Journal Entry 7

I have found a few critics online that talk about the movie. However, besides the documentary there is little that is spoken about from the Appalachian perspective. I think the majority of criticism is spoken, not directly on social media. I think that many people are torn between what the writer wanted to come from the release of the movie and the actions of the characters throughout the movie. I think that the most controversial scene in the movie is the rap scene. “Squeal like a pig” has been the notorious phrase that has brought significant attention to the movie, the most being negative of course. However, I think that there is more to the movie than the negative depictions of people living in the Appalachian region. It is the struggle between nature and man, which is interestingly enough noted by one critic we covered in class today. Burt Reynolds talks about “the game” throughout the movie. This game that he speaks of is the prominent focus that the writer wishes the harp on. People are making a great deal of controversy about the writers way he choses to show this game and the struggles the characters go through. I don’t believe he wants all of the attention to be directed on the actions of the characters but the underlying message. Yes, he may have gone overboard with the justification of his particular message, which in turn has given the film a bad rep. However, he does accurately show the struggle between man and nature and “the game”.