Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with true grit, Reuben J. Rooster Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her grit tested.
This movie captivated and enthralled me. The story was not shot in thegrand cinematic style of the original with John Wayne but was agrittier and more realistic presentation. Jeff Bridges did one of hisfinest performances. Matt Damon delivered the quality we have come toexpect and Glen Campbell was unable to deliver in the original film.Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney was a much improved and almost child likecharacter. Haillee Stanfield did a good job as Maddie; however, KimDarby's performance in the original was different than anything I hadever seen in movies at that time. I believe Darby's performance was aground breaking role for actresses. Still, I felt that the remake wassuperior to the original in many ways until the final scene of thefilm. The original John Wayne version left me happy as it wrapped upthe odds and ends of the story. By jumping ahead a decade or so thefilmmakers took away from the story itself. I liken it to watching adocumentary on the 2004 Red Sox and their breaking of the "Curse of theBambino" and ending the documentary with the White Sox sweeping the RedSox in the first round of the 2005 playoffs. It just wasn't germane tothe story.
I loved this new Coen version - delighting in the script and delivery (literal period prose), finding it absolutely hilarious at times, feeling it is the finest example of the Brother's ironic, dry and skewed humor yet. 14 yr old phenom Hailee Steinfeld is remarkable (and so believable - within this bookish fantasy world), Matt Damon is amazing (subdued and refreshingly out of type-cast), and Jeff Bridges is, well, bizarrely authentic. Besides the script which takes a literarily "authentic" approach, the cinematography is great (and the mostly lack of soundtrack is refreshing). And what about the story? It takes a back seat to all the masterful entertainment going on within. Maybe I'm just easily amused, but I thought it all subtle, great fun and surprisingly, an instant classic worthy of repeat viewings.
The Western. Arguably the single most recognisable genre across thelandscape of all films. The plot, the physical setting and thelarger-than-life, almost cartoonish characters defined Hollywoodblockbusters during the late 1950s and the entire decade following.More recently, the Western has enjoyed a modernised resurgence throughquality films such as 3:10 To Yuma, There Will Be Blood and No CountryFor Old Men, also directed by the Coen brothers.In 1969, John Wayne starred in (and won the Oscar for) True Grit. Over40 years later, the talented directing duo have taken the same materialand moulded it for a contemporary audience, oddly, through closeradherence to Charles Portis' 1968 novel than the original film. Itfollows the efforts of Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager wisebeyond her years, who is intent on bringing to justice the man whokilled her father. To do so, she enlists the help of Matt Damon'supstanding Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (pronounced 'le-beef') and JeffBridges' Rooster Cogburn (awesome name for a cowboy, by the way), arenegade bounty hunter who plays only by his own rules.The ensemble acting is a big positive for this film, with two actorsstanding out among the pack. Bridges is nothing short of a livinglegend at this stage of his career, and the growling, menacing personahe creates for Rooster is even more threatening than what John Waynemanages to do with the character. Hailee Steinfeld astounds, putting inthe most complete, convincing performance I've seen from any childactor for a long time.Perhaps the only factor more impressive than the acting is thespectacular script. With True Grit, the Coens have constructed aflawless depiction of the way people back in 1880 would have conversedwith each other. Because nobody alive today talks that way, thedialogue has a Shakespearean, almost Biblical quality to it that makesit a joy to listen to. And of course, there is the regular injection ofblack humour and strange side characters that make a Coen filminstantly recognisable (wait for the arrival of 'Bear Man', in what isthe most peculiar yet comical scene of the entire movie).Unfortunately, the film is not without its flaws. My biggest concern isthe pacing, which appears off-kilter from the opening scene and nevertruly recovers. Some were quick to praise the way the film opened withthe aftermath of the murder, rather than plodding its way towards thecatalyst for the series of events like the 1969 version. That's fair enough, but from that point the film really slows down, andthe trade-off for such an engaging screenplay turns out to