21 December, 2011 at 6:28 pm

‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory’ Trailer Hits For HBO & Stop Squabbling!

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west memphis three peter jackson documenary paradise lost mugshot

HBO will be airing the Bruce Sinofsky/Joe Berlinger final installment of their ‘Paradise Lost‘ trilogy with ‘Purgatory‘ next month, but Peter Jackson will be hitting the film circuit next year with his own documentary of the controversial high profile case.

west memphis three joe berlinger bruce sinofsky damian echols movie
HBO will air ‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory‘ which is on the Academy Award shortlist for Best Documentary next month, and below is the trailer and press conference for it. Sadly, I’m seeing some dejavu though with behind the scene squabbling which I saw firsthand when we were attempting to get this film made entitled appropriately enough ‘West Memphis Three‘ back in 2003. Berlinger and Sinofsky were once Executive Producers on that film, and I give them utmost respect for being the people who truly brought this injustice to light. When I heard that Peter Jackson was going to be making another ‘West Memphis Three’ documentary (West Of Memphis) with both Damian Echols and his wife Lori producing, I thought that was a great way for them to take a creative approach on clearing their names once and for all.
west memphis three dualing docs damian echols baldwin misskelley
Just like back in 2003 where there were three ‘West Memphis Three’ films in development (actually one was the ‘Devil’s Knot‘ now being directed by Atom Egoyan), and I was excited that this would just bring more attention to the case. Was I ever in for a learning experience with all the behind the scenes squabbles that can happen when people forget what they’re making these kinds of films for in the first place. So many times, the main subjects get forgotten in everyone’s rush to cash in or just make their own name off someone else’s back. The New York Times reported earlier this month about the squabbling over interview subjects, it broke my heart that things just had not changed, although thankfully the real ‘West Memphis Three’ (Damian Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr) are now free. When filmmakers are in the press saying that they’re making documentaries to right a social injustice, it would behoove all to work together since it’s for one common good; showing the world how these three young men were mistreated by the justice system and hopefully bringing it too light so it won’t happen again. When all you are doing is fighting amongst yourselves over interview scraps, it’s time to really take stock and ask yourself if you’re making the film for all the right reasons.

Enough of that speachy crap, but I just hope that everyone realizes that there’s so much room at the table for all of these films, and it only helps the boys clear their names. The fact that they had to plead guilty to get out of the hell of prison just broke my heart, so I’m thankful that Peter Jackson is wanting to help them make their own case to the public which is something they never go a chance to do back in the early 90′s when no one knew who they were. The week they were to be releases, I was speaking to uber producer Don Murphy (who’s been like a film godfather to me) about going back to our film, but once we heard that Dimension’s ‘Devil’s Knot’ was back on the table, we were more than happy to let them tell their story since our whole reason for doing the film in the first place was to help those boys get a fair trial. Right now since the boys are out of prison, the people who really got screwed over by the state of Arkansas were the families of the victims who still don’t know who killed their sons and more than likely never will.

Hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself with so many ‘West Memphis Three’ projects in development and then none of them getting made. The real ‘West Memphis Three’ deserve so much better after everything they’ve been through.

Oh, and here’s the script for ‘West Memphis Three‘ that we had for the film to give those of you not familiar with this crazy story an idea of what its about. Definitely check out ‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory‘ which airs on HBO January 12, 2012 and give Joe and Bruce some kudos for really making an amazing change for these guys.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Premiere Panel – Best Movies Ever

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Trailer – Best Movies Ever

Source: HBO Documentary Films: Paradise Lost 3 Purgatory Trailer

‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory’ Trailer Hits For HBO – Best Movies Ever News

Curt Johnson

Curt Johnson

Editor-in-Chief at Best Movies Ever Entertainment News
Filmmaker and movie reviewer who loves giving the spotlight to some not so well known films ignored by the mainstream media. Also loves dark twisted comedy like House Of Yes while also enjoying Working Girl.
Curt Johnson

@bestmoviesnews

Curt Johnson
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11 comments
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Many people believe they are guilty
Many people believe they are guilty

re: "This can hardly be called “many”. It is a small group of prejudice people...who WANT these men to be guilty and will come up with whatever they can to promote that prejudice." Wrong. Most supporters know very little about the case, except what they have been fed by one sided movies and books. The preponderance of the evidence shows the three committed the crimes. This is why they were found guilty by a unanimous jury the first time. did not wait for a trial to clear their names the second time. At the article: West Memphis Three Decision Divisive Among Arkansans at talkbusiness(dot)net "Roughly two-thirds of Arkansans were familiar with the high-profile murder case, and of those two-thirds slightly more than half viewed the decision to free the West Memphis Three as a bad decision." This was a poll of 2,101 Arkansas voters. People who the articles states "were deeply engaged in this case, with fully two-thirds following it."

alsm9
alsm9

Regarding "West Memphis Three Truth"'s comment: Many people DO NOT believe they are guilty. It is a very small minority. Here are the numbers on Facebook as an example; WM3.org support page = 16,275 members Damien Echols's page = 9,776 members Jason Baldwin's page = 9,616 members ...however WM3 Truth = 146 members This can hardly be called "many". It is a small group of prejudice people (some with ties to victims parents, stepparents, jurors, etc.) who WANT these men to be guilty and will come up with whatever they can to promote that prejudice. They always yammer on about a jury convicting these men, so they must be guilty (because to them juries are never fallible), but they always leave out the FACT that there was jury misconduct and because of that the verdicts SHOULD have been thrown out. The jury foreman was set to convict them before he even heard any evidence. That's bigotry among other things. It is a proven fact.

West Memphis Three Truth
West Memphis Three Truth

Many people believe the WM3 were guilty as charged. They were found guilty by a unanimous jury the first time. They plead guilty instead of waiting for a trial the second time. They were not found guilty because of the way they dressed, or their musical tastes, but because of the testimony and evidence. Misskelley confessed three separate times, once with his lawyer present. Misskelley also told two other people about the crime before he was arrested. Baldwin told someone else he committed the crimes. Echols was seen in muddy clothes near the crime scene. Echols is reported to have either told or bragged about the crime to four people before he was arrested. Echols also had a history of psychiatric treatment. His reported actions included brutally killing a dog, starting fires at his school, threatening to kill his teachers and parents and stating he liked to drink blood.

Zogbit
Zogbit

@SlugWorks You fucking twat they didn't murder anyone...anyone with half a brain could see that if they watched the first documentary! This is corruption at its WORST!!

Zogbit
Zogbit

Oh God that Byars nutcase is in this one too...lmao

SickOfTheists
SickOfTheists

As a Memphis local, I was overjoyed when these guy were released. The conditions to which the WM3 were bound to upon release was almost as ridiculous as the trial(s) themselves. But...they're home!!! W00t!!!

CaseyAUS
CaseyAUS

@SlugWorks I can't believe your ignorance.

AKanyon
AKanyon

It's funny to read all those comments when people said that this guys was guilty .

ofnoescape
ofnoescape

sensationalism at it's finest. really happy these guys are free.

iloveXH558
iloveXH558

Such a cock up that they lost so many years... However it's do good they are free. Better late than never. I hope they clear their names and the jury, judge and corrupt cops all go rot!