Juan Catalan
Self
Long Shot
“One murder. One alibi. One unbelievable true story with a twist.”
2017
40m
Director: Jacob LaMendola
Overview
When Juan Catalan is arrested for a murder he insists he didn't commit, he builds his case for innocence around unexpected raw footage.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Alibi That Fell From the Sky
I’ve seen enough true-crime documentaries to know the rhythm by now: the grainy reenactments, the solemn talking heads, the slow unspooling of injustice. But Long Shot doesn’t play by those rules. It doesn’t need to.
The story it tells is so improbable, so perfectly cinematic in its absurdity, that it feels like it was written by a screenwriter who’d had one too many espressos. And yet, it’s all real. That’s the first thing that hits you: the sheer, jaw-on-the-floor ridiculousness of Juan Catalan’s alibi.
He wasn’t just at a Dodgers game when the murder he was accused of took place. He was filming an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm at that game. The footage that saved him wasn’t from a security camera or a bystander’s phone.
It was from a comedy show’s outtakes. If you pitched this to a studio, they’d laugh you out of the room. And that, I think, is why Long Shot works so well.
It doesn’t have to try to be gripping. The facts do the work for it.
The documentary, directed by Jacob LaMendola, is only 40 minutes long, but it doesn’t waste a second. It opens with Catalan’s arrest, the charges against him, and the prosecution’s case—a shaky foundation built on eyewitness testimony and a jailhouse informant. The film doesn’t linger on the crime itself, and that’s a smart choice.
This isn’t a whodunit. It’s a how-the-hell-did-this-happen story, and the focus is squarely on the legal nightmare that follows. Catalan’s family, particularly his sister Alma Oseguera, becomes the emotional core of the film.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
"A gripping true-story documentary with emotional weight but uneven pacing."
The film delivers a raw, emotional look at Juan Catalan’s wrongful accusation and the real stakes involved. Some viewers find the pacing inconsistent—slower sections undercut the tension. latestnetflix.com's read is that still, its focus on justice and family bonds hits hard, even if the execution wobbles at times.
What viewers praise
- Emotional depth The film captures Catalan’s personal and legal struggles in a way that feels deeply moving.
- Real-life stakes The true-story angle gives the story urgency and authenticity, keeping audiences invested in the outcome.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing Some viewers say the documentary drags in places, breaking the narrative’s momentum.
- Limited scope A few wish the film had explored more of the case or added extra context.
Recommended for
True crime documentary fans People who like social justice stories Viewers who want emotional drama
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe True Story Behind Long Shot (2017): How a Dodger Game Saved an Innocent Man
Long Shot (2017) isn’t your typical crime drama—it’s a gripping documentary that unfolds like a real-life legal thriller. Directed by Jacob LaMendola, the film tells the astonishing story of Juan Catalan, a man wrongfully accused of murder and the bizarre twist of fate that proved his innocence. latestnetflix.com's view is that with a runtime of just 40 minutes, the documentary packs a punch, blending courtroom tension with the unlikely heroics of a Major League Baseball game 
.
The Case That Defied Odds
In 2003, Juan Catalan was arrested for the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla in Los Angeles. Prosecutors built their case on eyewitness testimony and a jailhouse informant, but Catalan maintained his innocence, claiming he was at a Dodgers game with his daughter at the time of the killing. The problem? No one believed him—until a stroke of luck changed everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13RStOdr_Io
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7gdVqZCDGQ
The documentary reveals how Catalan’s legal team uncovered footage from Curb Your Enthusiasm, the HBO comedy starring Larry David. Catalan and his daughter had been extras in an episode filmed at Dodger Stadium on the night of the murder. The show’s raw footage, including outtakes and crowd shots, provided irrefutable proof that Catalan was miles away from the crime scene .
A Legal Battle and a Baseball Miracle
The film dives into the legal labyrinth Catalan faced, including the prosecution’s refusal to accept the Curb Your Enthusiasm footage as evidence. His defense team, led by attorney Todd Melnik, fought for years to have the footage admitted in court. The documentary captures the emotional toll on Catalan’s family, including his sister Alma Oseguera, who stood by him throughout the ordeal .
The climax comes when the footage is finally presented in court, showing Catalan and his daughter at the game—exactly as he’d claimed. The prosecution’s case crumbled, and Catalan was acquitted in 2007. The documentary doesn’t just celebrate the victory; it questions how the justice system could have failed so spectacularly in the first place.
Behind the Scenes: A Documentary Born from a Viral Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIKvCbvbnqM
Long Shot gained attention not just for its incredible true story but for how it was discovered. The case first made headlines in 2007 when Catalan’s exoneration was covered by local media. Nearly a decade later, LaMendola revisited the story, turning it into a tight, suspenseful documentary that feels more like a scripted thriller than a real-life account .
The film’s cast includes Catalan himself, his family, and his legal team, all of whom bring raw, unfiltered emotion to the screen. Larry David, who appears in the documentary, has since joked about his unintentional role in saving Catalan’s life—though the film makes it clear that the real heroes were the lawyers and investigators who refused to give up .
**Why Long Shot Still Resonates**
With a 6.7/10 rating on SensCritique from over 200 votes, Long Shot has earned praise for its straightforward, no-frills storytelling . It’s a reminder of how fragile the justice system can be—and how sometimes, the truth hinges on the most unexpected evidence.
For viewers, the documentary is a rollercoaster of emotions: frustration at the legal system’s failures, relief at Catalan’s exoneration, and awe at the sheer improbability of his alibi. It’s also a testament to the power of persistence, both in and out of the courtroom.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.