Film Review: True Grit

I recently watched the original 1969 version of True Grit, which is led by John Wayne’s Academy Award winning performance as Rooster Cogburn; it is a charming classic Western film. Many people questioned and criticized the Coen brothers’ decision to make a new one. Critics saw a remake as wholly unnecessary and worried that the 2010 movie could tarnish the legacy of the “Duke’s” classic. However, the Coen brothers did more than just honor the original film, they have created a spellbinding, visually impressive, and at times sentimental modern re-telling of the Charles Portis novel; in addition, their version is more representative of the book than the original 1969 film. The remake features Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, and Matt Damon who perform admirably in the film. True Grit may be one of the last movies to be released in 2010 but it is certainly not the least; in fact, it is one of the more entertaining and better-made films of the year.

True Grit is a somewhat light-hearted, old-school revenge tale set in the late nineteenth century American West. It follows fourteen year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) on her mission to avenge her father’s murder. She hires the “meanest” U.S. Marshal Rueben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a man of “true grit,” to hunt down her father’s murderer Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), a vagrant who had fled into Indian Territory. Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) joins the party in search of Chaney for other reasons, including Chaney’s murder of a Texas state senator. On their journey, the trio learns that Chaney is riding with “Lucky” Ned Pepper’s (Barry Pepper) criminal gang. Along the way, though, the group has its troubles with personality clashes and diverging interests. Ross is headstrong in her pursuit of Chaney, but her stubborn resolve connects with the oft-drunk and tough-skinned Cogburn; they seem to have a relationship built on mutual respect despite each other’s obvious flaws. The story is as much about finding and bringing Chaney to justice as it is about how the three lead characters interact.

Quality performances help to enhance the Coen brothers’ remake. Bridges is an actor on fire lately coming off his Oscar from Crazy Heart and gives Cogburn both the brutality and humanity necessary for the role. However, Bridges is nowhere near the celebrity Wayne was by the time he appeared in True Grit, but that is a good thing; his portrayal of Cogburn is grittier (pun intended) and less grandiose. Nonetheless, he salutes and honors the Duke’s performance and mannerisms in the film. Damon’s LaBoeuf appears at first to be a man with little grit but eventually proves why he is an enforcer of the law and a man of true grit as well. Damon seemed to be a slight miscast in the preview, but in reality he is a suitable choice for the relatively inexperienced and brash Texas Ranger. Furthermore, he provides or brings about much of the comedic moments in the film. Steinfeld, though, excels in her role as young Mattie Ross; her breakthrough performance ranks up there with fellow young starlet Jennifer Lawrence’s one in Winter’s Bone. Steinfeld not only holds her own with Bridges, Damon, and others in the film, but also gives what ought to be an award-nominating performance. She outshines Kim Darby’s delightful performance as Mattie in the original with a much more passionate approach. Brolin brings more depth to the surprisingly small role of Chaney; he gives the character more menace yet retains his dim-witted nature. Finally, Barry Pepper’s resemblance to Robert Duvall is almost uncanny in the film; he does a fine job as “Lucky” Ned Pepper. The film’s cast makes the most of its opportunity to pay homage to the classic original film and yet makes it their own with strong performances.

Co-writer-directors and auteurs Joel and Ethan Coen reinterpretation of the Portis novel is remarkable. They justified the decision to remake the 1969 movie because they wanted a stricter adaptation to the book. I have not read it and cannot comment too much on the accuracy of the Coen brothers’ adaptation. Apart from the drastically different ending, the differences between the original film and its remake are pretty minor and deal more with mood and the characters than plot changes. In the end, though, the Coen brothers’ version appears to be the more definitive take on the novel.

The 2010 True Grit is definitely a Coen brothers’ production; the source material’s sardonic dialogue fits well with their style. They are able to play with dark humor in the film, but show some restraint in comparison to their other works like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Miller’s Crossing, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, and No Country for Old Men. Furthermore, the Coen brothers could have easily made an R-rated film, and True Grit may feel like it at times, but they chose not to overindulge in the violence. Still, its impact in the film is noticeable; take the cabin scene with Moon and Quincy for example. Their version of the story is much more graphic and suspenseful, probably thanks to the fact that it was released in 2010 and not 1969 and filmmaking methods have evolved. Even though I had seen the original film, moments in this one still gripped me, such as the snake-pit scene. Also, the new film’s pace is a little tighter with fewer scenes that seem to wander from the plot; however, the first act may make many viewers tune out, as it is a generally slow slog. Regardless, the Coen brothers’ personal touches help to make their True Grit the better of the two films.

The rich production aspects could complete a triad of spectaculars featured in this film (the others being performances and direction). Roger Deakins teamed up with the Coen brothers once again to help make this film; his cinematography is absolutely breathtaking at times. Personal favorites include any scene involving snow, and the race to the doctor crosscut montage in the third act is a work of art. The art direction, production design, costume, and all other efforts into making the set look and feel like a genuine old-West towns or wilderness paid off in a big way; their efforts are practically seamless. And while the film’s score is ineligible for an Oscar due to too much unoriginal content, the music is no less great than some of the other best soundtracks of the year. Simply said, True Grit’s production is of the highest quality and boosts entertainment value.

However, some have been disappointed in the film because the Coen brothers actually held back from their typical heavier-handed approach. They see it only as a genre exploration and not redefinition that the Coens seem to do so well. On top of that, many fans or viewers of the original may feel underwhelmed by the remake. For instance, because I knew what happens in certain moments and what the upcoming scenes reveal, some of the thrill and “wow” factor was missing from my experience watching the film; still, they are able to provide a fresh, energized version. No one can really deny that the Coen brothers’ True Grit is high-caliber modern filmmaking, but it does not quite transcend the very good but not perfect source material and Western genre nor does it resonate emotionally as much as it maybe could have done. It just does not seem to be a timeless classic, perhaps because of the existence and endurance of the original. Even though the new version is better made than the 1969 movie and will still be remembered and highly regarded in years to come, it is missing some inexplicable element that makes a film a masterpiece. Nevertheless, the Coen brothers have crafted a viscerally and emotionally satisfying film.

The Coen brothers have managed to breathe life into the dead-horse genre that is the American Western with their version of True Grit. Only a few American Westerns have stood out since the early nineties and Clint Eastwood’s classic 1992 (anti-) Western Unforgiven, such as the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men and P.T. Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. Perhaps a rebirth of American Westerns shall ensue; let us hope that they are made with such care and talent as this one. Wonderful performances, confident direction, outstanding production and the poignant story help to make the Coen brothers’ True Grit a top film of the year.

True Grit – 9/10