be a lack ofprogressive, fast-paced scenes that really define the plot structure ofthe Western. Put simply, the action: dialogue ratio is similar to thatof Inglourious Basterds. The difference is that that style suitsTarantino, but fails to accommodate this sort of film.There is a moment in the Third Act where Mattie comes face-to-face withher father's killer for the first time, which requires an immensesuspension of disbelief. It feels as if the directors realised theyspent too much time on the journey without offering ample screen timefor the climax, and it results in a swift and lazy introduction of newvillains who don't get nearly enough time to develop their charactersinto the kind that we desperately want to see beaten by the goodies.The conclusion is satisfying enough, but it's followed up by a'twenty-five years later' epilogue that is just plain unnecessary. But ultimately, the acting gold on display coupled with a marvellousscript manages to overshadow the negatives, enough to push this filmfrom a possible six into a just-barely-got-there seven.*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. Sodrop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what youthought of my review.*
I was a kid when I saw John Wayne's "True Grit" in 1969, and yearslatter I got the movie on VHS and DVD. When I heard first time that will be a remake, I said to myself: "Man,I am going to replace my old 1969 Ford Mustang with a new 2010 BMW."Unfortunately after I saw the movie, I'll keep my old Mustang. You knowwhy? It has much soul. SOUL is what this remake doesn't have. Jeff Bridge was, is, and will be, a mediocre actor. Matt Damon, JoshBrolin, and Barry Pepper they are okay, but just didn't fit in theirroles. And not at the end, Hailee Steinfeld role, not even came closerto the play of the original Kim Darby, which (at that time) I wouldgave her at least a nomination for supporting role.
(www.plasticpals.com) The Coen brothers are a wonderful writing anddirecting duo, so despite my general lack of enthusiasm for Westerns Igave True Grit the benefit of the doubt, and I'm glad I did. I've neverseen the 1969 original, but I doubt it would stand up to this modernretelling. Everything from the acting down to the costume design isabout as good as it gets.Jeff Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. Marshal hired by 14-year-oldMattie Ross (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) to find and capture the man whokilled her father. Seemingly wise beyond her years, Steinfeld does afine job of playing the calculating young woman and Bridges embodiesthe drunken old man. It turns out Ross' father's murderer is wanted forcrimes in Texas too, and Matt Damon is in town as LaBeouf, a TexasRanger who is also after him.Against their better judgement, Mattie's tenacity convinces Cogburn andLaBoeuf that she has what it takes to tag along. The ongoing clashbetween Cogbun and LaBeouf, and Mattie's inexhaustible stubbornnessprovide most of the entertainment. There really aren't that many actionscenes, but the film maintains an enjoyable balance of humour andtension throughout. Along the way we're treated to the stark scenicbeauty Westerns are known for.This is easily one of the better films I've seen in the past few years.
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Our contemporary society, debased by greed and corruption, destructionand rape of the environment, and an ever-widening gap between the richand the poor, longs for a reminder of the good old days in the Westwhen men were men, ready at the drop of a hat to draw their guns andshoot each other in the middle of dusty streets. The only problem isthat it wasn't true. According to writer Earl Hunsinger, "The truestory of the Old West is boring. Many western towns had strict gunordinances, making it illegal to carry guns in town. People enteringthe town were required to surrender their firearms to the sheriff."Although there was some violence, it has been blown out of proportionand is much less than we see today. In the latest paean to the Old Westmythology, The Coen Brothers have remade True Grit, the John Waynevehicle from 1969 that earned him his only Oscar for Best Actor.Based on the novel by Charles Portis, True Grit is more even handed andadult than most Hollywood Westerns and there is not that much of a gapbetween the good guys and the bad, though apparently fourteen-year-oldgirls are larger than life. Narrated by the adult Mattie Ross whoreflects on the time when she was fourteen, Mattie (newcomer HaileeSteinfeld) is self-confident and mature beyond her years as she seeksrevenge for the murder of her father at the hands of his employee TomChaney. Chaney has gone free to join a band of outlaws in Indiancountry and she intends to exact revenge. Mattie has