Where Damon is hitting her was really disturbing to me. I don't care if this was a scene in the original, it was just odd feeling and I don't think it needed to be included. This isn't the 50s. Hitting a child is becoming a big tabboo and I don't think it was appropriate. Especially given that she was - what - a teenager or preteen girl. 30 year old men don't go spanking girls in their teens/pre-teens. It's just flat out weird.
I don't write for fun - I write to LIVE!
I see the scene as a feeble attempt to demonstrate his superiority and feel good after Mattie insults him regarding his incompetence in his pursuit of Cheney. But we see ourselves how silly it is and that Mattie is right - throughout the film he is all show and no substance, complaining, making excuses, trying to promote himself, until the ending. It is significant his tongue is torn up since this is his principal weapon. His badge and spurs means nothing in the wild without grit and determination.
shareI see the scene as a feeble attempt to demonstrate his superiority and feel good after Mattie insults him regarding his incompetence in his pursuit of Cheney. But we see ourselves how silly it is and that Mattie is right - throughout the film he is all show and no substance, complaining, making excuses, trying to promote himself, until the ending. It is significant his tongue is torn up since this is his principal weapon. His badge and spurs means nothing in the wild without grit and determination.I can see that your dislike for the scene of him spanking Mattie's little booty has caused you to amnesiatically not remember that LaBoeuf:
Yes, I find the scene historically accurate, but disturbing as well.
He yells, "You will do as the grown-ups say!"
Mattie was
a) a child
b) a girl
who wouldn't shut up, listen, follow orders & be "seen & not heard" like a "good child" of the times.
That does NOT condone it IMO.
In the novel "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood", 1 of the 4 lifelong gal pals acts up in public when she's only 5.
A visiting slimeball grabs her and is about to spank her when a man stops him, saying, "Mister, I think you'd better stop that - that child doesn't belong to you."
IMO, LaBoeuf's actions immediately before & after spanking her butt are even worse.
He yanks her off her horse onto the ground which must have knocked the wind out of her.
And after spanking her, which is bad enough, he grabs a stick and repeatedly whips her leg with it. IRL that would probably sting like a bitch.
That is exactly why kids are so screwed up these days. No consequences and no discipline. People use medication instead.
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