i be look at the external review ( ebert and etc . ) for this film and they be all pretty much negative . however and after read many of them and i notice that they all make the same point . critic be upset that the film center around what appear to be a senseless murder of an autistic child . certainly and this be a disturbing image . critic like ebert want a traditional detective story that uncovers why the killing happen and squarely place blame on the guilty . they want blame to be cast and resolve . well and that status quo theme be kind of what the movie be parody . just like society and the critic want a very quick resolution so they could move on to their next tragic opera . perhaps there be no simple question to be answer here . there be a whole lot more to what happen then what be on the surface . the film do not seek to rationalize what happen and but rather understand the why . what also steam me so much about these inane review be that all they look at in the way of performance be spacey and cheadle and who be both great ( and generally be ) . but there be other great performance at work here other than just the two current icon of hollywood . gosling give an incredible performance that really only somebody of his extreme talent could deliver . somehow and gosling be able to make the killer of an autistic child sympathetic . this irritate many and i be sure . however and if one watch the film and they see what leeland motivation be and it be wrong and but it be not evil . malone be also on top of her game a yet another confused young character . basically and the killing of the child in this film be not the main theme of the movie . the main theme be life itself and how people go about deal with it and the high and low and and how they attempt to sometimes help others deal with their life ( which do not seem to work out very well ) . there be a lot of good and bad in this world and how we handle each have direct impact on how much more good and bad will take place and and sometimes a confused attempt at do good and can lead to a whole bunch more of bad . i think this be one of the more memorable film in sometime and have an end that be as touching a anything in recent movie history . i strongly believe people should view this film and with an open mind .