True Grit (2010) - Review

Its a new year, and I still haven't posted an entry for my choices for the best and worst films of the year. I'm working on one, but unfortunately there are still a few more films from the year I'm hoping to see before I finish the list. In the meantime, here is a review for the Coen Brothers, newest film, True Grit.

True Grit is a Western based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis. The novel's first movie adaptation was released in 1969 and starred John Wayne in his Oscar-winning role. This version bills itself as a more faithful adaptation of the novel and stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld.

True Grit centers around Mattie Ross (Steinfeld), an ambitious 14-year-old girl whose father was murdered by an outlaw named Tom Chaney (Brolin). Bent on revenge, Mattie hires brutal bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to find Chaney and bring him to justice. The two set out on their adventure when they are joined by Mr. LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), a Texas Ranger also on the lookout for Chaney.

Joel and Ethan Coen are a talented duo. With an extensive filmography including films like Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou, and my personal favorite, No Country For Old Men, you can generally expect a good movie when they're attached. With that in mind, the Brothers do a solid job adapting the novel. That being said, while True Grit is far from a bad movie, in some ways it seems like an odd choice for the two. Their films are well known for having intricate stories, complete with deep messages, symbolism, and clever twists. True Grit is arguably their most straightforward film yet. There's little depth behind these characters aside from the typical western cliches. The characters and story are enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but the absence of their trademark storytelling is a bit disappointing. Make no mistake, its not a bad script, but don't go in expecting an in-depth storyline.

True Grit's biggest strength lies in its acting. The film is told from the point of view of the young Mattie Ross. Hailee Steinfeld is definitely the breakthrough performance of the year. It looks like she was enjoying herself in the role, delivering some great lines with memorable gusto and charisma. She's really a blast to watch, and I have no doubt she'll have some great roles offered to her very soon. Next is Matt Damon, giving another great performance to add to his list of good roles. There's not a whole lot to say about Damon that hasn't already been about him a million times... he's a great actor and he does his usual good job.

Next up is Jeff Bridges, an actor whose career has taken off recently. With his Oscar victory last year for 2009's Crazy Heart, Bridges has just been dominating with one great role after the other. He does a good job as Cogburn, even though you may not always understand what he's saying due to his slurred speech. Finally, I have to mention Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney. Brolin isn't on screen for long, but he makes a decent impression with the little screen-time he has. I just have to say this... since the guy is clearly capable of playing a character in a Western, you can't blame him for the disastrous results of his previous movie, Jonah Hex.

Honestly, there really isn't much more I can say about True Grit. Its far from original, but has great performances, good direction, and is a generally well shot and well crafted movie. The script may not be up to the same caliber of the Coens' previous works, but its still an enjoyable story. Its a great movie, but kind of a "by-the-numbers" great movie. Solid filmmaking that's worth watching, but will it be remembered years from now as a classic... probably not.

My Score: 4 out of 5!