Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

Filmmaker Marina Zenovich offers a Court TV-style chronicle of Roman Polanski’s notorious statutory rape case in this middling documentary, which debuted on HBO. The film covers Polanski’s tumultuous early life and career—plus his later Oscar win—in a scant few minutes, but devotes a sizeable amount of time to the murder of his wife Sharon Tate by the Manson family. Zenovich treads a fine line here—by concentrating to such a great extent on the sleazy tabloid press and TV coverage of the trial and earlier murder, she winds up crafting a slightly higher-toned version of E! True Hollywood Story. The documentary gives viewers insight into the unethical behavior of the judge who presided over the rape case, but none into Polanski himself.

Shelf Talk: Polanski buffs will acquire Wanted for its short interview clips of the filmmaker and special features not broadcast on HBO. Expect additional interest from true-crime fans and tabloid-TV addicts who likely have an interest in the case and know that Polanski’s lawyers have reportedly filed papers to clear his name.