Series Review: "Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields" (2022).

From the director of Without and The Pearl comes Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. This crime documentary series directed by Jessica Dimmock. An overgrown field and a stretch of highway connect a series of grisly murders spanning several decades as grieving families search for answers.

Situated a mile from Interstate Highway 45 and approximately twenty-six miles southeast of Houston, the Texas Killing Fields is a twenty-five-acre patch of land in League City, Texas. Since the early 1970s, thirty-three bodies of murder victims have been found along the I-45 area. They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. Furthermore, many additional young girls have disappeared from this area; these girls' bodies are still missing. It is believed that many of the murders are the work of multiple serial killers. Most of the victims were aged twelve–twenty-five years. Some shared similar physical features, such as similar hairstyles. However, efforts by the League City, Texas police, along with the assistance of the FBI, very few of these murders have been solved, and those that have been solved were predicated on confessions given by prisoners, or confessions given under duress from the police. The fields have been described as "a perfect place [for] killing somebody and getting away with it". Also, despite the fact that many popular true crime podcasts have grouped the murders of Dean and Tina Clouse with these victims, Dean and Tina Clouse were actually found in Houston off Interstate 10 in the thirteen-thousand block of Wallisville Road, not League City (the location of the Texas Killing Fields).

Jessica Dimmock's methodical approach means the film is sometimes plodding; then again, they deserve credit for honing in on each police failing even when they become repetitive. What's smart and sensitive about the film, directed by Dimmock, is that its focus isn't on . With an evocative mix of archival material and testimony from many who were involved in aspects of the case, the narrative reveals both monstrous crimes and an ineffective response. The whole "true crime documentary" genre is a minefield of the very good, mixed in with the tasteless, the exploitive and the crass. The series of killings featured in The Ripper may have been fascinating at the time, but the series lacks a point-of-view that makes them feel relevant today. The film could stand to have a tighter sense of chronology, with some temporal deviations that don't do it any favors. It becomes as challenging for the viewer to distinguish between the victims as it did for investigators. But the series nimbly shows how economic despair caused by a rapid rise of neglected American women into the streets. The film is persistently captivating as a crime-story, riveting in its investigative mode, and stimulating in its commentary mode. It is everything true-crime fans ask for. Fascinating to us because it will examine the underlying factors that slowed down the investigation, instead of talking about the killer himself.

Simon says Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields receives:

Also, see my review for Captive Audience.

Film Review: "Bones and All" (2022).

From the director of Suspiria (2018) comes Bones and All. This coming-of-age romantic cannibal road film directed by Luca Guadagnino, adapted by David Kajganich, and based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis. A story of first love between Maren, a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee, an intense and disenfranchised drifter, as they meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey which takes them through the back roads, hidden passages and trap doors of Ronald Reagan's America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness.

In early April 2019, it was announced that Kajganich would adapt DeAngelis's 2015 novel for the screen, and that the film would be directed by Antonio Campos. In late January 2021, it was announced that Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell were attached to star in the film now to be directed by Guadagnino. By late May, Mark Rylance, Michael Stuhlbarg, André Holland, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon Green, and Jessica Harper rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late July. Filming took place in Aberdeen, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Lebanon, Ohio, as well as Maysville, Kentucky.

The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Russell, Chalamet, Rylance, Stuhlbarg, Holland, Sevigny, Green, and Harper. The superb performances from Russell and Chalamet are as memorable as Guadagnino's vision of something akin to hell. Russell works an abundance of meaning into a very small space, so we at least recognize this doomed, erstwhile teenager as all too human, and appropriately dangerous.

