True Grit

So the review is a bit late, but this should complete a review for every movie nominated for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards.

Surely everyone knows the original True Grit.  No?  Well, if you don't remember all of the details from the original film, at least most remember John Wayne's performance.  He won his only Oscar for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, the surly, alcoholic, "one-eyed fat man," hired to chase down a murdering fugitive.  It seems that's the only thing I really recalled from the original.  It was John Wayne playing John Wayne (which is still pretty impressive).

That's what sets this film apart from its predecessor.  The current movie isn't just one-note; it draws on the entire cast (Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, Josh Brolin and Hailee Steinfeld) to tell the story.  Coming from the Coen Brothers this eclectic and powerful line-up shouldn't be much of a surprise.

The plot stays the same: Young Mattie Ross's (Steinfeld) father is gunned down by Tom Chaney (Brolin) so she goes in search of help to track down the fugitive and bring retribution.  She hears that Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) is a man of 'true grit,' and she won't be deterred in her pursuit of Cogburn's services.

The Coen Brothers are now in the envious position in Hollywood of being able to hand-pick not only their projects but their cast as well.  They've gone back to the well on this one and brought back Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) and Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men).  Bridges is, of course, great in the role of Cogburn.  He saves the character from forever being remembered only as John Wayne.  The actress who has gotten the most attention, and deservedly so, is Steinfeld.  She's a fast-talking, street smart, young woman who is unintimidated by gun-fire or life on the trail.  One of my favorite scenes in the film was her explaining to a local businessman how she would reclaim a horse by filing a writ of replevin in the local court.

A pleasant surprise in the cast is Matt Damon as the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (pronounced LaBeef).  LaBoeuf is a bit of a dandy and can't help himself from droning about how everything is better in Texas, a habit that the Coen Brothers and Cogburn find nearly as annoying as I do.  Still, LaBoeuf is welcome comedic relief in an otherwise serious film.

While the picture may be considered a Coen Brothers film first (something entirely unique) and a traditional Western second, it still goes to show that good film-makers can make Westerns that are both commercial and critical successes.  I hope others will take note and follow suit.

True Grit is a good film, not the Coen Brothers best (maybe only because it's not one of their original ideas), but still definitely worth the price of admission.  I predict it finishes in third place for Best Picture.

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-  Stuart