"True Grit" Review

There are many films out there that were big hits in their day, but have been more or less forgotten by modern casual audiences, and sometimes even whole genres have disappeared from the cinemas they once dominated. The most mourned of these genres would have to be the western. Sure, some of the classics are still well-regarded and mainstream even today- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly; How the West Was Won; The Magnificent Seven; A Fistful of Dollars- and it'd be hyperbole to say that no westerns whatsoever have been made in the past thirty years, but as a whole, a brand new western film is not going to bring in audiences like it once would.

Well, if there's anyone who could bring back a dead genre, it'd be Joel and Ethan Coen, writers-producers-directors of some of the most acclaimed films of the modern era, such as Raising Arizona, Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and No Country For Old Men. In True Grit (based on a novel by Charles Portis, previously adapted in 1969 starring John Wayne), all of the typical traits of a western film are present, but in true Joel n' Ethan style, new tricks are employed to endear them to a modern audience.

14-year-old Mattie Ross' father has been murdered by the criminal Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who then stole his horse and two gold pieces. Chaney's a wanted man, but not for killing Mr. Ross; the Texas Rangers are after him for a prior murder. Mattie would not be satisfied if Chaney were to be punished for another crime, so she hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a drunken US Marshall with questionable morality, to help her find Chaney, along with the gang he is riding with, the gang of Lucky Ned Pepper (Barry Pepper). All the while, they simultaneously assist and compete with Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Matt Damon).

Hailee Steinfeld is excellent as Mattie, a headstrong, independent young girl who refuses to take sh*t from anybody, not even authoritative figures like La Boeuf or Cogburn; one of the most enjoyable scenes in the film is early on, where Mattie negotiates with a horse merchant over the horses and ponies her father kept, slowly turning the deal ever more in her favor and showcasing her clever thinking. I think we can expect great things from Ms. Steinfeld.

As always, Jeff Bridges gives his all, disappearing completely into Rooster Cogburn, with a fantastically gruff Southern accent. He may have just won a gold man last year, but if another Best Actor nom isn't in his future, the Academy will have some 'splaining to do. I'm not familiar with John Wayne's version of Cogburn, but Bridges' version has the feeling of a rougher, more rugged Duke. He is infinitely likable, friendly enough but rude and rugged, and when the action gets intense, he's dead serious. Damon, as La Boeuf, is similarly heroic, but far less fascinating than Bridges, behaving a bit more like the archetype Cowboy Hero.

The lead villains, Chaney (Josh Brolin) and Lucky Ned (Barry Pepper) aren't given much to do, only appearing in person in the last 20 minutes, but they make the most of their roles, both being nasty, intimidating criminals- the kind you'd just love to sock in the face if you had the nerve.

As you'd expect from the Coens, the script is clever and well-written, with more than a few bits of snarky dialogue ("Congratulations, you've graduated from marauder to wet-nurse!") and some great dramatic scenes, too. The action, refreshing for today's age, is never up-close, made up of a lot of wide shots, so you always get a good look at everyone who's in the field of battle.

Knowing the Academy's intense love for the Coens, True Grit is a shoo-in for some Oscars, and let me tell you, it had better win a few. Yippie-Ki-Yay, it's

Awesome!