The Staircase

Happy new year!

For all of those who have missed my inconsistent blogging (er, that means you, Bob). I'm back, and one of my goals for 2009 is to be less inconsistent. "More consistent" seems like too much of a stretch. Baby steps, and all that.

One of the many reasons I've been absent from this space is that last weekend I became obsessed with the documentary series The Staircase. This 8 hours series, originally broadcast on the Sundance Channel, chronicles the case against Michael Peterson, a novelist who's accused of killing his wife. The French crew began filming a few week's after Peterson's arrest, and continued following the story for several years. While Peterson's defense is based on his contention that his wife fell down the stairs, the prosecution contends that Peterson beat her to death after a fight about his extramarital affairs.

With several unexpected revelations and amazing access to all involved parties - the family, the prosecution, the defense, and the courtroom, this true story is more engrossing than any Law & Order episode could ever be. The story begins with the arrest and ends on the verdict, and every second of it is incredibly compelling filmmaking. Do yourself a favor during these cold, dark winter months. Rent both discs from Netflix, hunker down and commit yourself to a day/weekend of hearing the case and deciding whether or not Peterson is guilty.

But don't research the case before you watch! The drama of the story depends largely on not knowing how it will all end.