The Assassination of Gianni Versace: a crime of fashion

The Assassination of Gianni Versace is the second instalment in Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski’s American Crime Story anthology series. Predecessor show The People v OJ Simpson swept award season, taking home multiple Golden Globes and Primetime Emmies.

Following the success of their Bafta-winning series, the pair are back with the second instalment in their American Crime Story series. The Assassination of Gianni Versace – written by Child 44 and Tom Rob Smith – dramatises the mysterious events surrounding the 1997 murder of the Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace.

Where The People v OJ Simpson unpicked the OJ Simpson murder trial against a backdrop of inflamed race-relation tensions in America, The Assassination of Gianni Versace illustrates the trappings of fame and examines issues of homophobia and class tensions in 90s America.

When does The Assassination of Gianni Versace air? America Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace UK airs on Wednesday 28 February 2018. Read on for all the reasons you need to watch this murder most fashionable.

A whydunnit: catch the cultural culprit

Little is actually known Versace’s death, but is based on the speculative book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in the US History by Maureen Orth. What we do know is that titular assassin Andrew Cunanan rose to notoriety after concluding a cross-country murder spree by gunning down Gianni Versace on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion.

The story is told in reverse, beginning with the crime and then examining the circumstances leading up to Versace’s murder. Or rather, assassination. Unlike The People v OJ Simpson, the political ramifications don’t play out in the public eye. The storyline of Assassination doesn’t depend on the episode before: each installation could exist as a short, stand-alone film. In both stories, we know who did it. The real culprit here are sociological prejudices – and they’re held accountable for the casualties.

Killing it: a cast to die for

Much like The People vs OJ Simpson, Assassination has an all-star lineup. Warbling lawyers John Travolta and Sarah Paulson are replaced by glamorous Versace siblings, Gianni (Édgar Ramírez) and Donatella (Penélope Cruz). Ramírez offers a touching portrait of an artist as a sensitive soul, whereas Cruz commands whatever room she struts into.

Darren Criss, the preppy songbird of Glee, is out there using his jazz hands for evil. Criss steals the show with his portrayal of serial killer Andrew Cunanan. He is a handsome, charming, bespectacled psychopath; practicing his reactions in the mirror, able to switch personalities in an instant, and curating his backstory to ensure he ‘tell people what they want to hear.’ Despite the shape-shifting personality, Criss conveys the rage and desire for fame that drove Cunanan to his rampage in a performance that exalts Cunanan to the legendary heights he aspired to.

Soundtrack: murder never sounded so good

Reminiscent of American Psycho, the film based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, the pop-culture soundtrack speak volumes to the serial killer’s state of mind. But here, Bateman’s sinister soft-rock beats are replaced by pop tracks and disco. Andrew celebrates his notoriety to Laura Branigan’s gay anthem, Gloria. He prowls for victims in gay nightclubs to classics like ’Last Night a DJ Saved My Life’ and La Bouche’s ‘Be My Lover’. The nuance of a serial killer stalking a supposedly safe space isn’t lost on Criss himself, who stated in an interview with GQ that he was ‘playing the gay boogeyman.’

Nice to look at, hurts to watch

From the opening sequence when Versace walks through his mansion in a flowing pink robe, it’s clear that this is going to be an overabundance of aesthetics, even for a story about a fashion designer. The visual opulence of 90s Versace and the Miami and masterful performances make must-watch TV this February.

True crime is a genre that typically relies on horrific acts of violence against women. In Assassination, closeted gay men are the victims. Even when the show is violent, elegance oozes from every angle. The men die like girls. They are strangled at their lover’s hands. Even after death, their bodies are glamorized and sensationalised. Assassination is steeped in toxic masculinity – from the fulfilment of the American Dream to Clinton’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

Truer than true crime

True crime dramas have been riding a wave of popularity for some time. The true crime craving kicked off in 2015 with cult classics like The Jinx and Making a Murderer. From podcast favourite Serial to teen heartthrob Zac Efron’s edgy new role as murderer Ted Bundy, we’re having a true crime renaissance.

