Fr. Barron comments on "True Grit" (SPOILERS)

[Lyc360]

If you shoot a guy in the gut ("you broke my short rib") with a Colt 44 Dragoon, he's done. He doesn't get up. It's over!

[efungfai]

Father, I u cant say you r coen brothers fan without being a fan ofthe film Big Lebowski lol. I'd love to hear your comment on tat movie someday; it'll b nice if u could dig out any biblical connection in the film, Im pretty sure there is more meaning in the movie than just a slacker who likes bowling and getting high.

[skittlesareyum48]

Awesomeness! It's amazing all these hidden details that go into movies that people don't catch or aren't made to exactly be known.

[roryscanlon]

thank you for this! I didn't perceive that at all when I saw true grit.

[Lyc360]

Always liked Westerns. High Noon and Shane were my favorites as a kid. I'll have to see this one. I enjoyed your narrative. 

[isaacqk]

But Rooster was in no way a good man alcoholic, murderous, a warrior, pragmatic fatherly motivated maybe but not a good representation of God the Father, by no means.

The movie is not spiritual and it breaks at many points when the meaning is stretched to fit a spiritual paradigm, finding nemo, however is a good movie to fit such a template, the spiritual significance is not stretched too far neither does it really break and fracture at many points unlike this one.

[daszo024]

@MrElyBlack Adding to your point, it's interesting that after Rooster saves Mattie, it seems that he doesn't kill anyone anymore. We don't know for sure that he never killed anyone again, but he definitely undergoes a character change in switching from chasing criminals to joining a roadshow.

[travz21]

This movie has nothing to to with God. Nothing has anything to do with God. But I'm glad you liked the movie.

[Richardofdanbury]

Fr. B.

With all due respect you seem confused God's Justice is not exceeded by His Mercy they are perfectly equal. This is what makes Him God, it's his utter Perfection.

Richard of Danbury

[robblanc]

Brilliant analysis on the arms part, Fr. Barron. Just Brilliant.

[beauceron]

Really excellent points. Very astute, Father.

[wiffybiffy]

Yeah, ok. But you have an invisible friend what looks after you!

[wordonfirevideo]

@wiffybiffy Well he looks after you too, friend.

[binaryg]

Father Barron, this was the best review of True Grit I've seen or read. I love the film and have seen it several times and find it repays repeated viewing.

One line that fascinates me and I think has great meaning to spiritual message of the film is when Maddie says to Cogburn, "He's getting away," and when Rooster asks who she means, she replies "Chaney." I wonder in what sense she thought he was "getting away"? Did she think he was heading for the "streets of glory"?

Have you any thoughts?

[TheBradBranch]

Hey Father, Hope You'll do a video commenting on The Rite with Anthony Hopkins

[megaead69]

Really liked True Grit and thought your commentary was spot on. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Tron which is fulled with spiritual symbolism.Olivia Wilde said that she modeled Joan of Arc for the basis of her character in Tron!

[ConservativeDC]

The tension between the justice and yet the mercy of God has always been in conflict throughout Christian history. Since the middle 20th century, the pendulum has swung far too much toward mercy. This has led toward laxity on the part of the Christian faithful.

The 19th and early 20th centuries perhaps over-emphasized divine justice (which led to the pressure valves of the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy). But it's gotten downright licentious out there.

[raventelevision]

@ConservativeDC I don't think Xian history has always seen them in conflict. Cappadocians in the 5th c. first formulated the Trinitarian doctrine-perichoresis. They were careful to say that the persons did not have conflicting wills; rather emphasized their Oness. Docrtine of appropriation doesn't claim contradiction, but ascribes particularity to the persons.

There have always been "lax" Christians-as John's letter Revelation says. I don't thnk we can blame modern emphasis on mercy for that.

[Keldenbutton]

Get well soon Padre! you sound like you have a cold

[raventelevision]

I love it. Thank you Father. It begs the question about God's justice and mercy. Do they contradict? Does God hold them in tension? If so, how can we hold to monotheism? It seems we would then have either two gods or a schizophrenic god. Or, might God, ultimately thru Jesus, transform the human understanding of justice based on retribution (powerfully revealed in True Grit) to a justice that is based on reconciliation and healing? Oh-True Grit might be a prophetic warning about the former.

[twoplugs]

@raventelevision - The definitions of justice and mercy in Thomistic theology sees no contradiction in God. Wikipedia has a nicely concise summery of the misunderstanding here in there article on the ontological argument, in the section entitled 'problem of incoherence'. (Sorry, youtube wouldn't let me post the address).

[raventelevision]

@twoplugs Thanks for this! I appreciate Aquinas's distinction between God and humans. We shouldn't talk about God in the same way we talk about creation. (Shouldn't speak univocally of God and creation.) Only God is absolute being, while creation participates in being. I suspect this is partly the case b/c the human experience is full of contradictions, whereas there are no contradictions in God. The warning, possibly, is to not project our experience of contradiction onto the Oneness of God.

[DFDalton1962]

The symbolism of the snake pit only registered with me in the Coen's film. In the old film, Mattie falls into the pit, but she hasn't killed Chaney. It is Rooster who kills him. Mattie is shown in the final scene wounded, but with both arms. She also shows signs that her rigid character might be changing. It's a more optimistic ending, implying that Rooster's act of saving her life might actually have softened her heart. Both versions work, but yes the Coen's version is a little deeper.

[pickitupp]

I think I speak for us all: do your John Wayne impression!!!

[ezemdi]

Great critique.  But this is just another example of "we see what we want to see".

[wordonfirevideo]

@ezemdi Well, unless there is something objective to what I'm saying here, it's not really a great critique.

[havock89]

GK Chersterton wrote that the insane are not those who lack rationality, it is that the only thing they have left is rationality.

[thecommentmonster]

Father, you have absolutely outdone yourself

Great job!

[Stitchman3875]

I concur with birddogg62 about you doing a review of Tron Legacy. I saw alot of interesting spiritual themes in that film that I'd like to hear your views on.

[xukeith33]

maybe this brings up an issue with colleges disproportionately promoting "social justice" and the cost of not teaching absolute wrongs.

[MalakhiElohim]

Fr. Barron's film reviews are always insightful.  The Coen Brothers' version of this film sounds engaging.

[CitizenAtheist]

Fantastic review. Well done.

[megaead69]

As always, a very in depth and entertaining movie commentary.. Father Barron, thank you so much for your "Word on Fire" ministry..

[Jugglable]

Fr. Barron, something that doesn't make sense to me about God: How is he just? I heard justice defined as "rendering to each his due." God doesn't do this. Supposedly the wages of sin = death, but God didn't render death to us, but life.

[DarthMambo]

@Jugglable You're assuming that God's justice is immediate and total. Were this the case, we'd all be in big trouble. I can't give a complete answer in such a short space, but please consider:

* Very often the consequences of sin (e.g. adultery) lead to their own punishment (broken homes etc)

* If God's justice was immediate and total - how could anyone ever repent? Delayed judgement is a sign of mercy.

* In a sense death has been rendered to us since we don't enjoy perfect communion with God.

[jswranch]

@DarthMambo

Bravo on your explanation. Let me to expound on one point:

* The justice is coming, be patient. AKA Judgement Day

[clarkbailey1973]

@DarthMambo I don't think the good Father meant that since the justice in the movie was immediate that it is always the case with our heavenly Father. A two hour film cannot contain all the complexities or the depth and nuance of life.

[Nemesis000000]

Off topic question: will you be making a commentary on Sam Harris' new book "The Moral Landscape"? It seems to be something you would have something to say about.

[ammazzamoro]

I am reminded of the Hermeneutic of Rupture.

[PrairiePie23]

LOL. Father Barron and the atheist heckler have something in common; I began my John Wayne imitation from Rooster Kogburn too.

[xtrashed]

I have not heard of this film, once again very insightful Father Barron.

[BIGBobJohn23]

tron soon?

[birddogg62]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on tron.

[SmokiSounds]

Very nice, thank you father Barron! Just saw it a few days ago, very powerful and, indeed, deep.

[empacae]

Awesome! Love the Cohen Brothers films. After I saw your review of A Serious Man I had to see this film, and loved it. And just this past weekend saw the John Wayne version of True Grit, and though meh. But after this review -- spoilers and all -- I so want to see this new True Grit all the more. Love your film critiques Father.

[CarcharodonMeg]

I'm so relieved that you saw and reviewed this film! I kept trying to explain the film's theme of Grace to my friends, but all I got was a bored stare in response, like "why are you talking to me about religion, dude?" Very frustrating!

[DangeloM27]

@CarcharodonMeg doesn't matter you need to keep talking anyway.

[MyMonkVlog]

Very insightful. I too loved this movie, but your thoughts have given it a new depth for me. Thanks.