Analysis: “True Grit” (Part 1: Structure)
In order to learn the craft of screenwriting, you must immerse yourself in movies. One of the best things you can do in that regard is analyze the movies you watch. I like to view them through four ‘lenses’: Structure, Character, Dialogue, Theme.
As an example, I’m going to analyze the Coen brothers’ remake of the movie True Grit in a 4-part series this week. Today: Structure.
SPOILER ALERT: Major plot points reviewed here so if you haven’t seen the movie yet, do not read this post!
Note: All page references are to a version of the script which may be downloaded here at myPDFscripts.com.
ACT ONE
The Opening (1–8): The circumstances of Mattie’s father’s death and determining she has to hire a Marshal to seek out Chaney.
The Hook (16–25): After seeing Cogburn testify as a witness in a court case, Mattie tries to hire him to go search for Chaney. He declines.
The Lock (35–39): After meeting LeBouef and rejecting the idea of going in together with him in pursuing Chaney, Mattie persists and gets Cogburn to agree to hunt down her father’s killer.
ACT TWO
Deconstruction Test (42–45):Discovering Cogburn has left her behind, Mattie follows him — crossing the river on horseback — and she, Cogburn, and LeBouef start out together to find Chaney.
Transition (P. 54–58): They come across a hanging man and Mattie has to climb the tree to cut him down. It is a portent of things to come.
Reconstruction Test (P. 62–70): The confrontation with Quincy and Rooster where Mattie is an active part of the plan.
All Is Lost (P. 90–94): Cogburn bows out of the hunt and LeBouef heads back to Texas, then Mattie gets taken hostage by Chaney and Lucky Ned’s gang.
ACT THREE
On The Offensive (P. 100–104): LeBouef knocks out Chaney and Cogburn battles Lucky Ned’s Gang.
Final Struggle (P. 106–114):Chaney wakes up and knocks out LeBouef, but Mattie shoots and kills him. However she falls down a cavern, stuck with her leg broken, then bit by a rattlesnake. Cogburn carries her for miles to safety.
Denouement (P. 115–118): The resolution of Mattie, Cogburn, and LeBouef.
True Grit is a classic example of The Hero’s Journey as summarized here by Joseph Campbell:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”
Here are the three movements of The Hero’s Journey compared to True Grit:
* Departure: Mattie leaves her home (Ordinary World) in a quest to gain revenge for her father’s murder.
* Initiation: Mattie enters the New World, experiencing numerous challenges and transformational events.
* Return: Mattie comes back home a changed and empowered person.
Campbell asserted the central theme of The Hero’s Journey is metamorphosis. Mattie does go through a metamorphosis as a result of what she experiences on her journey with Cogburn and LeBouef, but is an example of how stories can take traditional narrative forms and spin them in unusual and interesting ways.
We will go into that and the story’s character archetypes in Part 2 of my analysis tomorrow.
Note: The ten major plotline points laid out above are just one aspect of the Narrative Throughline approach we use at Screenwriting Master Class. I will be teaching it again as part of a 4-week Core I: Structure and Concept course from February 28-March 27, 2011. For more information, go here.
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