tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1639046296081313228.post5437707615016855433..comments2024-03-21T07:00:29.129-07:00Comments on basmanroselaw: Basman on True Grit, the 2010 Movieitzik basmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04819878847328122792noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1639046296081313228.post-16659264892016959342011-01-17T09:17:06.457-08:002011-01-17T09:17:06.457-08:00I liked both your and Lainie's takes, and I lo...I liked both your and Lainie's takes, and I loved the movie. But I do see it as a "good vs. evil" story, among other things. Which, these days, is archaic, like its language. (Maybe it always is, a view of the world always a bit unsophisticated and so always out of date, whatever the date -- which may explain something about Mattie's later life.) It's also about justice, which is our attempt to cope with good and evil, and the ambiguous, ragged relationship between law and justice.<br /><br />Anyway, I'd agree with you about "grit" as determination in a righteous cause (as distinct, maybe, from mere bravado or physical courage), but disagree that Mattie is motivated by the crude desire for mere blood revenge, even at the start. I think she does change, in recognizing that appearances can't always tell you who has true grit and who doesn't -- i.e., she grows -- but I don't think Cogburn does. His act at the end is just an aspect of his grit, which is what Mattie saw in him from the first. <br /><br />I should also mention that the movie is often quite funny, sometimes in a laugh-out-loud way, sometimes macabre (e.g., the man in the bear suit, a Coen bros. touch if ever there was one). I loved it (repeating myself).Metamorfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199074976158603981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1639046296081313228.post-5735093181717833892011-01-11T11:59:10.622-08:002011-01-11T11:59:10.622-08:00Lainie said:
One of your best pieces, I think. It...Lainie said:<br /><br />One of your best pieces, I think. It's really nicely written and some of the points are lovely. The concluding paragraph about the loss associated with the "civilized" circus/burlesque theatre was very subtle and beautifully put. I think you have a nice insight about Mattie's transformation - from her initial desire for pure, and potentially ruthless revenge towards a concession that Leboeuf's decency is worthy of her consideration. (Or was that just a desperate move? She had nowhere else to go with Cogburn. The tenderness of the scene makes you think otherwise, but she's a wily negotiator and fully determined to see the plan through.) <br /><br /><br />Still, despite it all, and especially by virtue of your subtle arguments, i still don't see a "good vs evil" story here. Mattie wanted what she wanted. We admire her singleminded, straight-shooting and precocious determination. (But we may see those same traits as a little sad in the older Mattie, who has missed out on some of life's gentler pleasures). Cogburn's sort of a lout, who we like despite all of his failings, both ethical and legal. Leboeuf's a decent fellow, who we mock a little for being too caught up in his own decency and for his associated lack of sharp wit and quick retorts. The bad guys were bandits, alright. But not all the bandits were bad guys (the one who dies in that little hut - stabbed by his "partner in crime" seemed to be a tender soul.) <br /><br /><br />In any case, wonderfully written and a very good piece.itzik basmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04819878847328122792noreply@blogger.com