Obviously, if you want the nitty-gritty, warts-and-all truth about a scandal or historic event, you probably shouldn’t look at a TV series or film for answers. Even documentaries that aim to provide as many details as possible are skewed in hopes of telling a compelling story or enticing viewers to not turn it off during its run-time. But according to the subject of Ben Stiller’s recent TV drama series “Escape at Dannemora,” the director’s adaptation of the story of Joyce Mitchell and two inmates she’s convicted of helping escape prison is just full of lies.
For those not familiar with Mitchell and the story of inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt, the basics are that Mitchell was working at the prison where Sweat and Matt were held. After reportedly having intimate affairs with both men, Mitchell helped the two inmates escape prison and go on a manhunt that would last days.
The story was then adapted by actor-turned-director Ben Stiller for his Showtime limited series, “Escape at Dannemora,” starring Benicio del Toro, Paul Dano, and Patricia Arquette as Mitchell. But according to Mitchell, in a new interview from prison (she’s serving a seven-year sentence for her role in the escape), Stiller is only after viewers and is flat-out lying about the story.
“I never had sex with them,” she said to the New York Post. “Ben Stiller is a son-of-a-bitch liar just like the rest of the world. He doesn’t care about the truth. All he cares about is making millions off me. He’s an idiot.”
Strong words, for sure. This is to be expected from the woman who has been beaten up in the press and sent to jail. And to top things off, now, after the story has faded from the public eye ‘Dannemora’ has reignited the public’s interest in Mitchell and her crimes. She also claims to know exactly why Stiller is being a “liar.”
“The truth doesn’t sell,” said Mitchell.
Well, as with any biopic, it’s up to the viewer to either believe the story as its told or do their own research to find out all the details. Otherwise, just watch the series and enjoy it (or don’t).
“Escape from Dannemora” is available on Showtime now.