It's not a technique available in cinema, but I immediately thought of the "frustrated choice" mechanic from some games and game books. This is a greyed out dialog choice with some pre-requisite that hasn't been met, whether the requirement is a skill ("[Speech: 80]") or an item ("If you have a rope and would like to climb down the cliff, turn to section 132"). For me, these evoke a common feeling of being able to see an opportunity, but not being able to act on it. Often this is with an emotional prerequisite, which is how it ties back, for me, to your excellent Star Wars analysis. If I was less nervous, I could strike up a conversation. I know breakfast will make the day better, but I don't have the motivation to quite get out of bed. If I was more confident in what I've learned previously, I could jump in to this discussion about audio streaming (or whatever).
Thank you also for the thoughtful critique of The Force Awakens. It resonates for me. It's an echo of A New Hope but it's not the same.
DCam's comments