On paper, Netflix’s three-part documentary Depp vs Heard reveals nothing new concerning the trial itself. In April 2022, Fairfax County in Virginia and the remainder of the world witnessed famous person Johnny Depp and his actor ex-wife Amber Heard hurl accusations of defamation, home violence, sexual assault and harassment in opposition to each other in what was seemingly probably the most well-known lawsuit of the last decade. Additionally learn: Amber Heard settles defamation swimsuit with Johnny Depp, writes lengthy notice explaining resolution
What amplified it additional is that it was the primary time two A-lister celebrities have been airing the metaphorical ‘soiled laundry’ in public, in a world the place TikTok and Twitter now exist. Nobody was placing Pinocchio’s nostril filters on OJ Simpson as he placed on these gloves within the courtroom.
Not the very best manufacturing
Depp Vs Heard delves into the trial on a floor stage, compiling testimonies from the courtroom that have been plastered on our TV and pc screens all of summer season 2022, in a extra digestible format. The 2 sides and their arguments about what occurred in Australia, of their penthouse, on the non-public aircraft are lastly offered in a extra coherent method with crisp enhancing and ample context. In fact, the filler photographs of individuals immersed of their telephones watching the trials look like generic footage downloaded straight from Shutterstock. Be careful for a similar man fake-brushing his enamel and one other man not reaching the highest of the escalator regardless of being seen on it thrice.
An empathetic view
Whereas the documentary sticks to presenting the information and photographs from the trial, it additionally drops in a uncommon dialogue field to clear issues on Amber’s behalf. After Depp’s legal professional pulls up Amber for ‘not donating’ her $7 million to charity like she stated she would, and the web skewers the actress for ‘mendacity’, the documentary presents proof of how pledging and donating are synonymously used phrases with regards to donating to organisations. Equally, a dialogue field seems after Amber’s chilling description of the alleged assault by Depp that this was the primary time accounts of sexual assault have been broadcasted dwell to viewers exterior the courtroom. In direction of the tip, extra proof is lastly revealed that put Depp’s remark about by no means hitting Amber, underneath query. It would not take you too lengthy to determine that the documentary could also be slightly extra empathetic in the direction of Amber than the world has been.
The social evils
The place the Netflix documentary truly excels, is at exposing the sheer buffoonery that ensued on social media throughout the course of the trial and even after it. It exposes the chaos that was brought on by rancid YouTube channels, TikTok movies and the Twitter vitriol that did injury that may take years to repair. The documentary takes intention at about three YouTubers specifically: these are movie nerds and common nerds wearing full Deadpool costumes on digital camera as they stream commentary on trial to their followers, hoping to rake in some fast cash and get their subscribe buttons smashed by spewing hate for the much less in style occasion. Then the TikTok parody movies cascade in, somebody is joking about Amber’s account of being raped, and another person is rolling on a carpet, all within the title of some enjoyable. Somebody is sending her rape threats, one other needs to microwave her child. It is all moderately stomach-turning to witness.
Amid all this, one of many few voices of motive featured within the docu stated that the trial was by no means about reality or what is true. Folks had already made up their minds about who they needed to consider. We settle for what’s complementary to the concepts we subscribe to and reject when it would not swimsuit our function. The identical could be seen on Twitter as soon as once more with the discharge of Depp Vs Heard. A remark learn, “Does the ‘Depp v Heard’ documentary on Netflix present what ACTUALLY occurred throughout trial?? Or does it paint The Turd as a sufferer like different documentaries have??”
In fact, in a case as murky as this, folks can not help however select sides. Nevertheless, should we really be this unkind and merciless?