The show itself is, ultimately, a dramatic fill-in-the blank of a crime that remains shrouded in mystery. Painfully picturesque, with Assassination our obsession with true crime is exalted to sinister heights. Why do we sensationalise these serial killers? Why have old scandals like I, Tonya and the upcoming Tarantino film about the Manson murders continue to capture our imaginations? In a show where society is on trial, the audience should – and does – feel uncomfortable watching.

Assassination was denounced by Donatella herself as ‘a work of fiction’; which is unsurprising given it’s a TV show based on a book loosely based on the true story. Fashion shows, platinum Penelope Cruz, and Wes Anderson-esque motel rooms – even Ricky Martin is livin’ la vida loca as Gianni Versace’s partner of 15 years. It’s not what you’d imagine when you picture the death of Versace – it’s better.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: a crime of fashion

“Versace” kills as crime drama’s second season

While many people have kept up with producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s series “American Horror Story,” some have also taken notice of their other anthology show, “American Crime Story.”

Like “Horror Story,” each season of “Crime Story” is different from the last, with its own story, setting and characters.

However, while “Horror Story” contains fictional tales that try to frighten audiences, “Crime Story” shines light on historical crime cases.

When the first season, “The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” debuted Feb. 2, 2016, with its great acting and storytelling, it set the bar high for seasons to come.

While I had to wait almost two years for the second season, I am glad I did not lose interest in the show, as its next case has not only gotten me reinvested in the series but also keeps me eager for future seasons.

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace” follows not only the death of the world-famous fashion designer but also takes a peek into the mind of Versace’s murderer, Andrew Cunanan.

Before the story even begins, however, the show gave me an incredible look inside Versace’s Miami home. If it turns out the show was filmed inside his actual house, it would not surprise me, as the scenery is beautiful and befitting of a rich man.

Last season, despite its stellar cast, I did not enjoy Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of alleged serial killer O.J. Simpson. His voice was not as deep as Simpson’s, nor was he tough enough to match the former football player’s demeanor.

With actor Édgar Ramírez’s take on Versace, I have seen no issues with his acting. In this role, I genuinely see him as a famous designer with his own personal struggles.

However, the real marvel of this season is actor Darren Criss’ Cunanan. One minute he is lying about his relationship with Versace, and the next he is duct taping the head of an older rich man for money.

This portrayal of the killer is not only crazy, manipulative and remorseless, but he also bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Cunanan. Because of the show’s focus on his background of murders and obsession with Versace, I consider him the true star of the season.

The final main star worth talking about is Penélope Cruz, who is also starting to shine in her role of Versace’s sister, Donatella, who takes over the business for him after his death. Her dislike of Versace’s final boyfriend, Antonio, adds more drama, even if not on the same level as Criss’ unpredictable nature.

As for the story, audiences should not expect the docudrama to portray everything exactly the way it happened, as all the facts are still unknown and certain dramatic elements are included to keep viewers invested.

One of the main details the show adds is Versace having AIDs before he died. Personally, this does not add or take away from the story for me but is rather believable, considering the number of homosexual men who continue to fall victim to the disease.

Regardless, I still believe the show can be educational, as I had never heard of Versace or his murder until watching this.

I have only seen the first two episodes so far, and I can already tell this show will be another great season for “American Crime Story.” I am unsure it will be superior to the first, but it does not have to be. With different crimes come different stories, which are told in different ways.

“Versace” kills as crime drama’s second season

I Love Serial Killer Stories And Worry What That Says About Me

This past weekend, I binge-watched Mindhunter, Netflix’ new, dramatized-but-based-on-true-events series about the origin of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit. It’s set in the 70s, when profiling serial killers was just beginning to be a thing and despite thinking the main character had about as much charisma as stale break (it’s ok, the show does, too), I could not get enough.

