If you have a soft spot for good westerns, then “True Grit” is a must-see. Cowboy country prevails with the story of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, (Hailee Steinfeld), who is seeking to avenge the death of her father somewhere in Chocktaw
If you have a soft spot for good westerns, then “True Grit” is a must-see. Cowboy country prevails with the story of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, (Hailee Steinfeld), who is seeking to avenge the death of her father somewhere in Chocktaw Territory.
Based on the 1968 novel, “True Grit” is a Coen brother’s take on the Charles Portis classic that was adapted for the original 1969 film starring John Wayne and directed by Henry Hathaway.
From the opening scene it’s clear that despite the fact that Ross is young enough to don braided pigtails, she is older than her years. From the film’s onset we see her make headway negotiating over stolen horses of her dead father. She hires U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn, (Jeff Bridges) to find Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), her father’s killer.
Steinfeld is impressive and powerful in her role. The intelligence, quick wit and tenacity of Ross prove to aide her during the journey she makes with Cogburn and LeBoef, a Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) who is also on the hunt for Chaney because of a Texas murder he is also responsible for.
Bridges is one of the film’s highlights as an eye patch-wearing sharp shooter whose cigarette smoking, whiskey drinking voice demands viewers to pay close attention in case he slurs along the way. Bridges provides a convincing performance throughout the film. (It is no wonder that the movie is up for two Golden Globes.) The movie offers many moments of laughter as he and Damon argue with one another from time to time in a one-upping, macho kind of way.
Damon shows that LeBoef is not only a brave Texas Ranger who looks great in a thick mustache and chaps, but is able to rival Ross’s intelligence when he utters a Latin word that she then defines for Cogburn, who is a bit flabbergasted by it all.
Damon, Steinfeld and Bridges have a natural presence together on the big screen and stand equal to one another’s acting abilities throughout the movie. While Brolin’s appearance in the film is minor, he distinguishes himself well as an outlaw with little mercy for the pigtailed young woman he meets across a river while he is watering the horses.
In addition to the quick-witted dialogue, winter scenery of open country, big skies and magical-looking snowfall invoke the desire to camp under starry skies around a campfire. Cinematographer Roger Deakins offers dynamic views as viewers get a true sense of the austere images of winter in the southwest coupled with the vast, prairie and rocky outcroppings.
Even during a downpour of rain when LeBoef, Cogburn and Ross are seeking shelter beneath cloth tarps, not a word of complaint is made by the girl — yet another testament to her character’s ability to show strength and endurance.
A comedic tone throughout the film is refreshing and keeps things lively amid the seriousness of brandishing pistols, rifles and knives for a bounty hunt in unknown lands.
Steinfeld is able to stand her own in a film cast with seasoned and award-winning actors. The dialect of her character’s home in Arkansas rolls off her tongue easily with a convincing fluidity. Hands down, this young woman is going places and casts no doubt about her abilities as an actress.
Teenagers and mature adults alike can aspire to have the strength of Mattie Ross and the true grit of Rooster Cogburn.
