The new 2010 version of True Grit is out this week, and it has been placed in the hands of pioneering film makers Joel and Ethan Coen. They have given us gems like, No Country for Old Men, Fargo, and O' Brother Where Art Thou. All Oscar nominated or winners.
True Grit of course is a remake of sorts of the 1960's John Wayne western that many think was his best performance as the enigmatic U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Now that role has been reprised by Oscar winner Jeff Bridges. Although this technically is a remake there are many differences in the two movies.
True Grit was a fantastic book written in 1968 and was published in a series by the Saturday Evening Post. But was later issued as a full length novel. The story is timeless as a little girl in the American West hires a broken down US Marshall to track down and the man who killed her father. It's pretty simple. But Charles Portis, the writer of this magnificent story was so skilled as a writer, this story is often referred as the Shakespearean Western. His written dialogue for his characters is second to none.
It's not often that a remake is smarter and more polished than the original, but this is. More times than not the remake is a dumbed down version with more special effects, harsher language, with more bells and whistles to keep interest for the modern movie goer. Not here. True Grit 2010, is straight out of the book, very pure and authentic. Fantastic lines delivered by skilled actors, with a story so good, and characters so well defined you wonder why all movies can't pull this off. Simple. All great movies start with a great story, and this is a great story.
Bridges as Rooster Cogburn is simply great and should have his name in the Oscar race again. Cogburn is a gigantic role. Bridges is getting better with age, after last years Oscar win with Crazy Heart. Again, she shows off his amazing ability to climb so far into the character, you think he may never come out. Matt Damon as LaBoeuf the Texas Ranger is very good and a nice compliment to Bridges. And Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, the 14 year old spunky young girl who hires this group to avenge her fathers death, is quite honestly nothing short of fantastic. You must have a great Mattie to do this movie, as it is told through her eyes. A great supporting cast with Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper too, rounds outs a very good cast.
True Grit will be a real favorite with many this season, although this may miss with the younger set, who may be turned off to westerns or not able to understand the purity of this movie. Many too are used top non-top video game action. That's not True Grit. It is a story first, and second and final.
True Grit. Smarter and more pure the second time around. Great....simply great, one of the years best.
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