“One more episode,” was the refrain. “C’mon.” And then, of course, we’d watch another, with protagonist Holden Ford finding a way to create rapport with serial killer Edmund Kemper. Agent Tench, the cop-ass-cop of the duo, starting to see value in it. Dr. Carr—a professor and consultant on the project— finding ways to reign in these two and actually make their research viable and scientific and therefore useful in predicting violent behavior.

Eventually finishing up in spectacularly dramatic fashion, we were both shocked to realize that it was over. Season one: finished.

We immediately rolled into season two of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. This is another dramatized but based-on-true-events story of a serial killer, the stylish, compulsive-lying Andrew Cunanan, who killed a whole bunch of people on a spree that included famed fashion designer Gianni Versace at his Miami Beach palace in 1997.

He preyed especially on gay men, using his good looks and erudite air to get men to trust him. Then, he robbed or killed them. Sometimes both.

Where Mindhunter is sometimes clinical, showing its characters meticulously interviewing serial killers in scenes that almost border the mundane, this show is passionate. It delves deeply into Cunanan’s victims’ lives, and cares deeply about their interior selves: struggles, passions, heartbreak.

I’m halfway through the season so far, but I already “know” Versace to some degree. I know Lee Miglan, a successful but closeted elderly man who, in one scene, tearfully prays at an alter, telling Jesus he “tried” not to be gay. I know David, a young man who dated Andrew and took him in, only to watch him brutally murder another friend, then hold him hostage and eventually kill him, too. I know about David’s relationship to his dad, an outdoorsman who wasn’t exactly pro-gay, but loved his son enough to accept him, despite his own leanings.

Both are valid approaches to the genre, as is the ridiculous, sexy Hannibal, which didn’t so much humanize a serial killer and cannibal, but made him so hot that it was impossible to resist his allure.

God, it all just makes me want to watch Hannibal again.

But all of this has got me thinking: why, exactly, is the serial killer genre so popular in our culture? Why is it so compelling to watch other human beings be broken down, terrified, brutally murdered? Why do we want to understand why that happens? What drives this morbid fascination with a particular psychological extreme?

I don’t really have any answers. If I had to wager a guess, I imagine that it’s fun on some level to play armchair detective, and comforting on a deeper level to have a safe (fictionalized) space to contend with the dark side of human nature.

I Love Serial Killer Stories And Worry What That Says About Me

Must Watch: “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” | Valley Magazine

Sex, money, murder and fashion—the underlying themes of ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” The story behind the assassination of one of the most iconic fashion designers of the ’90s titillates its audience with scenes of opulence and glamour.

The shows stellar cast includes a bevy of Hispanic actors like Édgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace, Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace and Ricky Martin as Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s partner. Darren Criss also stars as the psychopathic killer, Andrew Cunanan.

The show is set in South Beach, Miami in the ’90s and recalls debauchery and luxury. The show features an assortment of iconic vintage Versace pieces, colorful and skin-baring. Chainmail dresses (which made an appearance modeled by a cast of supermodels at the spring 2018 Versace show) and pin dresses might as well be cast members in the show.

The show also provides a look into Versace’s Casa Casuarina on Ocean Drive, a representation of who Versace was in life, Italian-made and dripping in gold. From working for his mother’s small boutique in Calabria to a multi-millionaire with a company worth millions at his death.

Versace’s premature and tragic death on the steps of his home caused a worldwide uproar. Perhaps people didn’t know Versace before his death, but they did know of him later. The show provides a look at how slinky dresses, pretty houses, sexuality and fame are important themes in Versace’s life. Versace lacked support as a gay man in the ’90s from an Italian family. He had many rumored lovers and a steady partner, controversial to the mainstream during that time.

The Versace name demands grandeur, still a prominent fashion house proclaimed in rap music. The notable and inimitable Versace style, along with its Medusa head logo, is central to fashion history.

Even though there is a certain and obvious sadness to Versace’s story, the glamorous party scenes and overall ’90s vibes will inspire that same carefree, go-big-or-go-home attitude.

