, the man famous for his brutal killings of five men, including the fashion icon.
As Paramount Network’s Waco (Wednesdays, 10 ET/PT) reveals a side of Branch Davidian leader David Koresh that it claims government and the media missed, the series treads lightly regarding allegations that he had sex with underage girls.
And Oscar nominee I, Tonya (in theaters now), which cavalierly jokes about its accuracy, recasts figure skater Tonya Harding, convicted of hindering prosecution after the assault of rival Nancy Kerrigan, as a spiky underdog.
All these projects make commendable points. Versace examines anti-gay bigotry in law enforcement and society;
Waco looks at questions of faith, freedom and government power; and I, Tonya depicts the toll of class discrimination and domestic violence.
But in the process, each raises the profile of people we wouldn’t remember if not for their bad acts. Dead or alive, that’s a big status bump in a society obsessed with celebrity.
The biggest problem is how they highlight the perpetrator while giving less attention to those who have been wronged. Both Versace and Waco flesh out the victims to a degree, but the FX miniseries is ultimately killer Cunanan’s story and Waco‘s focus on Koresh overshadows the depiction of his fellow Branch Davidians, limiting our ability to know and feel for them.
At least they try. Although Harding’s misdeed isn’t remotely comparable to the actions of Cunanan or Koresh, the contrast between Harding and Kerrigan in I, Tonya is the most galling.
Olympic silver medalist Kerrigan, whose injury at the hands of people connected to Harding is the reason we remember this rivalry, is treated as a whiny afterthought. Her dialogue consists of the famous anguished question — “Why? Why?” — while the film’s namesake was recently thanked from the stage at the Golden Globes. Something’s wrong.
We’re now accustomed to more honest, shaded portrayals: heroes with flaws and villains who aren’t entirely evil. But when actors or writers try to make their characters more empathetic, they can unintentionally burnish a wrongdoer’s image.
“It’s my job to be empathetic. If I set out to paint him as a monster, then there’s no point in telling the story. This isn’t a Bond villain,” says Darren Criss, who plays Cunanan.
Viewers may connect more, too, when real-life bad actors are played by better-looking professionals: Criss as Cunanan; Taylor Kitsch as Koresh; and Margot Robbie as Harding. We’re drawn to good-looking people and tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. Humanity’s dark side is fascinating, with great storytelling appeal. Just look at some of the best shows of TV’s current golden age, including Mad Men, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.
Real people — both perpetrators and victims — make for great stories, too, but there’s a responsibility to get them right. Ideally, viewers would use films and TV shows as jumping-off points to learn more about the subjects. Unfortunately, for many it’s too often the only source of information.
A good start would be to find out more about those who don’t get the attention they deserve.
Go beyond Versace‘s depiction of the fashion genius and his decision to live openly as a gay man. Learn more about him and Cunanan’s other victims. Think of the others, especially the children, who died at Waco’s Branch Davidian compound and find out more about religious cults.
And read up on the impressive skating accomplishments of Kerrigan, who faced challenges but managed to reach skating’s pinnacle — and, unlike her rival, avoid a criminal conviction. We can hope they’ll all get a TV show or a movie, but we know that’s not going to happen. They’re not doing anything bad.