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Danny Johnston / AP
Jessie Misskelley Jr., James Baldwin and Damien Echols were released in August, which caps the third film in the "Paradise Lost" documentaries.
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" received an Oscar nod on Tuesday from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for best documentary feature, but not everyone is happy about the honor.
The film, the third in HBO's series about three boys who were brutally murdered nearly 20 years ago in West Memphis, Ark., and the three teens who were convicted on questionable evidence, shows the state ultimately releasing Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. from prison last August. But parents of two of the boys killed are not pleased with the publicity the latest film has received or its Oscar nomination.
Todd and Diana Moore, the parents of victim Michael Moore, had previously asked the Academy to not consider the film. The pair, along with victim Stevie Branch's father and stepdad, sent a letter to reporters and the Academy after the nominations were announced to express their feelings.
"This film should be exposed as a fraud, not rewarded with an Academy Award nomination," the letter stated.
That Branch's stepfather would object to the film is no surprise. "Paradise Lost 3" brings up the question as to whether or not Terry Hobbs, who married Stevie's mom, could have been the killer. (The upcoming film "West of Memphis" also suggests Hobbs may be a suspect.) The filmmakers interviewed neighbors who placed Hobbs with the three boys the day they were murdered, though Hobbs has claimed that he did not see the children that day.
The films have been widely credited with raising doubts about the convictions of Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley Jr., collectively known as the West Memphis 3. After 18 years in prision, the men were freed in August after taking the Alford plea, which allowed them to maintain their innocence while pleading guilty in exchange for their freedom.
When msnbc.com talked to Baldwin earlier this month, he said it was "hard to watch the films" and to see "the boys' families go through all of the anguish of that." He noted that tough as it was, "it's necessary to shed light on what happened."
As for the film's Oscar nod, Baldwin told msnbc.com he'd love to see filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky win the trophy. "They went above and beyond the call of duty as filmmakers to keep this case alive and keep it in the public eye," he said. "They deserve some type of award for their efforts, whether it be an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize. ... They put everything they had into these films against a lot of opposition."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related content:
- West Memphis 3's Baldwin: 'Paradise Lost' makes moving on easier
- Film reveals new West Memphis 3 witnesses
More on the Oscars:
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The people that decide the Oscars are going to do whatever they want to do no matter who objects. Frankly, bringing more attention to this tragedy may light the fire to finally determine who really did it.
Some people want so badly for someone to be punished that they don't care if they are punishing the right people.
If you have ever seen the films you'd know that the only evidence against these guys was that they wore black and listened to heavy metal. One did confess under severe duress and has widely been considered a false confession as the tactics used to get him to confess have been linked to multiple false confessions. Many news organizations have run stories showing that innocent people can confess after being psycho-actively abused by the interrogation officers. One had college students accused of cheating and even though they never cheated many said they did after intense psychological pressure of a "authority figure" telling them they knew they did it and to just come clean. Many eventually broke down and admitted guilt even thought they were all innocent every one of them.
At the very least the documentaries highlight how narrow and rigid people can be and how our justice system can be misused to satisfy the personal interests of police and prosecutor's, most particularly prosecutor's out to make a name for themselves. The case of the day care center in North Carolina (PBS documentaries) also comes to mind. In that case 5 people who didn't even really like each other NEVER confessed to having done the outrageous acts they were eventually convicted of, even when police tried to get confessions by pitting them against each other and making deals. The prosecutor's in that case were definitely corrupt and the whole thing was concocted by a very sick, vindictive mother who was mad at her "best friend" (the owner of the day care center). Really sad cases.
As someone that lives near West Memphis, I am thrilled this is nominated. I have always believed these three were innocent of all charges, and I am thrilled to see the attention on both the case and the documentary.
I was really glad these three innocent people were released, prosecutors and the public are always to quick to condemn and commit the wrong people. To the family's, sorry for your loss but your murderers are still out there....focus on rightful justice for the children.
This movie should never have been nominated.
This Documentry is exactly the perfect nomination and the producers should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Without brave individuals willing to stand up for injustices we would have no humanity.
I wasn't convinced of their innocence until I saw this movie. Very profound.
WM3!
