True Grit (2011)

Director: Joel & Ethan Coen

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Dakin Matthews

Date: February 2011

Plot: 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. by Jim Beaver

Trailer - True Grit

Review: I had high expectations going into this film as the first movie based on this book (True Grit, 1969 starring John Wayne) was very very good. Thankfully the Coen brothers were able to produce a good film that can stand apart from the original as its own. Since this is not a direct remake it is unfair to compare it like one, both films are adaptations from the same book but both are quite different.

With most of the Best Picture Nominees in the Oscars this year, there is a lot of hype behind the movie and this is no different. Yes True Grit is a good film, I am not a big western fan but I did enjoy the film but reading some reviews I am led to believe that this is supposed to be the best film of the past decade, which its not.

Hailee Steinfeld is very good, she puts on a very believable performance as the no-nonsense, hard talking 14 year old Mattie Ross, at times you are rooting for her and others you want to slap her, but that's the character and it is portrayed well. Hailee is definitely one to look out for in the future, fingers crossed she doesn't go down the Rom-Com road!

Jeff Bridges is fantastic, there is no other word for it! Stellar performance in a role that almost seems like it was written for him. He is gruff, likable and a kind of anti-hero that we all love. It really is a huge toss up between him and Colin Firth for Best Actor at this years Oscars!

Matt Damon is a bit of a let down for me, and it is through no fault of his own. I think it was just bad casting! He is not weathered/aged enough to be in a western. As a comparison, Daniel Craig is only 2 years older but looks like he fits in the western environment in the upcoming Cowboys and Aliens. Also, that moustache is just comical! Performance wise, Damon does his best and holds his own in scenes with Bridges and Brolin but I think he should stick to the more clean-cut action movies.

Overall the film was a good watch and is definitely one you should see in the cinema because I feel it will be a long time before you see another good out and out western on the big screen!
A deserving 8 out 10 from me.