This Week’s Binge 4.23.21

This is a Robbery

Netflix

I love a good docuseries, and it’s especially interesting when it’s a major crime that I’m not familiar with.

‘This is a Robbery’ is a docuseries based unsolved case, a major art heist in ’90s Boston. Come to think of it, isn’t it weird how art heists were very popular in the 90s (why does The Thomas Crown Affair stick out in my mind?) Well, it appears they were actually popular crimes in real life at the time.

No spoilers (that’s my thing) but it’s actually insane that this crime happened, and is unresolved 30 years later.

I am: Entertained

Judas and the Black Messiah

Amazon Prime Video

As I do every year, I’m watching all Oscar-nominated films. Time got away and I accidentally missed this movie the first 30 days it was on HBO so I had to rent it on Amazon. Totally worth the $$$.

Judas and the Black Messiah is based on the true story of the infiltration of an informant of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party in the 60s. To get an even further grasp on what was happening in Illinois in the 60s I highly recommend you watch The Trial of the Chicago 7, also nominated for best film, which covers the unrest during the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago in the 60s.

What you will see is appalling. Shocking. Disgusting. But this is (the ugly) part of US history. They don’t teach this in history class, but it’s important that we know what is happened so that we can be the change.

I am: Obsessed

Talking to Strangers: What we Should Know About the People we Don’t Know

Malcolm Gladwell

On my ever-evolving journey of self-education and improvement, I read ‘Talking to Strangers’. I didn’t choose it, it was voted on by a book club I’m in, but I try to learn something from every non-fiction book.

Malcolm Gladwell presents an academic foundation through the lens of current events. There is a ton of interesting information based on WHY popular true-crime occurred…the Jerry Sandusky case, the Amanda Knox trial, the death of Sandra Bland.

The book tackles WHY these things happen, but not necessarily what I, as a random person in the middle of the country, can do to prevent these types of things from happening. And I guess that’s where it fell short for me. If I’m going to dedicate hours of my time, doing the hard work and learning the hard things, I want to improve myself. I want to be a better person for it. However…a friend reminded me that sometimes books are just meant to inform. And that’s OK too, as long as you know what you are in for.

A couple of things to note. First, listen to the audio version if possible, the author includes the original audio from each case he is covering. This means you can actually hear the spy being a spy. Second, major trigger warning for sexual assault. Maybe that should be assumed knowing Jerry Sandusky and Larry Nassar are discussed, but it’s especially triggering if you do, in fact, listen to the audio version.

I don’t want to sell the book short. It is very informational. Strangers don’t think the same as each other. And that’s a lot of the reasons why crimes, or lack of accountability for crimes, happen. This is a mere glimpse. Although it doesn’t give you the answers, it will make you think the next time you encounter a stranger.

I am: Entertained