Another one of those documentaries that will make you sigh and say, in a disappointed tone, "oh America...." 🙄
It lacked some real impact until its final act, which focused on how the court's sentences would impact the documentary's subjects; that part was truly devastating and depressing.
Before that, it did feel like it was killing time in parts- I liked the core idea of their screenplay development being a bit of a narrative to follow, but I don't think it really made the most use of this concept in the end.
Some crimes are detailed, some are more briefly discussed, so it might have been better to get a tiny bit more info in a few instances. Still, it had a lot more background and crime info than last year's Oscar-nominated Time, and also unlike that documentary, it did feature an interview with a victim in order to gain their perspective (only one, though. And only for a couple of minutes at that. So it was another great idea that was unfortunately a bit half baked).
This documentary has its problems for sure, but ultimately it does a pretty good job at exposing one insane part of America's justice system, and provides a (mostly) sympathetic look at a few juvenile offenders who, while they committed awful crimes, now have to potentially face an adult life in prison.
This feels wrong, even if the crimes were heinous. They need help, and arguably deserve some punishment, but the life sentences seem excessive, and this film does a solid job at arguing this position.