It’s a well written tale of two lost souls dancing between idyllic naiveté and sociopathic violence. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Guadagnino's love and respect for the natural world as it frames and moves characters is palpable and on full display, the film heightened by superb performances and Guadagnino's incredible direction. If a portion of American cinema is going to remain devoted to violence, it could learn a lot by revisiting Guadagnino's thoughtfulness. The movie is just as free, experimental, and unsure of itself as its main characters are, and thus fits like a glove. One of Guadagnino's most resonant notions in the film is that everyone confronts mortality in his or her own way. Incredibly beautiful, of course (you may have heard that Guadagnino movies are famous for their landscapes), but it's not "just" beautiful. Guadagnino's film, full of striking cutaways to the burning-sun horizon and the harsh landscape's solitary creatures, comes to operate at an overpoweringly chilling remove. Achingly evocative of a time when American independent cinema had the courage to continue investing in complex and morally ambiguous films and an indisputable masterpiece of American independent cinema. The film is an arena for apathy, both in regard to the characters' depictions and their subjective emotions.

Simon says Bones and All receives:

Also, see my reviews for Suspiria (2018) and I Am Love (Io sono l'amore).

Film Review: "Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich" (2022).

"Discover the monster behind the monster" with Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich. This crime documentary series directed by Maiken Baird and Lisa Bryant. From filmmakers behind Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich go beyond the headlines of the Ghislaine Maxwell case to tell the definitive story of Epstein's mysterious accomplice, illuminating how her class and privilege concealed her predatory nature.

On December 25, 1961, British convicted sex offender and former socialite, Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell, was born. Maxwell was raised in Oxford. In the 1980s she attended Balliol College, Oxford, and then became a prominent member of London's social scene. Maxwell worked for her father, Robert Maxwell, until his death in 1991; she then moved to New York City, where she continued living as a socialite and had a relationship with Epstein. In 2012, Maxwell founded a non-profit group for the protection of oceans. Following sex trafficking allegations being brought by prosecutors against Epstein in July 2019, the organisation announced cessation of operations the same month. Maxwell is a naturalised US citizen and retains both French and British citizenship. On 2 July 2020, Maxwell was arrested and charged by the federal government of the United States with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls, related to her association with Epstein. She was denied bail as a flight risk, with the judge expressing concerns regarding her "completely opaque" finances, her skill at living in hiding, and the fact that France does not extradite its citizens. On 29 December 2021, she was convicted on five out of six counts, including one of sex trafficking of a minor. She faces a second criminal trial for two charges of lying under oath about Epstein's abuse of underage girls. On 28 June 2022, she was sentenced in a New York court to twenty years imprisonment.

It seems the events are too recent for the documentary to do an excruciating journalistic job. But it serves as a much needed platform for the victims. These types of documentaries make everything unsurprising. They tell their stories boldly and more, but what truly resonates throughout the four-part documentary is the complicity of government agencies and officials. The film is an extremely important testament to one of the most sinister sexual predators in history. While we watch it, it is impossible not to experience a roller coaster of emotions: disgust. The film, which documents the crimes of alleged Jeffrey Epstein accomplice, is a one-hundred-minute nightmare that will probably be aggravating if not triggering for a lot of people. Maxwell's horrible acts are fit for the 'true crime' formula by Netflix. And this series guarantees a full exposure, even when we realize it could have been better. The bravery of the dozen or so young women going before the camera to tell their horrifying stories is remarkable and obviously not very easy, even now, ten to fifteen years after the fact. The film is eminently watchable, and enraging. But it comes no closer to unraveling Maxwell than any previous reportorial attempts have managed.

Simon says Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich receives:

Also, see my review for Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.

Film Review: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (2022).

"From the visionary director of Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water" comes Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. This stop-motion animated musical fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, adapted by del Toro, Matthew Robbins, and Patrick McHale, and based on Gris Grimly's 2002 edition of the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents the classic story of a wooden puppet brought to life in this stunning stop-motion musical tale.

