It's addressed in the movie: the kid couldn't afford a lawyer, and the state-appointed counsel didn't bother to do much to help him.

It's addressed in the movie: the kid couldn't afford a lawyer, and the state-appointed counsel didn't bother to do much to help him.

To be honest, only the last of your assertions is really a compelling one.  The rest fit an easy enough narrative that (I think) is clearly hinted at in the film:

To be honest, only the last of your assertions is really a compelling one.  The rest fit an easy enough narrative that (I think) is clearly hinted at in the film:

Oh, I'm not making demands for complexity: I liked The Avengers quite a bit, and that's about as superficial (and fun) as it gets.  The problem, I think, is that Nolan is making pretensions of complexity when there's no there there.   Lots of big speeches.  Lots.

Oh, I'm not making demands for complexity: I liked The Avengers quite a bit, and that's about as superficial (and fun) as it gets.  The problem, I think, is that Nolan is making pretensions of complexity when there's no there there.   Lots of big speeches.  Lots.

Mostly agree, but I remember a famous story from Martin Landau about his big scene in Tucker: the first few takes, he blubbered his way through it - and it's supposed to be a heartbreaking moment, so fine - but he was embarrassed when he saw himself in the dailies.  So he redid the scene internalizing all the grief…

Mostly agree, but I remember a famous story from Martin Landau about his big scene in Tucker: the first few takes, he blubbered his way through it - and it's supposed to be a heartbreaking moment, so fine - but he was embarrassed when he saw himself in the dailies.  So he redid the scene internalizing all the grief…

That may be the case, but I don't think it's a successful iteration here.  As an example, I'm struck by Noel's observation that one issue in the film is the recognition that "the line between leadership and demagoguery is thin".  They definitely reference that theme in the movie, but is that really an issue?  Is there…

That may be the case, but I don't think it's a successful iteration here.  As an example, I'm struck by Noel's observation that one issue in the film is the recognition that "the line between leadership and demagoguery is thin".  They definitely reference that theme in the movie, but is that really an issue?  Is there…

I dunno, I have a hard time being bothered by this.  It's so common for off-season fisherman and off-duty police officers to go out into the marshes to kill nutria - and for local media to find some way to manage it by doing fun/stupid stuff like hosting nutria-cooking contests - that the idea of watching for tv…

I dunno, I have a hard time being bothered by this.  It's so common for off-season fisherman and off-duty police officers to go out into the marshes to kill nutria - and for local media to find some way to manage it by doing fun/stupid stuff like hosting nutria-cooking contests - that the idea of watching for tv…

Beautiful in such an odd way, though.  I love it, but has there ever been a weirder-looking Western?  It reminds me of the Star Trek episode set in the faux-Old West ("Spectre of the Gun"), where the sets are clearly alien and just wrong enough to be surreal.  The visuals in Johnny Guitar are so wrong they comes full…

Beautiful in such an odd way, though.  I love it, but has there ever been a weirder-looking Western?  It reminds me of the Star Trek episode set in the faux-Old West ("Spectre of the Gun"), where the sets are clearly alien and just wrong enough to be surreal.  The visuals in Johnny Guitar are so wrong they comes full…

Christopher Nolan has indicated in interviews that he was more interested in merely referencing the world of today than in making a statement about it. The Dark Knight Rises has a fairly complex view of heroism and symbolism.

Christopher Nolan has indicated in interviews that he was more interested in merely referencing the world of today than in making a statement about it. The Dark Knight Rises has a fairly complex view of heroism and symbolism.

Yeah, Storytelling's the role I remember her best from.

Yeah, Storytelling's the role I remember her best from.

That is a great description.

That is a great description.