Must Watch: “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” | Valley Magazine

Looking Back On ‘American Horror Story’s School Shooting Episode

[…]

Likewise, American Crime Story has created a whole critically-praised brand for taking exploitative stories and turning them into powerful and reflective works of art. The O.J. case was one of the most overly covered and circus-like trials in American history, but under the hand of Murphy’s team, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story stands as a thoughtful and sad reflection about the clash of racism, sexism, and the power of celebrity in America. The currently running Versace season of American Crime Story is an even better example of the creator’s contextualizing gift. Over the course of a handful of episodes, The Assassination of Gianni Versace has transformed Andrew Cunanan’s victims from forgotten names in an article to fully fleshed out, tragic victims taken before their time. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” took Jeff Trail, a murdered man whose death was largely ignored, and portrayed him as an outstanding naval hero. “House by the Lake”, the series’ episode on the death of David Madson, may be one of the saddest and most emotionally charged episodes of the year.

There have been many projects for Murphy and many years between the first season of American Horror Story and the Versace season of American Crime Story. When American Horror Story first premiered, Murphy was still only really known for Nip/Tuck and Glee. He wasn’t known as a horror-focused creator at all, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he and his team felt like they had to be as shocking as possible to cement the anthology series’ place on television. It’s more difficult to overlook the misstep of Glee, a show known for painting a candy coating on even the deepest of issues. Glee‘s attempt to address the complicated emotions of Sandy Hook was too much, too soon. Of course Murphy wasn’t totally new to the game when either AHS or the Glee episode dropped; but his previous projects erred on the side of shocking broadness, instead of real depth. Murphy is nearly a decade older now, wiser, and with more seasons of television under his belt. Add in that he, and others on his team, have had time to understand the impact of the O.J. case, Andrew Cunanan’s murders, and — unfortunately — the repeated cost of mass shootings, and you start to see why more recent Murphy projects have a more nuanced approached than Tate’s skull-faced attack.

There may be a way to depict school shooting on television. These stories are part of our societal narrative, whether we like them or not, and depicting the horrors of the world is something that art should do. As proven by the American Crime Story franchise, there’s even a chance that Murphy can be the creator to figure out this complicated and somber topic successfully. But at the moment, arguably one of the best remembered examples of school shootings in modern TV history still falls short.

Looking Back On ‘American Horror Story’s School Shooting Episode

The Assassination of Gianni Versace Recap: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

The most recent episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace takes us deeper into the mind of Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss) through an interesting turn of events. As you may recall, we last left Andrew at the lake house where he took David Madson’s (Cody Fern) life. A flashback takes us to April 1997 where we see Cunanan trying to convince American Express to give him a credit line increase so he can buy a one-way ticket to Minneapolis. What’s there you ask? According to him two of his “best friends”, David and Jeff (Finn Wittrock).

This episode is interesting because it focuses on homosexuality from a personal and political standpoint. At the time, Clinton passed a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning gay individuals in the military. This policy comes to light when the story dives deeper into understanding Cunanan’s first victim, Jeff Trail. Being a homosexual in the military, Trail faces the harsh reality of the resistance against it. The episode unravels his journey of discovering and facing his sexuality which ultimately leads him to discuss it in the darkened shadows of an interview.

Simultaneously, we see Versace (Edgar Ramirez) decide to be open about his sexuality to the world through an interview. It was interesting to see the different perspectives of two individuals coming out of the closet, one behind the curtain and one out in the open. This aspect of the plot spoke volumes about the political and societal culture of the 90s.

After being cured of his “sickness,” he is ready to take on the world which leads to his decision of revealing that he is gay. He shares this with Donatella (Penelope Cruz), who does not share the same sentiments as her brother. She believes it will ruin the company name and prevent other companies and countries from doing business with them. Donatella blames Antonio for Versace’s sudden desire to tell the world he is gay.

While Versace grapples with his decision, the rest of the episode reveals the events that lead to Cunanan murdering Trail. We learn that Cunanan met Trail two years prior in a gay club when Trail was trying to embrace his homosexuality. However, over the course of the time he comes to know Cunanan, Trail realizes Andrew isn’t who he claims to be. Darren Criss’ portrayal of Cunanan shines so brightly once again as we see him face rejection and isolation from two guys he believes to be his best friends.

