The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

With all the facts you remember and many you probably haven't heard yet, this dramatized retelling is almost as gripping as the case that inspired it. Staffed with a cast of executive producer and director Ryan Murphy regulars (Paulson) as well as seemingly stunt-cast superstars (Travolta, Schwimmer, Gooding, Jr.), The People v. O.J. Simpson seems like it's going to be good trashy fun -- but it leans surprisingly hard on the good part. Famously Oscar-cursed Gooding, Jr. hasn't been this magnetic in years; he melts into his blustering O.J. character so quickly that viewers feel like they're getting a secret peek at the real man and what he really did and felt. Paulson-as-Clark is another heartbreaker -- positive that the circumstantial evidence she piles up will easily convict O.J., so frustrated when things don't go her way. The actors are so good -- and the camera work, costumes, settings, and dialogue so deft -- that you quickly forget this is supposed to be a guilty pleasure. However, it's disturbing, slow-paced, and ultimately depressing enough to make it a no-no for young viewers; parents may also want to watch along if teens want to watch, to explain what happened and offer possible reasons as to why.