In 2008, del Toro announced that his next project, a darker adaptation of Collodi's 1883 Italian novel was in development. He has called Pinocchio his passion project, stating that: "no art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio", and "I've wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember". Unlike most versions, which take place in an unspecified time in the 1800s, del Toro has said this version will take place in 1930s Italy under the rule of Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party. In mid February 2011, it was announced that Gris Grimly and Mark Gustafson would co-direct a stop-motion animated Pinocchio film adapted by del Toro, his long-time collaborator, Matthew Robbins, and Grimly based by Grimly's 2002 edition of the novel, with del Toro producing along with The Jim Henson Company and Pathé. In mid May 2012, del Toro took over for Grimly. In February 2012, Del Toro released some concept arts with the designs of Pinocchio, Geppetto, the Talking Cricket, Mangiafuoco and the Fox and the Cat. In late July, it was announced that the film would be produced and animated by ShadowMachine. In August 2012, Nick Cave was originally attached to compose the score for the film. However, in early January 2020, Alexandre Desplat ultimately replaced Cave and started composing the film's score, as well as writing original songs for the film. The film was originally scheduled for a 2013 or 2014 release date, but the project went into development hell, with no further informations for years. In late January 2017, McHale was hired to write the script with del Toro. In August, at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, del Toro said that the film will need a budget increase of $35 million more dollars or it would be cancelled. In early November, he reported that the project was not happening, because no studios were willing to finance it. At one point, Robbins considered making the film as a 2D-animated film with French artist Joann Sfar to bring the costs down, but del Toro eventually decided that it had to be stop-motion, even if the higher budget made it harder to get greenlit. However, in late October 2018, it was announced that the film had been revived, with Netflix acquiring it. By late August 2020, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Burn Gorman, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro and Gregory Mann were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place in Guadalajara, Mexico and Portland, Oregon. The visual effects for the film was provided by the Moving Picture Company.

The film stars the voice talents of McGregor, Bradley, Waltz, Swinton, Perlman, Wolfhard, Blanchett, Gorman, Nelson, Turturro and Mann. Thanks to the performances of the talented voice cast, especially Bradley and Mann, Pinocchio's relationship with Geppetto is lovely, even when the wooden boy is nothing like his dead son, continuously disobeys and does not change at all.

The film is a personal look into del Toro as an artist (something that's been said by almost every critic so far, bear with me) as well as a look into the genre and medium that he loves. There's no question that in venturing into the world of stop motion animation, del Toro has lovingly tipped his hat to to old school stop motion animation flicks. It shows not only a reverence for the Italian literary classic, but also feels to at least this animation lover that del Toro is making a statement about the viability and value of animation as a classic genre of film capable of the highest level of artistry. The puppetry is simply superb as is texture; it's excellent attention to detail from The Jim Henson Company. The film, which made me cry almost as much as the audibly sobbing kids in the theater, is a big-hearted optimist's tale beautifully warped through del Toro's trademark vision. The film is inventive and fun. Del Toro fans will likely love it. Others will take pleasure from specific qualities and moments within the production, but also have as much feel for the film as a whole. This film is a complete package that maintains a good pace and tells a captivating story through stunning animation. Even better, the story of the wooden boy with the borrowed soul shows that del Toro has still got plenty of wonderful heart and soul to bring to the big screen. The sheer number of warm-hearted but soulful winks to various iterations of Pinocchio both entertains and impresses. Del Toro, known for his dark yet thoughtful movies, has created a fantastical tale of imperfect fathers and imperfect sons that is fun and touching. The film is a surprisingly heartwarming one that is perhaps del Toro's most touching film since The Shape of Water. It ranks among del Toro's most personal films, encompassing familiar themes of choice and an insatiable drive for disobedience. The film beautifully merges the old with the new as it also celebrates filmmaking both literally and fictionally with its relatable protagonist. The film embodies the excitement, innocence, awkwardness and imagination of childhood. Disney should've had more faith in the original source material's darker elements back in 1940, when it mattered, instead of allowing del Toro to utilise the novel's darker elements and make a masterpiece that is superior to the Disney version.

Simon says Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio receives:

Also, see my review for Nightmare Alley.

Film Review: "Slumberland" (2022).

