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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.063  (2010), PG-13 [Hard PG-13*] (1hr 45min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, Scott Rudin Productions, Mike Zoss Productions Distribution (US): Paramount Home Entertainment Director(s): Ethan and Joel Cohen Producer(s): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, David Ellison, Megan Ellison, Robert Graf, Scott Rudin, Paul Schwake, Steven Spielberg Screenplay by: Ethan and Joel Cohen Novel: Charles Portis Cinematography/Camera: Roger Deakins Music: Carter Burwell Film Editing: Ethan and Joel Coen Casting: Ellen Chenoweth Production Design: Jess Gonchor Art Direction: Stefan Dechant Viewed on 2011 Paramount Home Entertainment DVD  With a final score of 59 the overall content or the magnitude of the content of this film is indeed PG-13 equivalent, a hard PG-13 but PG-13 equivalent nonetheless. However, as revealed by the Wanton Violence/Crime (W) investigation area, the violence content of this film is certainly R-equivalent. It is advisable, however, that if even one of the investigation areas finds enough content to earn a R-equivalent area score, the entire film should be considered R-equivalent since the "PG-13" and less severe parts cannot be viewed without viewing the "R parts" as well. Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfield) is after Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who killed her father for two California gold pieces. With a vengeance [Rom. 12:19] Mattie will not give up. Ever. After leaving home and travelling to Fort Smith to collect her father's things and settle his estate, 14 year old Mattie hires US Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) for $50 to help her track Chaney into the Choctaw Nation. As plans evolve Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) gets drawn into the fray. I have not seen the original True Grit of 1969 with John Wayne so I do not know how true this remake is to the original. I may view the original just to prepare a comparative to see how content has changed but that is of low priority for now. It may be interesting, though. Interesting if not to see the changes in content then to see how Bridges emulates The Duke (John Wayne). And how Steinfield (who was 14 years old in the remake) emulates Darby (who was 22 years old in the original). Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Some very graphic killing is portrayed in this film. Some very graphic aggression injuries are portrayed as well. Mattie has to cut down a decaying dead man after his hanging. A triple hanging is portrayed ... graphically. A man's fingers get sliced off and is stabbed. Another man is shot in the face and we are treated to the artistry of the trauma moulage experts. Gun battles with deaths abound. While many of us feel violence is sometimes "necessary" or "deserved", God does not share our grasp of violence. He warns us that violence is "catching." [Prov. 16:29] Even man has chimed in on God's Wisdom and revealed that "viewing violence may lead to real life violence." Impudence/Hate (I) - 71 out of 100 Seven times someone speaks a word of profanity [Col. 3:8] which is atypically infrequent for a PG-13 film. And a couple lies stole a few more points from the starting 100 points in this investigation area. Sexual Immorality (S) - 94 out of 100 The only demonstration of behavior that is applicable to this investigation area was the "spanking" LaBoeuf gave Mattie. An adult male has no business slapping the buttocks of a 14 year old girl. I will put in a plug for the writers: that not once did any of the bad guys (or anyone else) utter one ounce of innuendo about anything sexual or any inference about anything sexual with a 14 year old girl. Good job, Ethan and Joel Cohen! Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 52 out of 100 Cogburn is a drunk. And it is not hidden throughout the film. Drinking and drunkenness appear a few times. Smoking appears a couple times as well. Twice Mattie rolls a cigarette for Cogburn. Offense to God (O) - 49 out of 100 One of Cogburn's "favorite" expressions, was God's name in vain with the four letter expletive. Five times. In fact, he is the only one who used that expression. God makes no distinction between abuse of His name with or without the four letter expletive. God warns that He will hold accountable all those who abuse His name. He even made a Commandment about abuse of His name. But do we listen? Do we not care that He spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there? [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 90 out of 100 There was one murder, a stabbing murder that did not kill the victim immediately but rather suffered a lingering death. While there were many additional killings portrayed throughout this film, each was one of those kill-or-be-killed killings and could not thus be called murder. All the kill-or-be-killed killings were incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime investigation area. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 71 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 94 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 52 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 49 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 90 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |