2/24: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

On Day 32 in my 34 Days of Oscar, I saw the movie "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory". This film is nominated for Best Feature Documentary at this year's Academy Awards.

"Paradise Lost 3: Revelations" follows the story of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Miskelly - known as the West Memphis Three. In 1994, the three kids were arrested and charged with the murder of three local 8yr old boys. Although they claimed innocence, the West Memphis 3 were convicted of murder and either sentenced to life

in prison or, in the case of Echols, sentenced to death. A lot of the evidence against them was flimsy and circumstantial at best. An HBO documentary crew followed the original 1994 case and after they were sentenced, helped draw support to these 3

who, quite possibly, were wrongly imprisoned. This third installment focuses on the new forensic and DNA evidence that the three are trying to have admitted into court and free them after 17 years in prison. Also, a focus of this film is John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the murdered 8yr old kids. Mr Byers, once an opponent of the West Memphis Three, has now come to believe that they are innocent of murdering his son. Mr Byers has become of the people in the forefront to get justice for the West Memphis 3.

I think "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" is a very difficult movie to watch. There are images and photo's from the original crime scene that turns your stomach. It is also difficult to sit back and watch these three young men get railroaded and sentenced to prison with paper thin evidence. Even after watching this film, I do not know if one or all of the West Memphis 3 are guilty or innocent of this murder. I do know that the police were so happy to have someone to charge, they didn't seem to look at all the facts and evidence. I wish there had been a little more screentime with the West Memphis Three, but it's possible their incarceration limited how much they could

be interviewed. It is a dry documentary, but that is because it is trying to just show the facts and avoid letting emotion get in the way of what happened.

Overall, I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is a good documentary and I can see why it was nominated for a Academy Award. It is also very difficult to watch and very dark at times. I can easily see this film winning Best Feature Documentary tomorrow night, but I don't think I will be watching it ever again.