Let me start by saying I have not seen either of the first two documentaries in the Paradise Lost series. Luckily, a good portion of this film is focused on the past history of the West Memphis 3.In 1994, teenagers Damien Echols, James Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were convicted of killing three younger boys in a wooded area of Arkansas. Echols was sentenced to death and the other two were given life sentences. In the first Paradise Lost, filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky notice some inconsistencies with the evidence presented at the trial. That movie helps get the attention of the national media and celebrities and the conspiracy theories start up. This film picks up 15 years after the conviction. The focus shifts to how views have changed about their guilt/innocence. John Mark Byers, the father of one of the victims, makes the strongest case. In the first two films, he strongly believed the WM3 should be punished for their "devilish" ways. But now, he feels they are completely innocent and the focus should shift to Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of another victim. The court proceedings keep going at a snails pace for the WM3 when, all of the sudden, they're able to walk out of prison using a unique plea deal. Maybe Paradise Lost 4 will focus on their lives after prison.
This was a very informative film and I was definitely glad I randomly caught it on HBO one night. While the filmmakers agenda is clear, Berlinger and Sinofsky made sure they covered every angle possible. From Echols to Byers to Hobbs to the Dixie Chicks, every opinion matters and every side of the story needs to be told. The movie, for the most part, took its time with the bevy of information it had to give to the audience. But the ending was rushed together, and understandably so. Filming had basically ended when the WM3 were suddenly released in August 2011, so the release had to be pushed back. It's absolutely not the best documentary I've seen this year, but I did find it informative and enjoyable. Grade: B
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