The Truth About Jussie Smollett Review: Directed by Gagan Rehill, this 90-minute Netflix documentary delves deeply into one of the most high-profile celebrity scandals in recent memory. The film goes back to the 2019 incident involving actor Jussie Smollett, who became internationally known for his role in the TV show Empire, but became infamous for staging a hate crime against himself. Far from a straightforward retelling of what transpired, the documentary tries to strike a balance between different perspectives by questioning whether Smollett was a victim or the mastermind of the hoax.
Being someone who had followed the initial news story, I was curious to see how Netflix was going to handle this. Would the documentary clarify things, or would it confuse the viewing public even more? Having watched The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, I have to say that while the movie itself is polished and riveting at times, it left me more angry than satisfied.
Documentary The Truth About Jussie Smollett Review
To understand why we even need this documentary, we have to recall what happened back in 2019. Smollett reported that he was attacked by two men in Chicago, who used racial and homophobic slurs against him, doused him with bleach, and put a noose around his neck. The world was horrified at the story, and at first, he was a huge hit among politicians, celebrities, and the media.
But soon, weeks later, the narrative was flipped on its head. Officials claimed Smollett had staged the whole incident with the help of two brothers with whom he was acquainted. The case developed into a media circus in quick order. Smollett went from victim to defendant, and eventually he was found guilty of making a false report to authorities. Later, that conviction was overturned on a technicality, further muddying a complicated story.
This back-and-forth is exactly what Netflix’s The Truth About Jussie Smollett Documentary tries to simulate. And in doing so, it sometimes reads like it is trying too hard to sow seeds of doubt where possibly none are needed.
I will give them credit; however, Netflix is good at making documentaries visually interesting. From trendy editing to a dramatic soundtrack, The Truth About Jussie Smollett? Looks and feels like a high-end production. Taking advantage of interviews with law enforcement officers, reporters, and even Smollett himself makes it interesting enough to keep viewers watching.
I particularly liked the way that the film establishes the timeline of events. For somebody who maybe didn’t stay in touch with all of the twists and turns of the real case, this documentary serves to ably condense the series of allegations, trials, and appeals. It shows just how convoluted the whole affair had gotten and why the public remains so divided.
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A striking aspect is how the film foregrounds the media. The Smollett affair was not just about a single person; it became something to be debated over politics, race, and sexuality in America. The documentary captures the pace at which the public rushed to judgment, and how dangerous that rush can become.
Despite its merits, Netflix’s The Truth About Jussie Smollett has some significant flaws. For starters, the documentary is too sympathetic to Smollett. The film’s editing and tone invite an audience’s sympathy for Smollett even as the trial evidence paints a very different picture. Instead of asking difficult questions, the film at times feels more about clearing Smollett’s name.
Another issue is that the documentary overreaches itself. Instead of focusing on the key facts, it indulges in too much time with commentators who bring more conjecture than fact. Their theories don’t necessarily ring true, and towards the end of it, I felt the movie was turning too much to conspiracy over strong research.
What was most annoying was that there was no clear conclusion. Yes, documentaries need not have solutions, but not to take a stance here struck me as a cop-out. By the 90th minute, I was expecting new facts or new perspectives, but instead, I was given tired arguments presented in soap opera style.
As I watched The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, I couldn’t help but ask myself what exactly the real purpose of this documentary was. Was it to deflect for Smollett? Was it to reopen the debate? Or was it simply Netflix trying to ride a scandal that people still recall?
Netflix The Truth About Jussie Smollett Review: Summing Up
I wasn’t satisfied with the documentary. It tries to show both sides, but in so doing, it ends up being untrustworthy. I would have respected it more if it had taken a certain side and backed it up with indisputable facts. But now it appears to have to keep people guessing for the sake of entertainment.
In the end, The Truth About Jussie Smollett documentary comes down to this: it’s a well-produced documentary that looks polished but struggles with credibility. It promises to reveal “the truth,” yet it leaves viewers with more questions than answers.
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