Ultimately, we know where this story ends and that Trail’s brutal demise is inevitable. Wittrock’s version of Trail was extremely phenomenal to follow during this episode. He not only represents an important societal issue of the time but embodies everything that makes Cunanan snap.

This episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace stands strong over the ones that precede it for multiple reasons. While the episode itself played out relatively slow and uneventful, it was the underlying issues that made it stand out. Tackling the topic of homosexuality in the 90s from different perspectives was a feat they beautifully achieved during the episode. Temporarily we are taken away from Versace’s story to understand a deeper issue that existed at the time. However, incorporating Versace’s reveal adds to the story and brought it full circle.

As we reach the midpoint of the season, it will be interesting to see how the story develops from here and how it will all come together. We have spent a lot of time in the past but will we see the events that unfold following Versace’s murder? We sure hope so because that is where things are going to get interesting.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace Recap: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

The week’s best TV: Assassination Of Gianni Versace; Pets — The True Cost; Dispatches; Sunset Boulevard

PICK OF THE WEEK
Assassination Of Gianni Versace

Wednesday, BBC2, 9pm
Following the success of the Bafta-winning The People v OJ Simpson, the second season of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski’s American Crime Story strand zones in on the events surrounding the 1997 murder of the Italian fashion designer and the subsequent bungled hunt for his killer, the Californian escort, fantasist and multiple murderer Andrew Cunanan. While The People v OJ dealt with America’s changing attitudes to race, played out as a pitch-black soap opera, Assassination — written by Child 44 and London Spy’s Tom Rob Smith — deals with issues of fame, class and gay lives in modern America and unfolds at a chilly pace. So, while the performances are uniformly excellent, with Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz both haunting and commanding as Gianni and Donatella, there is a desolate despair to almost every scene, especially those dominated by Glee’s Darren Criss, whose depiction of Cunanan succeeds almost too well at capturing the killer’s fame-obsessed sociopathy. It’s a bleak watch, but stick with it. It gets bleaker.
Andrew Male

The week’s best TV: Assassination Of Gianni Versace; Pets — The True Cost; Dispatches; Sunset Boulevard

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From the silver screen to the small screen

Laura Snapes tells us why we should see ‘Lady Bird’ and Alice Vincent talks us through the latest ‘American Crime Story’ season, which focusses on the assassination of Gianni Versace. | 24 February 2018

The 4 Best Moments Of ‘American Crime Story: The Assassination of Versace’ 2×05

This week we are welcomed back by the Versace family, in which Versace is considering coming out with Antonio. We also follow the story of Jeff Trail (Finn Wittrock), Navy sailor and Andrew Cunanan’s first victim. Be prepared to relive the most heart-breaking episode of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Versace so far.

Here are the 4 best moments from the episode:

Versace and Antonio’s Coming Out Interview

Gianni Versace arranges an interview with an LGBTQ magazine, in which he has intentions on coming out publicly with Antonio. Donatella is incredibly against her brother’s idea and she believes this will only lead to a negative impact on Versace’s career. She tells Versace that this isn’t just about him and he needs to think about how his company can be affected by such decisions. She reminds him of the time when people stopped purchasing Perry Ellis’ clothes after he appeared on a runway, currently dealing with AIDS, and how his models had to help keep him on his feet. She also reminds him that there are multiple countries who believe gay relationships to be a crime, therefore, many businesses would want to stop working with him. Versace has none of it though and says he is done hiding and he intends to live his life being who he truly is.

Later on in the episode, Gianni and Antonio head off to a hotel, in which their interview will be orchestrated. To start off with, Gianni intends on facing the interview alone, however, with a quick change of heart, he asks the journalist if Antonio could also join the interview, in which he replies “absolutely.”

