When assault accusations and confessions rise to the surface, the attention is usually – and surprisingly – scattered.  I always assume that all the focus would be towards the victims first, followed by the perpetrator and other elements in the story but, sadly, that’s not always the case.  Although the #MeToo movement helped shed light on these crimes, there’s still difficulty to deliver justice or invest trust towards victims.

With The Case Against Cosby, although it’s been named after the ongoing and controversial investigation of convicted comedian Bill Cosby, director Karen Wookey (co-producer of Our House, co-executive producer of Tammy’s Always Dying) chooses to place Cosby’s victims at the forefront.  Notably those who have agreed to be interviewed on camera (especially Andrea Constand, the only victim who was able to gain a conviction), but everyone who found themselves in Cosby’s crosshairs who are not included in the doc are taken into deep thought and consideration.

Wookey moves fast to cover as much of the lead-up to the trial, the court case, and its outcome.  The rundown is efficient and, as someone who hasn’t followed the case too closely, I didn’t feel like the documentary cut any corners.  The editing, however, had too many dramatic stings and reflective reaction shots for my liking.  There’s genuine compassion driving Wookey’s doc, and it’s frequently undercut when these tonal exaggerations interrupt the film’s flow.  Aside from those qualms though, as a project that wants to assist assault victims through their own recoveries, Constand’s experience and how it’s told in this compelling doc will hopefully inspire others to find their own support and reemergence.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie