True Grit

Second attempt at this post...my laptop is throwing me off the web...
I have to talk again about True Grit, the new version of the classic western with John Wayne.  I talked about it a lot at church last week, and even based my message on themes from the movie, but I have to say a few things more.
I went and saw it a week and a half ago with my dad and mom, and ended up going again to see it yesterday with my dad and son this time.  I probably enjoyed it even more, and was able to look for other thing since I had already seen it before.
The movie shocks you as a Christian from the get-go because it begins with a Scripture passage from Proverbs, followed by a piano rendition of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms as the opening scene comes into focus.  I can't properly describe it, but this opening somewhat reminds me of the opening of The Searchers, my all-time favorite, in the way it so effectively sets the tone and the theme of the movie, all done in a minimalist fashion.
The main character/narrator then describes the scene, including her pronouncement that the only thing that is free in life is the Grace of God.  At this point I couldn't believe this movie was happening.  Much of the story is seen through the lens of Mattie Ross' Christian viewpoint, and follows her morals of true Christian grit.  Once again, I wholeheartedly recommend this movie.

I told our congregation that this movie isn't for young children, because of a little salty language, some hangings, some shootings and a scene that includes a character chopping off another character's fingers then stabbing him.  The beauty of the movie, though, comes through even in that scene, because the dying young man then asks the marshal, Rooster Cogburn, to inform his brother, who is a Methodist circuit rider minister, that he will walk with him on the streets of gold.

The climactic scene of the movie, a rescue in a life-and-death situation, is extremely moving and shows a true transformation of character, a change of heart much like I talk about at church quite often.  The movie is an amazing thing.  The story itself--I want to read the book now--the filmmaking, the acting, the music, it's all amazing.  I will own this one when it comes out on DVD, but unfortunately I won't be able to show it at Drennon due to its saltier content.

This weekend I am going to offer John Wayne a chance at rebuttal.  Last week I had a couple of big John Wayne fans--and I am a HUGE one--tell me there was no way Jeff Bridge could pull off this movie after the Duke had already done it.  Well, Jeff Bridges was in a better movie than John Wayne, in this case.  So...this Sunday I am going to focus on The Searchers and give John Wayne a chance to shine too.