I promised earlier that I would pen my thoughts about the movie True Grit (which I enjoyed). I have seen both the old version and the new. Both have their merit but what makes the new different is that it breaks out of the typical western genre. Here the modern version, while a period piece, uses the western as a modern exploration of virtue and morality in a seemingly cruel and unforgiving universe.
My suspicion is that the Coen's are relying on their Jewish upbringing to use their craft as a dialogue about the nature of life. The movie, rather than feeling overtly nihilistic (as some charged that No Country For Old Men was), actually is getting us to explore morality. Hence, you have Mattie who has religious leanings and a deep sense of conviction about justice (and Matt Damon's character as a noble Texas Ranger) juxtaposed against the morally ambiguous Rooster Cogburn. He's neither completely virtuous nor completely vicious. This is the stage that the Coen's use to explore virtue in this life much like a young man would ask a Rabbi about the moral nature of the universe. While it might be unsettling because it's not black and white (like the old westerns), it leaves us with great questions to explore.
What makes up a person who is truly heroic?
Is God's grace really free? It seems like everything else in life is "deserved".
is revenge ever justified? Under what circumstances?
When it's all said and done, what role does religion have in our lives? In particular, what is the point of the old hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" at the end?
I'm keeping it short here because a friend of mine posted this article from the NY Times written by Stanley Fish. I thought I should share it with you because it contains some wonderful thoughts. If you have the time take a read!
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/narrative-and-the-grace-of-god-the-new-true-grit/
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