come to thevillage to bury her father and to find a lawman to help her track downChaney. She chooses the surly, drunken, one-eyed federal MarshallReuben "Rooster" Cogburn played by Jeff Bridges.He is the one, with his past history of violence, that she thinks has"true grit" and pursues him until he agrees (for a price) to find andkill Chaney (Jeff Brolin) or capture him for a trial and publichanging. With God and Cogburn on her side (the song "Leaning on theEverlasting Arm" is played repeatedly during the film), Mattie is on amission and will not stop until she can see Chaney brought to whatpasses for justice on the frontier. She must first prove how toughminded she is and does so in negotiation with a horse trader (DakinMatthews). Of course, she comes out on top, managing to get what shewants after making a deal for her father's worthless ponies.Before she can convince Cogburn to take her job offer, however, she hasto fend off a Texas Ranger named La Boeuf played by Matt Damon, whoalso wants a piece of Chaney's hide and has been tracking him to takehim back to Texas where he is wanted for killing a State Senator.Though neither Rooster nor LaBoeuf want any interference with theirpursuit, she follows them to Indian country, where there are no Indiansto be seen since they most likely were run off their land by ourGod-given right to trample native populations (not discussed in thefilm). However, Cogburn and LaBoeuf stand amazed as she drives herhorse across a river through sheer will power. The young girl soon getsan education that she doesn't want as they come across a dead manstrung up on a tree and she witnesses Cogburn murder a man at closerange after he chopped off a boy's fingers to prevent him from tellingthe marshal about Chaney's whereabouts.As the two zero in on the villain Chaney, they must confront Lucky NedPepper (Barry Pepper) and the struggle takes on an epic fight forsurvival. Though True Grit is filled with the usual violence (whatwould the story of the West be without it?), the relationship betweenRooster and Mattie becomes one of tenderness and caring. HaileeSteinfeld, in her premier role, is simply wonderful as the steadfast,verbally acute teenager who knows how to stand up for herself in aworld of men. Jeff Bridges also turns in a convincing performance,although we have to sacrifice understanding three quarters of what hehas to say. Regardless of its auditory problems, True Grit is a strongand heartening film that is more straightforward and less quirky thanmost of the Coen Brothers' films, making us eagerly anticipate whatthey have up their sleeve next.
I look forward to Coen Brothers movies but this was something of adisappointment. Beautiful to look at, and with wonderful performancesall round, especially from Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld, this shouldhave been a film to savour, so why the overall negative impression? Theproblem is that the movie is almost entirely a line by line, scene byscene remake of the original, itself no more than an average western.This remake contributes some nice performances but adds nothing ofconsequence, except perhaps for an almost unpleasantly downbeat andunnecessary epilogue. Moreover, the original was played with far morehumour and heart, leaving behind it a pleasant memory, not a bitteraftertaste. I am truly surprised that this movie has attracted so muchcritical acclaim and that it should even be in the running for theAcademy Award for best picture.
I wont bore you with the story, as you can read that in the descriptionabove, so I will make this review short and sweet. If you areinterested in watching this movie, then please watch the originalinstead. John Wayne brings far more character to the role of Reuben(Rooster) Cogburn than the mumbling grumbling incomprehensible versionthat the otherwise wonderful Jeff bridges brings to the role. For someunknown reason they decided to make Bridges dialogue almost impossibleto understand without subtitles, it's as if he had a mouthful ofchewing tobacco the whole way through the film. However, there is oneshining star of this movie, and that is Hailee Steinfeld.
Overall I gave this movie a C although there are some wonderful aspects, mainly the story. But the Coen brother's screenplay and direction is wretchedly unfortunate because they made fine actors speak lines in tediously similar tone and vocal rhythm. It's as though the spirit of the same individual embodies every one of the actors when they speak. With a few exceptions, I hurry to say, for examples Barry Pepper and the actress portraying the adult Maddie (Elizabeth Marvel). In truth the movie is somewhat redeemed in the final 6-8 minutes by the the adult Maddie's effort to bring a decent closure to the Coens' slaughter of Portis' great novel.