Many people believe the three were guilty as charged.
Many people believe there was no miscarriage of justice. Read what four of the parents of the victims think.
Letter to AMPAS from victims' parents
We are writing to the Academy now to express our sadness, disappointment, and outrage over the decision to nominate the latest film, Purgatory, for an Academy Award in the documentary film category.
Oscar nomination for Paradise Lost 3
We are horrified to learn that a documentary that glorifies Michael’s killers, Paradise Lost III: Purgatory, is among 15 documentaries being considered for an Academy Award. Because of public pressure that exploded due to gross misrepresentations of fact in two previous documentaries, Michael’s killers were unjustly able to enter into a plea agreement, were released from prison, and now pose additional threats to society.
Those three men (boys at the time) are someones children also....the story is appauling...I can understand the fealings of the victims families, but what about these boys....they are very probably victims too....if, as stated, there is more to the story then speak up....It is not ok to make victims of other peoples children because of the sorrow of having lost your own.
Many people believe there was no miscarriage of justice. Read what four of the parents of the victims think.
Letter to AMPAS from victims' parents
We are writing to the Academy now to express our sadness, disappointment, and outrage over the decision to nominate the latest film, Purgatory, for an Academy Award in the documentary film category.
h t t p : / / w m 3 t r u t h . c o m / 2 0 1 2 / 0 1 / l e t t e r - t o - a m p a s - f r o m - v i c t i m s - p a r e n t s
Oscar nomination for Paradise Lost 3
We are horrified to learn that a documentary that glorifies Michael’s killers, Paradise Lost III: Purgatory, is among 15 documentaries being considered for an Academy Award. Because of public pressure that exploded due to gross misrepresentations of fact in two previous documentaries, Michael’s killers were unjustly able to enter into a plea agreement, were released from prison, and now pose additional threats to society.
h t t p : / / w m 3 t r u t h .c o m / 2 0 1 2 / 0 1 / o s c a r - n o m in a t i o n - f o r - p a r a d i s e - l o s t-3
Providing links to a site which is rabidly and irrationally prejudiced against the WM3 is not proof, it is simply lame propaganda. Stop drinking the hate kool-aid and open your eyes to the evidence.
I believe they are innocent of the murders, but I also believe that Damien Echols is a publicity hound who is using everything he can to stay famous past his 15 minutes. He can continue to prove his innocence without showing up at celebrity events like Sundance. Mark my words. he will have a 10 million dollar movie deal in a year.
Suz-Q: After all he's been through, with the best years of his life taken away, would that be such an awful thing? If I spent half of my life in prison for something I didn't do, I think I'd also want to get the most out of life once I was released.
'Suzi-q'- I agree with J.C.. Damien Echols lived with the threat of execution on Death Row for 18 years for a crime he didn't commit. Who in God's name can begrudge this man an opportunity to cash in on fame and fortune?! Besides,.. it's one Hell of a story!!
No one is forcing the parents of the child victims to watch the Oscars. I can understand their frustration, but why aren't they more focused on finding out who was the real killer(s)? Could it be partly due to the fact that one of the step-fathers of the slaughtered boys left evidence at the crime scene? This same man also had a violent temper, previously shot a man and was convicted of attempted murder. Furthermore, another step-father is a certified, "nut-job/ hillbilly" felon. In addition, for 18+ years continues his incessant quest to point the finger at anyone but himself, and whose wife died young under suspicious circumstances. The primary culprit is the Justice system in Arkansas, who allowed this tragedy to materialize with their indifference for justice, incompetence and slough. Meanwhile, a psychopathic child killer goes unpunished and three innocent young men waste 18 years of their lives in a cage. It's a true miracle that the first documentary touched a cord with the improbable reaction of some wealthy high profile individuals. Without their tireless activism one of the three inculpable youths would have been executed and the other two would've rotted and died in prison. The countless mistakes, ignorance and prejudice the documentaries exposed indicate a grave injustice was perpetrated. However, to this day the participating judge and prosecuting attorneys' egotism and hubris inexcusably prevents them from admitting their gross errors of negligence. How many innocent people have been put to death in the US? My estimate is far more that the system is willing to acknowledge.