Subway Vigilante
- Episode aired May 11, 2020
- 1h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
310
YOUR RATING
Bernhard Goetz shoots four black teenagers on a New York City subway in 1984. His claim of self-defense sets off a controversial, tabloid-fueled trial.Bernhard Goetz shoots four black teenagers on a New York City subway in 1984. His claim of self-defense sets off a controversial, tabloid-fueled trial.Bernhard Goetz shoots four black teenagers on a New York City subway in 1984. His claim of self-defense sets off a controversial, tabloid-fueled trial.
Curtis Sliwa
- Self - Founder, Guardian Angels
- (as Curtis Silwa)
Barry Allen
- Self - Shooting Victim
- (archive footage)
Jimmy Breslin
- Self - Columnist, New York Daily News
- (archive footage)
Darrell Cabey
- Self - Shooting Victim
- (archive footage)
Shirley Cabey
- Self - Mother of Darrell Cabey
- (archive footage)
Troy Canty
- Self - Shooting Victim
- (archive footage)
Alfonse D'amato
- Self - Senator, New York
- (archive footage)
Richard Dillon
- Self - Chief, NYPD
- (archive footage)
Cathy Dwyer
- Self - Waitress
- (archive footage)
Rudy Giuliani
- Self - Mayor, New York City
- (archive footage)
Bernhard Goetz
- Self - The Subway Vigilante
- (archive footage)
Darnay Hoffman
- Self - Civil Attorney, Bernie Goetz
- (archive footage)
Roy Innis
- Self - Chairman, C.O.R.E.
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJames Ramseur, one of the four black teenagers shot on the subway, was incarcerated during Bernhard Goetz trial. Ramseur was convicted of raping, sodomizing and robbing a young pregnant woman in 1986. He was conditionally released in 2002, but he returned to prison for a parole violation in 2005. He finished his sentence in July 2010. This is not mentioned in the documentary.
- ConnectionsFeatures Death Wish (1974)
Featured review
Subway Sandwich of Justice
Oh, "Trial by Media" Season 1, Episode 2, you tried so hard to enthrall us with the tale of the Subway Vigilante, yet you landed somewhere between a legal thriller and an infomercial for subway etiquette. This episode, akin to a lukewarm cup of coffee, provides enough caffeine to keep you awake but lacks the punch to truly stimulate the senses. There's a decent attempt to navigate the complex moral and legal maze surrounding vigilantism in the claustrophobic confines of a New York subway, but it feels like the narrative train is running on the local track when we really needed it to express itself.
The episode does an admirable job of balancing viewpoints, giving us a taste of the media frenzy that surrounded the case, and painting a vivid picture of 1980s New York, a city grappling with crime and fear. However, it's like watching a fireworks display where half the rockets fail to launch; you're left waiting for the big boom that never comes. The interviews, archival footage, and dramatic reenactments are the documentary equivalent of a Subway sandwich - it fills you up, has a variety of ingredients, but ultimately, you're left dreaming of a more gourmet experience.
In conclusion, "Trial by Media: Subway Vigilante" is the television equivalent of finding an old newspaper on the train. It's interesting enough to pick up and skim through, but you wouldn't cancel your plans to read it. With a 3.5-star rating, this episode is the perfect companion for a lazy, rainy afternoon when you're out of options and your only other choice is cleaning your apartment. It's okay, not because it's groundbreaking or particularly insightful, but because it manages to be just engaging enough that you don't feel like your time has been completely wasted. Here's to mediocrity, the unsung hero of streaming content!
The episode does an admirable job of balancing viewpoints, giving us a taste of the media frenzy that surrounded the case, and painting a vivid picture of 1980s New York, a city grappling with crime and fear. However, it's like watching a fireworks display where half the rockets fail to launch; you're left waiting for the big boom that never comes. The interviews, archival footage, and dramatic reenactments are the documentary equivalent of a Subway sandwich - it fills you up, has a variety of ingredients, but ultimately, you're left dreaming of a more gourmet experience.
In conclusion, "Trial by Media: Subway Vigilante" is the television equivalent of finding an old newspaper on the train. It's interesting enough to pick up and skim through, but you wouldn't cancel your plans to read it. With a 3.5-star rating, this episode is the perfect companion for a lazy, rainy afternoon when you're out of options and your only other choice is cleaning your apartment. It's okay, not because it's groundbreaking or particularly insightful, but because it manages to be just engaging enough that you don't feel like your time has been completely wasted. Here's to mediocrity, the unsung hero of streaming content!
helpful•00
- natmavila
- Feb 25, 2024
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 1 minute
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