True Grit Film Analysis

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The western world of the United States experienced a great amount of attention during the second half of the nineteenth century. This period, commonly referred to as the Wild West, was the time in which cowboys represented the area. This period, however, was also the time in which excessive crime and violence characterized the area. With the opportunities to start farms and ranches and mine precious metals, thousands of Americans on the east coast began to move west. As a result, numerous small towns quickly erupted across the western states. However, many of these small towns lacked a proper legal system. Additionally, many outsiders who visited these towns proved to be thieves, pickpockets, and other various forms of criminals, further pushing …show more content…
For instance, Mattie witnessing a public hanging of three criminals in Fort Smith is actually a common sight during the time. In fact, Isaac Parker, the district judge of Arkansas from 1875 to 1896, once ordered the hanging of six people simultaneously. He would go on to be known as the hanging judge, ordering the execution of 160 people. Likewise, Mattie having to bring justice upon her own hands was common as well. Many towns in the west were primarily started due to the search of gold and silver, meaning the legal systems there were rather underdeveloped. In order to deal with crime, many of these small towns resorted to using a vigilante system. Furthermore, the stage sets and character attire are all designed to match the actual time period. Surprisingly, there are not too many cases of director’s liberty. The only major issue would be the characters’ dialogue. It would have been common for the people of the time to talk informally with the constant use of contractions, so people with Mattie’s command of the language were quite rare. Nevertheless, the film allows students and all audience members to experience the dangerous jobs of deputies as well as the criminal court systems. For some things, it is simply better to watch than read. The film, True Grit, brilliantly takes its audience through the journey of Mattie Ross. There was simply so much going on in the background that it was near impossible to not stay glued to the movie. The camera angles, lighting, acting, and scenery all worked harmoniously to make the film both interesting and enjoyable to watch. Furthermore, the character development was stupendous as well. The hammock sleeper, horse riding Cogburn and arrogant, lone wolf LaBoeuf both learn to admire the determined attitude of Mattie. Additionally, it is quite difficult to not fall in love with the main cast at the end of

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