Firstly this film isn't for Sunday afternoon western fans. Do notexpect heaps of unrealistic gun fights etc and if that is what you wantthen go elsewhere. This movie is more in line with Unforgiven forexampleTo summarize this is a vengeance movie - girl wants to track down andkill the man that murdered her father and hires the help of alcoholic,loose cannon, bad-ass and bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn to do the job Cogburn is played by Bridges, and it is without doubt the best JeffBridges performance I have ever seen. All cast members are incrediblehere, I hadn't seen Hailee Steinfeld before but she is unreal in thisas Mattie. If only all 14 year old's were this cool! As with other Coen movies the focus is on characters and accents, andthe unusual way that the cast speak provides many opportunities forcomical moments - witness Mattie's negotiations for a stolen horse,four ponies and a saddle. Lot's of laugh out loud spots in the theatreI was in. I especially liked Matt Damon's deliveries and the dudewearing the grizzly bear. There are countless good bits and memorableone liners here *spoiler* A very creative movie, I really liked the surreal backdropsand star-fields at the end of the movie when Bridges has the girl onhorse back and is carrying her The sound, as usual, is absolutely amazing. No bells and whistles, justsolid sound recording and design. Loudness and range are used to reallygood effect with everything accept gunshots occupying a modest volumelevel. So the first gunshot is through the roof and really produces aphysical reaction! Brilliant and economical use of surround as usual.Very sparse use of music, and all kinds of unusual sounds thrown in.Will watch again just to hear it My only regret about this film is that it wasn't longer, and at nearlytwo hours it seemed to go by incredibly quickly. Top marksAgain, action junkies go elsewhere
In my world, the arrival of any film by the estimable Coen brothers is a welcome sight. But I must admit, I was a little surprised when I heard they were taking on a new version of "True Grit." In a sly way, however, it made sense. I have always felt that the 1969 John Wayne film version underserved the subversively comic masterwork by Charles Portis. I thought that perhaps the Coens were, thus, the ideal pair to bring the cynicism, eccentricity and subtle humor of this fine novel (and underrated American classic) to the big screen. The Coens assembled a big-name cast including Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin for this incarnation that manages to be true to both the source novel and the previous film--but isn't really a definitive new vision. However, that said, this "True Grit" is a solidly constructed and very entertaining western that has a lot to recommend it. Unfamiliar with the story? Probably not, but here's a quick run down. Fourteen year old Mattie Ross arrives in town to claim the body of her father who has been gunned down by a notorious outlaw. Local law enforcement seems ineffectual and the culprit (Brolin) has set off into Indian territory to parlay with another band of renegades (led by Pepper). With dogged persistence, Mattie strikes up some financing and hires Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) to track the man down for her. Seems like she's got a little vigilante justice on her mind! But a Texas Ranger (Damon) is also in pursuit and the three form a tenuous, and ever shifting, relationship as they track their prey. To me, the book's greatest asset has to be Mattie Ross--an undeniably unique narrative voice. While the Wayne version features a plucky Kim Darby in the role, the film is largely a vehicle to showcase The Duke. Rooster Cogburn was to become his late career iconic role and the film won him an Oscar. Bridges does well with the cantankerous Cogburn, but the Coens have delivered the film back into the hands of the delightful Mattie Ross. As portrayed by the strong and stoic Hailee Steinfeld, who has deadpan earnestness down to perfection, she is front and central where she belongs. Steinfeld has been receiving some justified accolades as one of this year's finest supporting actresses--but, make no mistake, this is the lead role in every conceivable way. Her interplay with Bridges is a true delight and her relationship with Damon brings surprising depth. All the performances are solid, I especially liked Brolin's small but pivotal role as the catalyst for the entire expedition. The film looks and sounds great. The screenplay is tight and amusing. If anything, the ending seems a bit rushed--it's boom and we're out of here with a flash forward that doesn't really feel cohesive to the rest of the picture. But I had a lot of fun with "True Grit" and think Steinfeld is one to watch. It may not stand as one of the Coens' idiosyncratic masterpieces (to my mind, anyway), but it is certainly a successful and appealing film on every level. KGHarris, 12/10.
