Jury begins deliberations in Conrad Murray trial. Thinking fast and slow. KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Wade Major join Larry to review the week’s new film releases, including Tower Heist, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Son of No One, Young Goethe in Love, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey and more. The uncertain financial future of the film industry.
Jury begins deliberations in Conrad Murray trial
Was Michael Jackson the unknowing victim of a greedy, negligent physician who held the pop star’s life in his hands? Or a conflicted drug addict, so fearful of failure and desperate for sleep that he injected himself with a lethal amount of propofol without his doctor’s knowledge? Those are the two pictures painted by the prosecution and defense, respectively, as Conrad Murray's six-week trial nears its end.
In their closing arguments yesterday, the prosecution downplayed Jackson's iconic status and leaned more heavily on his role as a loving father, looking forward to sharing a triumphant comeback with his three children.
By contrast, Murray’s defense team suggested that if not for Jackson’s high profile there would have been no trial. They’ve worked hard to characterize Murray as a caring, competent physician who had his patient’s best interests at heart, and to convince the jury – and the world – that he’s blameless in Jackson’s death.
The fact that Jackson died of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic, which should only be administered in a hospital setting, is undisputed. Was his death the result of gross negligence on Murray’s part, as the prosecution contends? The jury begins deliberations today, and it remains to be seen which story they find more convincing.
WEIGH IN:
How will Michael Jackson fans react when the verdict comes down? Have you been following the trial? Which version of the singer’s death do you believe?
Guests:
Shirley Jahad, KPCC Reporter
Mark Geragos, attorney with Geragos & Geragos. Defended many high profile clients including Michael Jackson himself during his 2005 molestation trial.
Laurie Levenson, Professor of Law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles
Thinking, fast and slow
Why do we decide to do the things we do? In "Thinking, Fast and Slow," author Daniel Kahneman tackles that very question. He examines what he deems our “cognitive blind spots.” Kahneman asks why we make the judgments and choices we do, why we don’t know what we want and what will make us happy.
To answer such reservations, Kahneman outlines a general picture of the human mind by breaking down the two systems that drive the way we think. The first system is impulsive, intuitive, and emotional. The second one is slower, more contemplative and logical.
In his book, Kahneman discusses the faults and biases of quick thinking and the omnipresent influence of intuition on our thoughts and choices. He explains where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He also addresses how overconfidence and optimism drive our capitalistic system.
Overall, Kahneman’s goal is to elaborate on how the two systems function together to shape our judgments and choices. But everyone thinks differently. Some act better on their instincts while others take their time making a decision. So why do we make certain decisions? And then why do we regret? When can we trust an expert? Why do negotiations take so long?
WEIGH IN:
What kind of thinker are you? Have you made better decisions out of impulsiveness or deliberation?
Guest:
Daniel Kahneman, author, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2002)
Daniel Kahneman will speak about his book at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena this Sunday at 2 pm. For event details, click here.
FilmWeek: Tower Heist, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Son of No One, Young Goethe in Love, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey and more
KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Wade Major join Larry to review the week’s new film releases, including Tower Heist, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Son of No One, Young Goethe in Love, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Box Office Magazine
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com
The uncertain financial future of the film industry
Recently, responding to negative pressure from its membership base, Netflix abandoned its plan to split its rent-by-mail and streaming services into two different entities. Meanwhile, Universal Pictures caved to theater exhibitors and agreed not offer “Tower Heist” via a premium-priced streaming service ahead of its theatrical release.
Some of the major studios are exploring a 60-day ban on DVD rentals, hoping to boost sell-through and online viewing purchases, while Blockbuster Express has just doubled the price of some of its kiosk offerings.
With movie houses simultaneously flexing their power and closing their doors, and audiences finding more and more ways to stay home and watch, where’s the money coming from? The industry is trying to adapt to new business models and open up new revenue streams, but none of the plans so far seem to be working.
WEIGH IN:
How will these business decisions affect Hollywood and the filmmaking industry? What other routes for profits are on the horizon? Are the studios losing power to theater chains? How do you like to watch your movies these days?
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Box Office Magazine
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com
Tony Palazzo, Los Angeles Bureau Chief and Entertainment Team Leader for Bloomberg News