"Every Adventure Begins with a Dream" in Slumberland. This fantasy adventure film directed by Francis Lawrence, written by David Guion and Michael Handelman, and based on the comic strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay. The film takes audiences to a magical new place, a dreamworld where precocious Nemo and her eccentric companion Flip embark on the adventure of a lifetime. After her father Peter is unexpectedly lost at sea, young Nemo's idyllic Pacific Northwest existence is completely upended when she is sent to live in the city with her well-meaning but deeply awkward uncle Phillip. Her new school and new routine are challenging by day but at night, a secret map to the fantastical world of Slumberland connects Nemo to Flip, a rough-around-the-edges but lovable outlaw who quickly becomes her partner and guide. She and Flip soon find themselves on an incredible journey traversing dreams and fleeing nightmares, where Nemo begins to hope that she will be reunited with her father once again.

In January 2020, it was announced that a new live-action film adaptation of McCay's comic strip series will be made exclusively for Netflix and production starting in the summer of that same year. Lawrence was hired to direct and will feature a gender-swapped version of the title character named Nema. Jason Momoa will star as a radically altered version of Flip who is described as a "nine-foot tall creature that is half-man, half-beast, has shaggy fur and long curved tusks". The plot will center on Nemo and Flip traveling Slumberland in search of the former's father. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming for the project was postponed. By early November 2020, Kyle Chandler, Chris O'Dowd, and Marlow Barkley rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in early February 2021. Filming took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The film stars Momoa, Chandler, O'Dowd, and Barkley. Momoa and Barkley, as well as the rest of the cast, cannot save Lawrence's vacuous fantasy adventure. Momoa and Barkley have zero banter. Momoa and Barkley tried their best in their performances. That paid off in places, but the rest of the film just did not hold water.

A almost two-hour slog through poor storytelling, boring characters, laughably bad dialogue, and CGI overload. The outcome here is uneven: admirable for its ambition and mindless entertainment value, unable to hold up under close scrutiny, and often dazzlingly beautiful. The film leaves much to be desired. Yes, it has all the eye-popping visual candy of a typical summer blockbuster but it lacks an original story line. There are a few amusing sci-fi concoctions running around, but they're savagely humbled by the dreadful conversations and lackluster banter. Though Lawrence's usual failings have been amplified by his ambition, that ambition is worth seeing for the extremity of the spectacle alone. It deserves a hand for its go for broke, no holds barred attitude. But sometimes, effort alone is not enough to stand out.

Simon says Slumberland receives:

Also, see my review for Red Sparrow.

Series Review: "1899" (2022).

"What is lost will be found" in 1899. This period mystery-science fiction television series created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar. A migrant steamship heads west to leave the old continent. The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad. But their journey takes an unexpected turn when they discover another migrant ship adrift on the open sea. What they will find on board will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.

In mid November 2018, it was announced that Friese and Odar were developing a new project for Netflix under their overall deal at the streaming service. The series was confirmed to be moving forward two weeks later during a Netflix press conference showcasing European original programming. By July 2020, Odar revealed via Instagram that Friese had completed writing the script for the pilot episode, titled The Ship. During an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Friese explained how the European migrant crisis and Brexit were influential to the series. The staff writing team comprised writers of different nationalities. According to Odar, all scripts were first written in English, then the non-English sections were translated by the staff writers and/or translators. Odar had phonetic copies of the script on set, and language assistants were present during filming to ensure the accuracy of the dialogue. In late November, pre-production officially commenced with a week-long lens test shoot taking place. By early May 2021, Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann, Miguel Bernardeau, José Pimentão, Isabella Wei, Gabby Wong, Yann Gael, Mathilde Ollivier, Jonas Bloquet, Rosalie Craig, Maciej Musiał, Clara Rosager, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Maria Erwolter, Alexandre Willaume, Tino Mewes, Isaak Dentler, Fflyn Edwards, and Anton Lesser were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in November. Filming took place at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, the only designated UNESCO Creative City of Film in Germany. Principal photography was initially scheduled to commence in early February 2021, but was later pushed back by three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series was shot in a new virtual production stage called Volume, operated by bo Odar and Friese's sister company Dark Bay, at Studio Babelsberg. Filming also took place in London, United Kingdom. Creative studio Framestore provided visual effects for the series. The budget for the series was at least €60 million ($62.2 million) with €2 million coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, €10 million coming from the German Motion Picture Fund, and Netflix investing €48 million in the project. The show is the most expensive German television series of all time.

