True Grit

This film is impeccable. This is not a fair review for me to write. As far as I’m concerned the Coen brothers can do no wrong. And as far as I know, it’s only the second time the Coen brothers have ever adapted anything (I might be wrong but I don’t care enough to check that fact). The other time was for “No Country for Old Men,” which is what you might call a neo-western if you are an obsessive genre film nerd. Now they have returned to the western, but this time taking on the classic form by remaking an old John Wayne picture, “True Grit.”

“True Grit” is the story of a young girl trying to get revenge on the man who killed her father, and she enlists the help of an old U.S. marshal. Could there possibly be any doubt within your mind that this movie would look incredible? If so, then for shame on you. While it deals in muted tones, everything about the look of the film is outstanding. Jeff Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn, and while many people have criticized his mumble-some dialogue, I think it was a brilliant performance and never once had trouble understanding him. The story is so rich. The Coen’s took a classic and made it relevant again. The screenwriting is phenomenal, the wit and essence of their words is as inspired as always. All the acting was terrific, especially the young girl Hailee Steinfeld. Even Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper, who appear for maybe ten minutes, deliver incredible performances. Some people will tell you that the movie is boring, but I disagree. It has intention and purposeful pacing. The other great thing about the film is the score, which harkens back to old westerns from the good old days.

Well, I’m sure you’ve had enough of me sucking the Coen brothers’ dicks with my review. I will say that it is not they’re best movie, and it is not as good as “No Country for Old Men.” But when the caliber of film making is so impossibly high, it is still light years beyond most of the movies that came out this year. I never saw the original “True Grit,” but I dare say there is just no way it’s better than this movie.