My first question is "why" did they remake a John Wayne classic and aJohn Wayne award winning performance. Second, the movie is a flimsyremake. Yes the improvement in the Glen Campbell character was betterbut that was it. The case of the original movie included John Wayne,Robert Duvale, and Kim Darby. You can't get any better than that. Thismovie was truly a bad remake despite the hype. First of all,JohnBridges cannot faithfully portray Rooster Cogburn and now let talkabout Hailee Steinfeld.......she doesn't even touch the performance ofKim Darby and was totally miscast. This whole is just a bad remake andnever should have been made in the first place. I went to it with anopen mind but quickly realized this movie could never live up to theoriginal. I guess all the younger generation who have never watched aJohn Wayne movie will love it because it is a motion picture in adifferent era that allows you to use fowl language in it. But when youcut all that away.....go buy the original or rent it and watch it. Thisdoes not even come close.
This review is from: True Grit (DVD) I love this movie! There is a great story of a character who overcomes an obstacle and it is a feel good story that made me happy that a minority of society can win.
True Grit is often spoken about as a classic. It's John Wayne'sapotheosis, a Western that even people who hate Westerns have oftenseen. It was made in 1969, the year of Easy Rider, Midnight Cowboy andMedium Cool. Those films captured and seemed to be on the side of theturbulence gusting through American society at the time. What made TrueGrit stand out was that it appeared to back authority rather thanrevolution, the rule of law rather than the romantic appeal of outlaws.Westerns haven't gone out of fashion (the likes of 3:10 to Yuma, TheThree Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The Assassination of Jesse Jamesby the Coward Robert Ford are evidence to the contrary), but it's hardnot to approach the film without wondering why the Coen brothers choseto make it. Unfortunately, by its close, that question still hangsthere wholly unanswered.
As a Coen brothers fan, I was thrilled to hear that they were doing afilm adaptation of Charles Portis' novel "True Grit"Âand casting JeffBridges as Rooster Cogburn. Although the novel has been adapted forfilm once already, this version seems to adhere more closely to thespirit of the novel, perhaps because it's not masquerading as a starvehicle. At any rate, this is a classic Western as only the Coenbrothers can do itÂsnappy, witty dialogue, three-dimensionalcharacters, explosive action, and sentiment that is earned rather thanbegged for. The cast is populated with starsÂthe aforementionedBridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry PepperÂbut the movie belongs tothe newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays 14 year-old Mattie Ross with aremarkable blend of genuine righteous vengeance, child-like naiveté,andÂyesÂtrue grit. Despite all the big names in this cast, she's theone who probably has the best shot at an Oscar nomination. The movieitself is entertaining and well done, as just about all Coen brothersfilms are, but it may very well become best remembered as this youngactress' feature film debut.
If a western according to when it was made shows the thoughts andfeelings of its times, True Grit is the ideal western to represent ourdecade of financial crisis and hard times when we rethink our valuesand commitment and determination and courage are going to help morethan ever to choose who will survive. That is what Mattie Ross, Roosterand LaBoeuf are going to show us in this great western that grabs you,specially by the character of Mattie played so masterfully by HaileeSteinfield, a truly deserving Oscar performance.The scene where shebargains will make history. Jeff Bridges is perfect as Rooster,different, but as good as John Wayne and Matt Damon unrecognizable, andgreat as LaBoeuf. Since its beginnings the western always has tried toinnovate, and the beauty of this western is that although it sticks tothe traditions of the genre it definitely brings something new in itsstorytelling.
