Rating of
4/4
Fill your hands you son of a bitch!
The Film Rebel - wrote on 01/02/11
Wow! A remake that actually surpasses the original (at least in my opinion). Then again, it is hard to top a classic John Wayne film such as 1969's True Grit. In fact, this is hardly a remake. This is more of a literal adaptation of the novel by Charles Portis. This is quite possibly the Coen Bros.' best movie since No Country for Old Men and while not reaching the brilliance of their oscar winner its still one of the best films of the holiday season and should surely receive accolades for its screenplay and acting.
The story focuses on young Mattie Ross (an excellent Haillee Steinfeld, in her acting debut). She gets the help of US Marshall Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges, the Dude filling in for the Duke) to catch the murderous Tom Chaney (an underused Josh Brolin) after he shot Ross's father. With the help of sarcastic Texas Ranger LaBeouf (A hilarious Matt Damon), the trio go on a long journey to catch Chaney and bring him to justice.
The screenplay is obviously brilliant. It does an excellent job of mixing both dark comedy and genuine drama. The acting is just as good. All three leads do tremendous jobs and should certainly draw much attention from the academy.
Overall, True Grit is one of the best films of the year and one all should see. Whether your a fan of the Coens or not.
