Written by Lane Comeaux
The Coen brothers’ “True Grit” is a remarkable film, and very different from the four-decade-old original, in which John Wayne portrayed the mean Marshal Rooster Cogburn as a hero with a few rough edges. Jeff Bridges Cogburn is the classic anti-hero, a lovable rough guy who has a few heroic qualities. Bridges is convincing and envelops himself in the role throughout, and Matt Damon, as uppity Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, is more than up to par.However, it is 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, trying her hand at her first big-screen role, who steals the show. She portrays her character as vengeful and hard- nosed, but still a child. Funny and charming, Ross is the focus of the movie throughout, as she and the Ranger and Marshal saddle up to chase down a band of killers.The Coens decided to base their remake more on the book, written by Arkansas native Charles Portis, instead of the original movie. (In the 2010 version of “True Grit,” Ross is in almost every scene and her voice-overs add a sense of intimacy and insight.)Compelling scenes of Ross facing down an unethical horse trader and charging across a roaring river atop a horse are quite memorable. Steinfeld obtained the part of Ross through a nationwide casting that saw nearly 6,000 actresses audition.Her recent Academy Award nomination is made more amazing by the fact that Steinfeld is a relatively inexperienced actress, with her previous work coming through small roles on television and a few commercials. Many in and around the film industry were concerned about Steinfeld’s ability to share the screen with a well-known, extremely talented cast, but those fears were laid to rest in the opening scenes.I wholeheartedly recommend seeing this movie, regardless of whether you are traditionally a fan of the Western genre or the Coen brothers’ previous films. “True Grit,” as evidenced by the 10 Academy Award nominations it has received in the last week, is perhaps the best film of the year.Witty dialogue, superb acting, twists and turns in the plot and excellent commentary on human nature make this film worth your money.