Yes, with the enormous and diverse cast, it's tough to keep track of who, what and when but this is a seriously exciting series with twists and reveals to send you into a whirl.

The show, while being a good series, and having some truly intriguing aspects, doesn't have enough of an emotional hook to make it a truly standout show.

Simon says 1899 receives:

Also, see my review for Dark.

Film Review: "I Am Vanessa Guillen" (2022).

"However after telling her mother that she was being harassed at the Fort Hood military base, Vanessa Guillen was killed by a partner." This is I Am Vaness Guillen. This crime documentary film directed by Christy Wegener. Vanessa Guillen was twenty years old when she was found murdered at a US Army base. Rather than submit to silence, her family fought for justice and change.

On April 22, 2020, she was last seen in the parking lot of her unit, the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (3CR). Her personal belongings were found inside the armory where she worked. Guillén's family felt she disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The case was investigated under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with local law enforcement agencies in Bell County, Killeen, and Belton. Multiple Fort Hood units began searching the area within two weeks of her disappearance. In mid June, the League of United Latin American Citizens added a $25,000 reward to the existing $25,000 reward announced by the Army for finding Guillén. In late June, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia met with Fort Hood officials to discuss the ongoing search. The authorities said that more than three-hundred interviews and over ten-thousand hours were spent investigating Guillén's disappearance. On June 30, 2020, Army investigators were called in when contractors discovered partial human remains along the Leon River in Belton. Investigators theorized that the remains, previously buried under concrete, had been dug up by wildlife. Later that evening, authorities re-interviewed Cecily Anne Aguilar, a local woman who was reported to be the girlfriend of Aaron David Robinson, a specialist ranked enlisted soldier who was one of the last known people to see Guillén on the day of her disappearance and who had previously been interviewed by investigators. Aguilar told police that Robinson had confessed to her that he had killed a female soldier at Fort Hood. At the request of law enforcement, Aguilar placed a controlled telephone call to Robinson and texted Robinson multiple news articles, to which he never denied anything in response. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District Court of Texas, Aguilar allegedly helped Robinson dismember and dispose of Guillén's body on April 22, 2020, after Robinson told her he had bludgeoned Guillén to death with a hammer inside the armory. On June 30, Robinson escaped the custody of an unarmed guard from his unit and fled Fort Hood after hearing the news of the discovery of remains. He had been detained by his unit at the request of a CID agent under the pretense of violating COVID-19 quarantine rules. Aguilar was later arrested by Texas Rangers and held at the Bell County Jail.

It's not a perfectly made documentary, but it's important. The content was great, and it's very worth seeing for that. A lot of pain is shown in the film, but there is some encouraging progress shown by the end.

Simon says I Am Vaness Guillen receives:

Film Review: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022).

"For Honor, For Legacy, For Wakanda!" This is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This superhero film directed by Ryan Coogler, written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, based on the titular Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and produced by Marvel Studios. It is the sequel to Black Panther (2018) and the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At the dawn of King T'Challa's death, invading forces from around the world target Wakanda's vibranium, unleashing chaos, and it will be the duty of Shuri, M'Baku, Nakia and Okoye to defend the nation, especially when a mysterious Mexican civilization emerges from the depths of the sea.

