Dominick Dunne: After the Party

The documentary, Dominick Dunne: After the Party, is a fascinating examination of the life and career of Dominick Dunne, a well-known American writer and investigative journalist. His intriguing life journey, marked by personal tragedies, grandeur, and public acclaim, is intricately woven into the fabric of America's modern social and cultural history and the film offers an in-depth look into his life.

This documentary film is structured as a quasi autobiography, leveraging footage from both public and private archives to paint a vivid portrait. It is directed by Kirsty De Gara and Tim Jolley, who have succeeded in their endeavour to capture the different facets of Dunne's life on camera. Through interviews, sequences from movies, home videos, and photographs, the film reveals Dunne's personal life while also showcasing his professional journeys and his distinctive journalism style that many loved and some vilified. His engaging stories mingled fact with fiction and earned him a reputation as a riveting storyteller who was equally heralded and criticized in different quarters.

The film begins showcasing Dunne's early life, his growing up years, and the influence of his Irish Catholic upbringing. We are introduced to the young, dreamy boy who was born into a wealthy family in Hartford, Connecticut. His roots, however, did not prevent him from experiencing a rollercoaster ride full of ups and downs as he navigated his path towards an eventful life. The movie captures his journey to New York and Hollywood, his misadventures and downturns in Tinseltown, his struggle with drugs and alcohol, and his revival.

A prominent theme in this documentary centers around Dunne's transformation from a Hollywood film producer to a celebrated writer. After experiencing major setbacks in Hollywood, including an addiction to drugs and a career slump that left him bankrupt, Dunne found redemption through writing. He began to write about true crime stories, often mingling them with hints of the glamour and scandal of high society that he was so familiar with, and found commercial success.

The movie gives a fair amount of screen time to Dunne's tragedy-stricken personal life, primarily centered around his daughter's death. Dominique Dunne, a promising actress, was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend. This tragedy shook Dominick to his core, leaving a permanent scar on his life. However, this calamity also served as a catalyst that further provoked Dunne to delve deeper into the realm of crime journalism. Dunne's reportage of high-profile crime cases, notably the O.J. Simpson murder trial, solidified his position as a celebrated journalist.

But the documentary doesn't restrict itself to just praising Dunne's accomplishments. It also brings to light the criticisms leveled against him. Dunne was sometimes accused of being sensationalist or overly sympathetic to the victims to the point where it clouded his judgment. Dunne's unique approach to journalism—blending gossip and investigative reporting—elicited polarized opinions.

The movie features interviews with a host of friends, family, and colleagues who share their experiences with Dunne, anecdotes, and tributes to his life, thus helping to humanize the legend. Also included are snippets from interviews given by Dunne himself—offering personal insights from his perspective. His charisma, charm, and engaging storytelling ability shine through, making him a mesmerizing subject on screen.

What this 90-minute long documentary does successfully is capturing the essence of Dunne's life. It serves as a chronicle of his victories and defeats, his joys and sorrows. It unpacks how Dunne adeptly turned personal hardships into professional triumphs, becoming a renowned chronicler of high society crime. It’s a riveting tale of a man who became a legend in his own right.

Dominick Dunne: After the Party is not just for devotees of Dunne's writings—it holds significant appeal for anyone interested in a life layered with captivating stories, a life that witnessed the highs and lows of society, and a life that mirrored American culture in many ways. The film is exploration of how a man, marked with tragedies, reinvents himself becoming an emblem of resilience and an inspiration to many. This is as much a portrait of an individual as it is a reflection of the milieu in which he thrived and left a lasting impact.