Guilty Pleasure: The Extraordinary World of Dominick Dunne (2002)

First telecast by the Court TV cable service, this largely affectionate documentary profiles movie producer, novelist, investigative reporter, and self-style "injustice collector" Dominick Dunne. Always in the public eye, thanks to his indefatigable coverage of such high-profile cases as the O.J. Simpson and Michael Skakel murder trials, Dunne has been accused in some circles of harboring a "prejudice" against rich-and-famous defendants who are, to his way of thinking, given far more latitude in court than the average person. Others suggest that Dunne's crusade to see that justice will prevail is motivated by the comparative wrist-slap given the man responsible for the death of Dunne's actress daughter, Dominique Dunne. Whatever the case, even such opponents of Dunne's methods as defense attorney Johnnie Cochran cannot help but admire the man's courage, determination, and meticulous research methods. Cochran is among those interviewed for this documentary; others include the author's son, actor Griffin Dunne. Guilty Pleasure: The Extraordinary World of Dominick Dunne was given a public "preview" screening before its TV debut in July 2003; ironically, this preview had to be delayed one week because Dunne was enmeshed in a libel suit brought about by the latest of his "victims," a certain prominent politician whose lady friend had met a violent and mysterious demise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi