I was thrilled to discover that this is a Western about a remarkably strong 14-year-old girl (it's Anne of Green Gables meets Western, really). Mattie, with U.S. Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, and Texas Ranger, Mr. LaBoeuf, form an unlikely posse to track Mattie's father's murderer.
I thoroughly enjoyed the film and covered my eyes a lot (chopped off fingers?!!). I do have a couple of objections: a) they don't really use contractions in the film--I'm not sure if people in the "olden days" used contractions or not, and the diction level was high and beautiful, but less than perfectly believable. At one point Rooster accuses Mr. LaBoeuf of overflowing the shores of English (because he uses a Latin word).
b) Sigh. Mattie is a remarkable character--unbelievably determined, intelligent and capable. She gets what she wants; that is clear (although she sometimes, like all of the other characters, needs to be rescued). The problem is the ending: we cut to her at 39, a confirmed old maid. Really, just because a woman is remarkable and can run with the men and cares about justice (she reminds me of Antigone in this way), she doesn't get married?! Not that the film needed to end with a romance, but did it really have to declare her an old maid? It actually doesn't ring true to her childhood character--a child who forms close, caring relationships with the people she's around; a child who is loyal.
Also, noteworthy: during the closing credits, I was shocked and delighted to hear Iris Dement, a country/folk musician I love, singing "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms."
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1 comment:
In the original film, with John Wayne, Mattie and Rooster have a romance, which was a change from the original novel. This film more accurately reflects the novel.
It did bother me that she said LaBoeuf was nearing 70. That just doesn't make sense.
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