I am not an English-speaking born person, so I think that is the reasonI didn't understand one word of what Jeff Bridges said in the film. Ihad to go permanently to the subtitles. I don't understand what peopleare crazy about this version. I tried not to compare it with the JohnWayne classic in any scene. But the problem is that it never conquered,my attention was always going out of the film, somewhere else. No actoris outstanding here, there is no beautiful scenery, I terribly miss thetouches of the magnificent Henry Hathaway, I couldn't find anyone-let's not say John Wayne who really deserved the Oscar- close or nearto the fantastic roles as were played by Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall,Jeff Corey, Hank Worden (by the way, anyone could be better than thatawful Kim Darby). Nevertheless, a lot of people has liked this version.I don't know why. I would recommend them to watch the John Wayne filmand then let's talk about it again. As it is, I didn't like the JeffBridges version. I prefer him in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or inStarman. And I prefer Matt Damon as Bourne by far.When John Wayne was doing classics like True Grit, he had a fantasticcompetition from his fellow classic legendary actors like RobertTaylor, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Charlton Heston,Tony Curtis, James Stewart. Now, all of them are gone.The competition for Jeff Bridges today would have to come from StevenSeagal, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, RichardGere, Harrison Ford, Kevin Costner who consistently are giving us thebetter movies of the day. I am sure that in 20 more years from now wewill still be seeing again and again True Grit (1969), Under Siege,Rocky, Rambo, Lethal Weapon, Terminator, Indiana Jones (all of them),Braveheart (1995), Shall We Dance? (2004), The Bodyguard (1992), No WayOut (1987), Dragonfly (2002). I am certain that we will never see againthis True Grit (2010).Mr. Bridges, I like you very much, almost as much as I like your fatherLloyd, but you should do better that this.Respectfully yours always Duke.
Taking on a project like True Grit, the Cohen brothers probably metwith a lot of people questioning their own "grit" to tackle sacredground. Bridges had to be equally questioned to take on the role thatis already considered a pinnacle of a legend, John Wayne. Allmentioned, somehow, some way, pull it off.Everything from the pitch perfect casting, to the cinematography andscore, the Cohen's "True Grit" is a worthy member of the Western genrefamily.Bridges take on the iconic role of Rooster Cogburn shows no signs ofmimicking John Wayne's portrait of the character. Rather, Bridges putshis own spin on the character and like Wayne, delivers a wonderfulperformance. Matt Damon's LeBeouf, is fun to watch. Newcomer HaileeSteinfeld gives a wonderful screen debut, which no doubt will earn herseveral awards nods.The story is simple; young girl hires a down and out marshal to helpher exact revenge upon the man who killed her father. Those unfamiliarwith the original should enjoy this solely on its own merit. Those thatare familiar with and love the original, your memories will not betrampled upon. This is merely another telling, one that doesn't try atany moment to wink at the audience of the first, rather, tries topresent the book, which it is based on, the best way it can.There really isn't much more detail that I can provide that othershaven't already provided. Coming from someone who grew up on JohnWayne, that holds his movies with high-regard, to include the originalTrue Grit, I found this latest telling to be honorable, well done andentertaining.
So, I watched both True Grit films this week, the first being the newversion...The story is good...a girl who's father is killed is determined to findhim and make him pay. She uses her wits and resources to convince anold cranky Marshall to help her while a Texas Lawman is also willing toget the bad guy, but for different reasons...he wants to bring him backto Texas to be hanged...Now...after seeing the film I went "meh"...like I said, good story,everything looks good, the snowfall in particular really pops. As for the performances...well, here we go: Bridges done just finealthough there's really nothing outstanding about him. He plays a drunkold cranky lawman, so picture that..OK, that's it....Matt Damon is oddin this. He's playing it serious one moment, then smirks and acts likehe's in a comedy. He's very mis-cast here. Josh Brolin, well, he's OKfor the few minutes he's on screen, but he speaks so oddly I didn'tknow what he was saying half the time, same as every guy in the filmreally. It was annoying.When it was over the girl did a good job, probably the best of thebunch but the ending was really lame, trying to go for depth andemotion and really it's a standard ending and it didn't leave mefeeling much of anything. Certainly not worth all the nominations andawards, but given them probably because people think the Coen's can dono wrong or something. Overall I wouldn't recommend it. See Tombstoneor The Proposition instead.Oh and as for people saying "It's totally different from theoriginal"...No..even the dialog is the same in a lot of scenes. Theonly differences are in the ending, otherwise it's the same movie.
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