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Title: Let Him Go’s Subversion of Western Tropes Does It Differ from Traditional Westerns
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The movie Let Him Go doesn’t focus on shootouts or property disputes as its main source of conflict.
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A recent Neo-Western film aims to subvert established racist and sexist stereotypes within the genre.
It wasn’t the last time he’d experience such a feeling.
The first film of the DC Extended Universe, where he portrayed Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Superman/Clark Kent. Shared the screen with him was Dean Cain, alongside Diane Lane, a talented actress with multiple Academy Award nominations, best known for her versatility in film roles.
Title: ‘Let Him Go’ Subverts Hollywood’s Western Tropes in Charming, Thought-Provoking Take
Steve Aspling ‘s directorial debut takes on a bold western theme, diverging from the expected tropes of the genre. The movie has received praise for its unexpected storytelling style in a narrative that unfolds at the point of no return, raising an interesting question: What happens when trauma interrupts the life of a western family?
The Thanksgiving dinner gets a devastating start when George and Margaret’s son, James, passes away after being thrown from his horse and tragically suffering a broken neck.
James is survived by his wife Lorna and their infant son Jimmy, as well as other loved ones. Lorna later marries Donnie Weboy to improve her son’s life, although initially, Margaret approves of the relationship in her grandson’s interest. However, after realizing that Donnie is being physically and verbally abusive to both Lorna and Jimmy, Margaret steps in and convinces George to intervene to rescue their grandson when the family goes missing. Upon finding Lorna, George and Margaret discover that she and Jimmy have been living with Donnie’s family, who have a notorious reputation for violence in their community in North Dakota.
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Margaret and George struggle with deciding what is right when it comes to their grandson, who represents the last living connection to their son. In the process, they become ineffectual in trying to make things right for him.
Here’s the paraphrased text:
Margaret and George, a middle-class couple with traditional values, look like civilized people in comparison to the rough-around-the-edges Weboys, who reject authority and live outside the law by using a “shoot first, think later” philosophy. However, due to the local police’s ties to the troublesome Weboys, Margaret and George have no choice but to secure Jimmy’s rescue based on their own ingenuity and resourcefulness.
The plot of Let Him Go doesn’t focus on violent confrontations or disputes over land ownership to create tension and conflict.
A fire that George sets outdoors spreads to the house, engulfing it in flames.
Earlier, the Weboys accused the Blackledges of their secret meetings with Lorna at her workplace, pushing her hands in a confrontational manner. The situation escalated when Lorna’s fiancée, George, was forcefully slapped by one of them, intentionally misleading Lorna into thinking that he would be disciplined due to supposed abuse against his wife and stepson.
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The movie shows a prolonged and intense act of violence against one of its characters, forcing viewers to overlook the sudden escalation of tension between the two feuding families. This contest of anger and bitterness is not driven by a dispute over land, a common but worn-out theme often seen in Westerns.
The film barely mentions the words “kidnapping” and “abduction” – it was clearly what occurred to Jimmy because Lorna’s lack of authority. But Margaret feels a tremendous sense of pressure because the film shows scenes of abuse and violence committed by the Weboys, as well as the law’s intimidation by the family to convey their menace.
The Western film genre is getting a fresh reboot: one that challenges racist and sexist conventions that have long persisted in the style.
It’s understated in how it delves into the concepts of family and the lengths people will go to shield their loved ones. There’s nothing showy about its approach, which lets the standout performances and the occasional moments of violence elevate its straightforwardness to an impressive scale.
Booboo Stewart portrays a young Native American character named Peter Dragswolf, a key figure that Margaret and George encounter on their journey. Peter’s story is not a main focus, but his feelings of isolation and sorrow convey the difficult circumstances many Native American communities endured during that era. However, his depiction is not entirely nuanced; he largely serves as a symbol of what Margaret and George are missing since their child’s passing and functions as a both a literal and spiritual guide for the couple.
Margaret is a down-to-earth person guided by her natural instincts as a mother and her capacity to understand and feel for others. George takes a more reserved approach to his grandson’s situation, highlighting Margaret’s imperfections as a flawed character. Margaret’s shortcomings stem from the outdated and often criticized societal pressures of the 1960s that would be difficult to endure even now.
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Lorna found herself in a desperate situation with no obvious way out, and she felt compelled to enter it in order to secure a father figure for her child by way of a new marriage arrangement.
The movie may not be dull and monotonous. Instead, the film’s intensity is fueled by a gradual buildup of suspense that reaches a critical point. Lane and Costner’s characters are the ones who drive the plot forward, displaying unwavering dedication that keeps the story engaging against the backdrop of a breathtaking American countryside.
You can now stream Let Him Go on Prime Video.
Let Him Go
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