In February 2018, with the release of Black Panther, producer Kevin Feige said there were "many, many stories" to tell with the character, and he wanted Coogler to return. Coogler wanted to see how T'Challa / Black Panther would grow as a king in future films. In March, Feige said there was nothing specific to reveal about a sequel, but Marvel had ideas and a "pretty solid direction" on where they wanted to take a second film. In October, Coogler was hired to write and direct the sequel. In November 2018, Letitia Wright was confirmed to be reprising her role for the sequel. In July 2019, Danai Gurira stated that she would be reprising her role in the sequel. Feige confirmed the sequel's development at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, while Martin Freeman confirmed in August that he would reprise his role in the sequel. At D23, it was announced that the film was set for a May 6, 2022 release date, along with the placeholder title Black Panther II. However, on August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer. Coogler stated that he had been unaware of Boseman's illness. Feige and other Marvel Studios executives were also unaware of Boseman's illness. By the time of Boseman's death, Coogler was writing the script and had already turned in a draft. In November, Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, and Angela Bassett were confirmed to be reprising their roles for the sequel. At that time, filming was expected to begin in June or July 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. In December 2020, the film's release date was moved back to July 8, 2022. Feige also confirmed that the role of T'Challa would not be recast. He would later reaffirm that visual effects would not be used to include Boseman in the film. In May 2021, Marvel Studios revealed the film's title as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The film stars Wright, Nyong'o, Gurira, Duke, Dominique Thorne, Florence Kasumba, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Freeman, and Bassett. There's almost no denying that Chadwick Boseman's replacements do not exhibit the same leading actor charisma.

Much of the magic that made the original film entertaining is left by the wayside in favor of bigger bangs and larger-than-life antagonist with a cool design. It's a little messy and not nearly up to par with the original, but this is still an acceptable sequel with just enough fun to appease its fan base.

Simon says Black Panther: Wakanda Forever receives:

Also, see my reviews for Black Panther and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Series Review: "FIFA Uncovered" (2022).

From the director of 30 for 30 comes FIFA Uncovered. This sports documentary series directed by Daniel Gordon. From power struggles to global politics, an exploration of FIFA reveals the organization's checkered history — and what it takes to host a World Cup.

The international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal, Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA) was founded in 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, its membership now comprises two hundred and eleven national associations. These national associations must each also be members of one of the six regional confederations into which the world is divided: CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia and Australia), UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North & Central America and the Caribbean), OFC (Oceania) and CONMEBOL (South America). The organisation outlines a number of objectives in the organizational Statutes, including growing association football internationally, providing efforts to ensure it is accessible to everyone, and advocating for integrity and fair play. It is responsible for the organization and promotion of association football's major international tournaments, notably the World Cup which commenced in 1930 and the Women's World Cup which commenced in 1991. Reports by investigative journalists have linked FIFA leadership with corruption, bribery, and vote-rigging related to the election of FIFA president Sepp Blatter and the organization's decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively. These allegations led to the indictments of nine high-ranking FIFA officials and five corporate executives by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges including racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. In late May 2015, several of these officials were arrested by Swiss authorities, who were launching a simultaneous but separate criminal investigation into how the organization awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Those among these officials who were also indicted in the U.S. are expected to be extradited to face charges there as well. Many officials were suspended by FIFA's ethics committee including Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini. In early 2017, reports became public about FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempting to prevent the re-elections of both chairmen of the ethics committee, Cornel Borbély and Hans-Joachim Eckert, during the FIFA congress in May 2017. In early May 2017, following Infantino's proposal, FIFA Council decided not to renew the mandates of Borbély and Eckert. Together with the chairmen, eleven of thirteen committee members were removed. FIFA has been suspected of corruption regarding the Qatar FIFA World Cup.

The series is a pungent combination of true crime and sport, compiled and produced with appealing aesthetic creativity. The series digs deep into the dark side of FIFA , as we see the beauty and pure competition of sports sullied by athletes, officials and shadowy outsiders who are motivated by political self-interest or blind ambition or greed. Overall, the series is a statement about the erosion of FIFA and football, and shows the kind of damage that can be done if the potential misdeeds aren't kept in check.

Simon says FIFA Uncovered receives:

Also, see my review for The Trials of Oscar Pistorius.