Christopher Nolan is the guest this week on the Scriptnotes podcast, as John August talks to him about

experimentation, subjectivity and adaptation as they take an in-depth look at his screenplay, Oppenheimer.

They explore Chris’ writing process, how to make non-linear structures work, finding the story in real-life events, being kinetic on the page, the importance of embracing editing, and why theme can be a tricky thing.

I assume I need not mention that the estimable Mr. Nolan is responsible for such movies as Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Dunkirk, and of course, his latest, Oppenheimer. I didn’t think so.

Meanwhile, there is an excellent three part documentary about the murder of Carol Stuart in 1989 called Murder in Boston: Roots, Rage & Reckoning.

I remember this case vividly and was surprised that it happened so long ago.

It began when a 911 call was placed by her husband Charles who stated that a Black man had hijacked their car then shot both Carol and him. Carol and her unborn fetus were killed and Charles was seriously wounded, but his description of the attacker was so generic, it could have fit just about any Black man.

The reaction of the city, which had a long history of ugly racism, was predictable. From the mayor and the the police commissioner on down to the predominantly white male, Irish Catholic police force, the Black neighborhoods were terrorized until they had a suspect, any suspect would do as long as he was Black. Three months later the brother of Charles came forward to reveal that Charles had killed his wife himself; a day later Charles committed suicide. 

This new documentary describes the events, puts them into historic context, and is well worth your time. I couldn’t stop watching it even as it revealed many details that I had forgotten or had never known.