Impeachment: An American Crime Story [REVIEW]

Focusing on the events around the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the subsequent impeachment of Bill Clinton, Impeachment – An American Crime Story follows key figures from the scandal, particularly Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) and her quest for vengeance on the white house.

I have said before that whenever a major event or scandal hits it is not wise to make a film about it until after a decade it happened so we can look at it with clear minds. Something I wished Showtime learned before making The Comey Rule.

Read our takedown of The Comey Rule here

However, while The Comey Rule was made purely to pander to ongoing political fear and unveil no new angles to a very recent story, Impeachment: An American Crime Story comes in 23 years after the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal – more than enough time for a level-headed look back at (and make fun of) the later Clinton years.

Characters and Casting

Linda Tripp

The show takes a different approach to the Lewinsky scandal, following the firing of Linda Tripp by the white house. Despite being totally unlikable throughout, you can’t help but understand her decisions and see why she’s unpleasant. It’s safe to say that many women can relate to Linda (at least her depiction here) in that she hates that she is being highly experienced her job is being passed by the higher-ups because Clinton wanted a more desirable face.

I have to say Sarah Paulson was unrecognizable as Linda Tripp – I had to look up IMDB to make sure it was her.

The (In)famous Names

All of the other actors did a solid job with the roles they were given. Even though Beanie Feldstein looks a little bit off from Monica Lewinsky physically, she really stole the show. Admittedly I did not imagine Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, but he plays the role very well. Even the actress they got for Hillary was well done, though it is tempting to make her the real monster that’s more for right-wing trolls.

Paula Jones

It also shows the tragedy of capitalizing on victims such as the depiction of one of Clinton’s accusers, Paula Jones. Her depiction is that she’s total clutz, being used by conservative activists like Susan Carpenter-McMillan to further their own political agenda’s much to her ignorance.

How the majority press dismisses Paula Jones on the spot attacking her credibility “You said workplace, but you and the governor were in a private Hotel right?”, “Why did you really go up there (laughing)”. I believe that this wouldn’t be the same if it the done by a Democrat, if such actions were done by a Republican, especially today this would have been front-page news.

Reflection

I have to confess this was an event I had little knowledge of this scandal. I was about 5 or 6 during this time and the folks rarely talked about the news. So, to watch this event knowing I was watching PBS at the time was a bizarre thing to reflect on. It also has given me a new gross perspective on this old Arthur episode.

Partisan Scandals

It is fascinating to me that today people conjure up Donald Trump as a sexually deviant president when no one seems to talk about Clinton anymore (the grey-haired one). He just has that gullible charm to him that is simply harder to hate on. These days he often is public as if nothing has happened, however, comedians still like to remind us. 

Thank you, Seth MacFarlane

It is admittedly far easier to rip on Republicans in their sex scandals since they often push religious doctrines that discourage such behavior. The American right has a higher “moral” standard to keep, well till recently.

For democrats its often feels harder to accept and easier to dismiss by the more numerous, (and liberal-leaning) news outlets. However, dismissal has come to their party’s detriment, just ask John Edwards or Andrew Cuomo. Unlike Trump’s escapade with Stormy Daniels, the Monica Lewinsky scandal happened while Bill was in office. Granted getting a blowjob in the oval office isn’t illegal, lying about it under oath is a bit of a problem.

It also goes into other stuff that I didn’t even know about certain conservative pundits today, for example before being known as an activist, Ann Coulter along with George Conway (future miserable husband to Kellyanne Conway) were involved with both the Paula Jones Lawsuit and the leaking of the tapes, though to what extent I confusingly do not know. I will say, the actress they got to play Ann Coulter is spot on, I actually thought they got Coulter to play herself.

“After this just think what of flabby conman will see a path to the white house” which I find deliciously Ironic given that Ann Coulter would write an entire book Titled in Trump We Trust only to go fully back on her words just a few years later, truly the greatest grifter in history that women.

Wink Wink, Dumb Dumbs

This does harken onto a problem with more recent political dramas. They often have a serious problem when movies about the past feel the need to do a wink to the present with lines such as that. Like their fourth-wall-breaking saying, “See? See? This is what’s happening now!”. It is safe to say that a majority of people who watch these movies know a lot of stuff relates to what’s Happening now, we don’t need them to be spelled out. Elements such as that distract turn it into a political statement instead of a movie. Which is something I might address in a future article.

All those points said It is fascinating to see how such an event has largely been disregarded by Americans today. I believe these films’ main message was warning Americans not to forgive sex scandals from politicians, no matter what political parties they belong to.