MovieChat Forums > Leaves of Grass (2010) Discussion > crossbow at the end (spoilers)

crossbow at the end (spoilers)

posted 13 years ago by vickmankw07
6 replies | jump to latest

billy getting shot at the end with the crossbow was completely unnecessary, it did not add to the film but actually, after the death of his brother, sort of trivialized the emotional experience of the funeral only shortly before

overall- there was just something missing in this film- ed norton's performance(s) was solid but the secondary characters were not very developed and the orthodontist's motive for even going to see them was sketchy at best

i would give this film a 5.5-6/10

opinions....

K Dizzle Dubs

[–] MasterBrock 13 years ago

Three Pronged Attack on why it makes sense:
1) If you're familiar with Greek Tragedies and Comedies it fits the confines of their basic plots. The rampant classicism and philosophy Billy spews had a purpose and the entire film followed the basic formula of plays such as Oedipus - you know hubris, catharsis and all that jazz. His being shot with a crossbow was indicative of the catharsis for his arrogance and running away from his heritage. His survival is a twist that echoes back the sentiment of the student from the begin that she "prefers" a comedy. Which is a great explanation of why he lives and learns in a relatively somber happy ending.

2) Its symbolic and ironic. Symbolic of his heritage coming back to him and killing the fake life he created for himself. He instead is dragged back to heritage and given the chance to find true happiness with Kerri Russell's character. The crossbow was already identified as something those crazy Okies frequently use and is ironically the exact tale of death that lured him back in the first place. He was almost murdered trying to make a drug deal by being shot by a crossbow.

3) Walt Whitman and Cicada poem. Russell's character argues there is no rules to poetry just as there are to life. Passion and randomness can have as much beauty as a a world filled with rhyme and meter (structure). His old life was the structured poetry he espoused while, his heritage represented the more simple unbounded world of Whitman. A cicada notoriously sheds its entire skin leaving behind a shell of its old life. The crossbow incident was his shell shed. The moment his old shell of a life ended and his new life began.

Makes sense. Definitely not one of the gaps of the movie. It was poetic and strongly tied in. Would be pretty easy to write a college essay on the ending alone.

[–] SerpentMage 13 years ago

BINGO...

I watch lots and lots of movies. And I hate predictability, and I hate in your face. Ok, well not hate. I like it at times. Its like wine, you don't drink Bordeaux all the time.

I think your comments made excellent sense and the symbolism was very nice. I rather enjoyed this film. I also appreciated the fake blood scenes. You would expect rather dramatic drawn out blood to be more realistic. Instead it is more of what you would expect of a Broadway play. Symbolism of the act, with you trying to get a deeper understanding of why.

[–] jackscoloncancer 13 years ago

I love your response, and it makes sense.
My simple reasoning involves Bolger. In the car, he says he wishes he had repaid Brady for saving his life in prison. Later, the doctor tells him that his actions saved Bill's life. I thought the point was Bolger was able to repay Brady by saving Bill. That's what I thought at the end of the film, anyway.

Back off man, I'm a scientist.

[–] megatosspot 13 years ago

And Brady had lured him back with a story of having been murdered by crossbow.

[–] Psadaa 13 years ago

Saying a spoiler and then doing the(spoiler) doesn't do *beep*

[–] bing-57 12 years ago

> the orthodontist's motive for even going to see them was sketchy at best

Pay attention. He's a Jew and his motive was money. He never got around to his obvious motive of blackmailing them; the shooting started before he could say it.

He was desperate for money to keep his practice afloat and, as we heard earlier in the movie, Jews are willing to do things that other people won't if there's money in it.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?