screening report on scene :)

Screening Report for True Grit

            “True Grit” came out in 2010 as an American Western film written and directed by the Coen Brothers. It comes from a novel written in 1968 by Charles Portis. In 1969 the first version of the movie was released starring the classic John Wayne. In the late version the three main characters are Rooster Cogbum played by Jeff Bridges, Mattie Ross played by Hailie Steinfeld and LaBoeuf played by Matt Damon.

            The scene that I find to be vey important in the movie “True Grit” is near the end, in chapter eight. This is the scene where essentially you see the tenderness that Rooster really has for Mattie by saving her life. The scene starts when Mattie has fallen into a pit and her foot is caught and she is not able to get out. There are snakes all around her and one ends up biting her in the hand. Rooster rushes to the rescue and with his urgency and precise movement you start to see how much he cares for her and that there is truly a soft side in him. Mattie has been bitten in the hand by a deadly snake. The camera zooms in and you see Rooster suck the poison fro Mattie’s hand in an attempt to save her life. He then pulls her out and rides fiercely on Mattie’s horse Blackie; into the night trying to get her to a doctor. During this they show the day turn into night and the camera focuses on the horse trying to go as fast as he can. Eventually the horse collapses and Rooster is forced to shoot it, to put it out of its pain. At this point Mattie is crying but time is running out to save her. Rooster scoops her up like baby and begins to run in order to save her life. The camera then shifts to show the horse dead behind them and the horse getting farther and farther away. Rooster meanwhile is running as fast as he can to save her life. His breaths are heavy and just when you think he’s not going to make it he collapses and shoots his gun off. Then in the distance you see a house and then like a ray of hope a light turns on and you know everything will be okay. The camera then fades out into the next scene.

            I think this scene is really important because you really see a different side of Rooster and how much he cares for Mattie even though he never shows it. The film does a great job showing the intensity that he has to get her help. He never stops, even when he can hardly breathe, trying to get her to a safe place. This scene is really moving along with the different camera techniques of zooming in on certain parts; you really see Roosters character develop and are touched by the tenderness and true concern that he shows for Mattie.