Netflix

Is Netflix’s ‘Making of a Murderer’ the next big documentary event?

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Source: Indiewire

Documentaries are enjoying more popularity than seemingly ever before these days, and a new one from Netflix looks to be the next ‘big event’ in the genre.

Perhaps because they are more accessible than ever before with the likes of Netflix, on-demand services, and other streaming sites, documentaries are having a veritable renaissance at the moment. Films like ‘Blackfish’ and ‘Food Inc.’ have stirred massive discussion around their topics, and even real-world effects, but it is another sub-genre of the documentary altogether that seems to be the most popular these days. And that is the crime documentary.

Popularized by documentaries like ‘Serial’ (which was actually a podcast) and the Robert Durst-profiling ‘The Jinx’, completely true crime series have exploded in popularity. Perhaps feeding an audience that grew up on CSI and Law & Order: SVU, both have posted ratings previously untouched by the non-fiction investigative genre. And an upcoming entry from Netflix is looking to be the next in line for this type of success, while similarly to its genre-predecessors; is looking perhaps to even change the situation it documents.

Titled ‘Making a Murderer’, the series is a 10-episode look at the life and crimes of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man cleared after nearly two decades of imprisonment from one charge, only to be promptly accused of another heinous one. Compiling nearly 10 years of filmmaking into those 10 episodes, the series has been previewed only by a handful of critics, and the feedback is largely positive. The first episode acts a succinct prologue, while the other nine delve deeply into a look at a pair of gruesome crimes, and the small, rural community they consume. Dubbed by some critics as a type of real-life Fargo, it is noted that the characters themselves are perhaps the most compelling element of the series, as their neighborly-midwestern demeanors perhaps underlie far more sinister motives. Ultimately, the series comes down to the question of is Avery a cold-blooded psychopath, a victim of a convoluted and unfair justice system, or both?

Making a Murderer debuts Dec 18 on Netflix.

‘Making a Murderer’ debuts December 18th on Netflix (all 10 episodes, simultaneously); a date which is notably, if only for reasons of somewhat ironic juxtaposition, the same day that ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ debuts in theaters.

Recounting the time Blockbuster passed up buying Netflix for $50 million

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Via: Source

They say hindsight is 20/20, but this is a true case study in a tragically missed opportunity.

Those of us old enough to remember actually going to a video rental store, like a Blockbuster, usually remember it quite nostalgically, and even fondly. But of course, as we all know, the far more convenient video-on-demand method, as well as Netflix and other subscription services, have now all but completely replaced brick-and-mortar video rental stores (Red Box seems to be doing fine though?).

Nature reclaiming an empty store. (Via Reddit)

But it appears that Blockbuster had a chance to avoid its present fate; as it could have acquired Netflix all the way back in 2000, for only $50 million. To put that in perspective, Netflix is now worth between $28 and $30 BILLION, depending on who you ask, and where the market sits that day. Good God. If you’re having a bad day, we genuinely hope this revelation makes you feel at least a little bit better. Because, yikes.

As recounted in a story originally appearing on Business Insider, the two CEOs, John Antioco (now formerly) of Blockbuster, and Reed Hastings of Netflix, came together all the way back in 2000 and attempted to negotiate the deal. Why Mr. Hastings was looking to sell at that point is not noted, but whenever there is a $50 million dollar pay day attached to a deal, can you really blame a guy for trying to make it? Of course, now that Netflix is worth literally multiple billions of dollars more than that, it looks like a dumb move, but back in 2000, the internet was much less prevalent, and cable TV was much more powerful.

In 2000, Blockbuster viewed Netflix as a small, niche company; which indeed they were. And perhaps, even a merger might not have been enough to keep Blockbuster afloat in the face of rapid technological changes, but it certainly could have helped. What do you think? Was this an oversight by Blockbuster back in the day? Or was the world so different that you can’t even really blame them for not seeing what Netflix would become?