Sexuality in the Navy

Jeff Trail is a Navy Officer with a good recording a bright future; that is, until he essentially outs himself by comforting another officer who he saved from being beat to death for his sexuality. Jeff receives subtle and not-so subtle threats; leading him to attempt removing a tattoo off of his leg and attempt suicide. Eventually, Jeff embraces who he is and finds himself in a gay bar, in which he meets Andrew.

Andrew inevitably wins Jeff over with his charming persona, treating him to rounds after rounds of drinks and maneuvering himself in to Jeff’s world. Jeff is the complete opposite of Andrew; he is genuine, kind, handsome, good-hearted and what he doesn’t know, is that being with Andrew is also the same as being on deaths doorstep. Andrew tries to convince Jeff to not go ahead with the interview about being a gay man in the Navy, however, just like Versace, Jeff is done hiding.

“So humiliating! Your face shadowed, your voice altered like a criminal!”

We see Jeff drive to a motel for his interview at the same time Versace is about to do his coming out interview; one famous, one an invisible sailor, one in the spotlight, one in the shadows, one is comfortable, one is asking for reassurance of not being seen on camera. Two complete opposites, yet they both want their identity to be accepted, they want to feel self-acceptance and they want their sexuality to be destigmatized and not looked upon as controversial. They also have one more thing in common; they will both be murdered by Andrew.

At the beginning of the episode, we see Jeff and his sister having a heart to heart about Jeff coming out to his parents, although Jeff insists on not going ahead with that idea. He then kisses his sister’s baby bump and expresses how excited he is to be an Uncle. Fast forward to Jeff’s death; whilst Jeff has now just been beat to death in the head with a hammer – at home, his family are trying to get in contact with him to inform him that his sister is in labour and she has had a baby girl.

“No one wants your love”

We return to the day of Jeff’s murder in Minneapolis; Jeff enters his apartment and finds his Navy uniform in a wrinkled mess on the bed, Andrew sitting on the living room floor. Andrew consistently tries to convince Jeff that the military don’t care about him and don’t want him. However, Jeff has had enough of his manipulative ways and confronts him for the man he truly is.

“You’re a liar. You have no honour.”

Andrew still tries to manipulate Jeff by telling him how much he loves him, in which Jeff replies with an explosive “No-one wants your love!”. By the look of Andrew’s face, that is the moment where Jeff has officially knocked on Death’s door and sealed his extremely short future. Andrew walks out of the room with Jeff’s gun zipped away in his bag and head’s over to David’s apartment.

Jeff presses and puts away his Navy uniform, seconds later receiving a phone call from Andrew saying, “I have your gun”. This is Andrew’s way of luring Jeff to David’s important, ready to commit his first murder. The murder that is about to change his life forever.

Finn Wittrock

The last time I watched Finn Wittrock in a TV show was his debut appearance on American Horror Story: Freakshow, as Dandy. This was a character I absolutely despised to the point in which I really couldn’t appreciate how incredible Finn is… American Crime Story has allowed me to fall completely head over heels in love with Finn and his portrayal of Jeff.

He made this episode, the most heart-breaking episode of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Versace so far. Being reminded of how homophobia used to be, and how parts of it still exist today will ache your heart, however, it is indeed a crucial piece of the story for television to see and allows us to relive America’s history of homophobia being an unforgivable crime.

Darren Criss has stolen the spotlight the entire series so far, but this time he took a step back and let Finn take the spotlight. I was completely in awe of Finn’s acting and I hope this isn’t the end of Jeff’s story, as he has become my favourite one so far!

The 4 Best Moments Of ‘American Crime Story: The Assassination of Versace’ 2×05

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Episode 2 – Snatch Game, Adam Rippon & Gus Kenworthy, American Crime Story S2, Kinky Boots

In this week’s episode, Anthony & Jose recap the underwhelming Snatch Game (sp?) of Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars 3, rave about LGBT+ Olympic Heroes Adam Rippon & Gus Kenworthy, recap the scary but binge worthy new season of American Crime Story, and bond over their broadway night out watching Jake Shears and Kirstin Maldonado on Kinky Boots.

*from 36:30 – 47:20