Culture

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon. (4/5).

On the surface, this is the simple story of 14 year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) trying to bring her father’s killer to justice. However, as in many westerns, there are deeper undertows that give this film clout. The story comes from a Charles Portis novel and was adapted for the screen by the Coen brothers.
 
Ross, who’s cute as a button but sharp as a razor, hires the hardest marshal she can find; Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a man with “true grit.” I wet myself when I was told that the Coens were getting back into bed with Bridges, and wet myself again when I saw Bridges as Rooster. The term “true grit” doesn’t seem to capture what he brings to the screen. With his one piercing drunken eye, Rooster deals out justice with a loose trigger finger. As strong as his performance is, however, he leaves room for Steinfeld to shine. Maaatt Daaamon as LeBoeuf was saved by the fact that he was flanked by two outstanding performances.
 
In True Grit we see another engaging Coen western; however, this time around they embodied a more classic Hollywood style. This worked for the most part but I found a couple of shots to have a cheesy, overdone feel. This made sense when the credits rolled up; Steven Spielberg was the executive producer.
 
You can also expect the sadistic mix of comedy and misanthropy which has become associated with the brothers. At the end of the day, although perhaps not as monumental as one may have hoped, True Grit is a film made by two of the most accomplished contemporary directors around, so expect their usual brilliance.