Criminal Adaptations

Charlize Theron transformed herself and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003). She managed to bring a side of humanity to a woman who was a societal outcast and brutally murdered seven men from November 30, 1989 to November 18, 1990. But who was the real Aileen Wuornos? Was she a mentally unstable damaged soul, as depicted in the film? Or was she a ruthless sociopath who would stop at nothing to get what she thought she deserved? Tune in this week to learn all about Patty Jenkins’s directorial debut and the true story of America’s most noto...

On November 18, 1978, Jim Jones convinced over 900 members of People’s Temple to commit mass suicide in the country of Guyana. This tragedy inspired Ti West to write, direct, and edit The Sacrament (2013), a faux documentary-style horror film inspired by the last 24 hours of the people who died at Jonestown. In this episode, we explore the life of Jim Jones, including his childhood, religious and political ideologies, and how he came to be one of the most notorious cult leaders of all time. You may be surprised just how accurate this little-known film stuck to real-life events…

Primary Sour...

In this episode, we break down Ridley Scott’s star-studded biographical crime drama House of Gucci (2021). How accurately does the movie portray the rise and fall of the Gucci empire? What really happened between Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci? We’ll separate fact from fiction, explore the real-life events, and discuss the biggest differences between Hollywood’s version and history. Tune in for a deep dive into the scandal, betrayal, and power struggles that rocked one of fashion’s most legendary families.

Primary Source:

Forden, Sara. The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness...

In October 2015, Aziah “Zola” King posted a 148 tweet Twitter thread that took the world by storm. #TheStory trended worldwide and became the inspiration for Janicza Bravo’s second feature film Zola (2020), staring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, and Nicholas Braun. Listen as we break down everything from the stalled production, exactly what went down that fateful March 2015 weekend in Tampa, and what happened to Zola and “Z” in the years to follow.

Primary Sources:
Rolling Stone (2015)
Washington Post (2015)
Complex (2015)
Kolo News (2017)
Don’t Die Wondering (2021)
Vulture (2021)

If you or someone y...

On December 9, 1980, Mark David Chapman assassinated one of the most famous musicians to ever live, John Lennon. Nearly 30 years later, director Jarrett Schaefer cast Jared Leto to portray Chapman’s life during the three days leading up to the murder in Chapter 27 (2007). This week, we unpack the controversy behind the movie, Leto’s preparation for the role, and learn just how accurately it captured Chapman’s movements, thoughts, and mental state. Complete with a rundown on Chapman’s entire life, there is bound to be something that will intrigue every listener.

Primary Sources:
Jones, Jack. Let Me Take...

Before he won his Academy Awards for the smash-hit Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Daniel Scheinert directed the dark comedy The Dead of Dick Long (2019), inspired by the death of Kenneth Pinyan in 2005. This case, dubbed the “Enumclaw horse sex case,” went on to fascinate and deeply disturb society and led to Washington making bestiality illegal in 2006. As we will learn, sometimes reality truly is stranger than fiction.

Primary Sources:
The Seattle Times (2005)
Seattle Times (2010)
New York Daily News (2018)
Herald Net (2014)
The London Free Press (2016)
Zoo (2007)

Instagram: @CriminalAdaptations
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For our season four premier, we take a deep dive into the dazzling world of Rob Marshall's Academy Award winning musical Chicago (2002) and compare it to the gritty crimes that inspired it. Behind all that jazz and glittering costumes lie true stories of scandal, murder, and courtroom drama in 1920s Chicago. We explore the real women who inspired Roxie Hart, played by Renée Zellweger, and Velma Kelly, played by Catherine-Zeta Jones, and learn how American's fascination with female murderers inspired a Broadway play, failed movie adaptation, and Broadway musical before it made its way back to the silver s...

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Music: He_s Changing The Game by Darren-Curtis _ https___soundcloud.com_desperate-measurez_Music promoted by https___www.free-stock-music.com_Creative Commons _ Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)_https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by_3.0_deed.e

For our two-part season finale, we are unpacking movies about two men who smuggled cocaine for the Medellin Cartel into the states, largely by air. In our second episode, we dive into the thrilling world of Doug Liman’s American Made (2017) and the real-life story of Barry Seal, the infamous pilot turned drug smuggler turned DEA informant. We break down how the movie, starring Tom Cruise, dramatizes Seal’s high-flying exploits, comparing Hollywood’s version to the actual events. Did Seal really work for the CIA, DEA, and Medellin cartel simultaneously? How accurate is the portrayal of his dangerous double...

For our two-part season finale, we are unpacking movies about two men who smuggled cocaine for the Medellin Cartel into the states, largely by air. In our first episode, we dive into Ted Demme’s Blow (2001), starring Johnny Depp as small-town boy turned infamous drug smuggler, George Jung. How accurate was Depp’s portrayal of Jung? What details about his life did Hollywood dramatize or leave out? Listen now to learn about the true story of the man who played a pivotal role in the cocaine boom of the 1970s and 1980s, exploring his relationships, rise to power, and down...