Written by: Corey Wackel
In recent years, Hollywood has gotten the idea that remaking nearly every movie is a great idea. The lack of original, new ideas is almost sickening and just when I’ve labeled just about every rehash a cinematic disaster, “True Grit” comes along and gives me some kind of hope.
The film is a remake of the 1969 Western directed by Henry Hathaway. The original starred John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, in what would become his only Oscar-winning performance. The interesting thing is that the film is considered by most movie reviewers to be a lesser entry to Wayne’s resume. At the time of the Oscar win, Wayne’s health was beginning to decline, and many argue that the award was a last minute effort to acknowledge the career of a true legend. Filling the shoes of Wayne in this reinvention is Jeff Bridges, an Oscar winner last year for his work in “Crazy Heart.” Behind the camera this time around are Joel and Ethan Coen, the directing team who previously directed Bridges in the cult classic “The Big Lebowski.”
What largely makes “True Grit” work is its ability to tell us a familiar story from a different angle. The original film largely focused on the character of Rooster Cogburn, probably because Hollywood studios at the time knew Wayne’s star power would draw people to the theaters. The 1968 novel by Charles Portis, upon which both films are based, actually focuses on the character of Mattie Ross, portrayed by Kim Darby in the 1969 version and by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in the remake. The Coen’s decision to move Ross to the center of the story is what makes the film work. The story, after all, builds around Ross’ decision to hire someone who can track down the man who shot and killed her father. That man turns out to be Cogburn, a United States Marshal who shows ‘true grit.’
The performances in “True Grit” are some of the best from 2010. Bridges reinvents Cogburn, bringing both humor and tragedy to the character. As secondary as the character may be, Bridges crafts another astonishing performance, showing the audience that he is one of the finest actors working today. He has come to be someone we can always expect a great performance from. The real stand out of “True Grit,” however, is Steinfeld. The fourteen year old actress seems like a seasoned actress so it’s surprising to see that “True Grit” is her first feature film. In a year filled with great performances, she stands with them all. Her Mattie Ross is a strong character and Steinfeld takes the audience us on a journey by showing the character’s growth throughout the film. Personally, I cannot wait to see more from this actress, who’s basically guaranteed an Oscar nomination for her work here. Matt Damon and Josh Brolin show up in the film as well, although their characters didn’t seem to be as developed. Damon less so, who provides humor to the often brutal film. Brolin’s acting abilities, however, seem to be squandered. His character shows up in the last twenty minutes of the film and seems to have little depth. Any possible complaints I have of the film would probably be because of his character.
The Coens’ direction is really what drives “True Grit,” however. Since their feature film debut in 1984 with “Blood Simple,” the Coen brothers have established themselves as the finest directors working in film. No director has presented such a wide array of films, and since their debut the Coens brothers have been nominated for an astounding ten Academy Awards, winning four. The duo started by writing original material and they have a unique writing style. Their views of an ultimately bleak world are always brought to life with wit and a surprising real-life resonance. In 2007, “No Country for Old Men” became the first adaptation for the brothers. Up until that point they had only written original works, the most notable being 1996’s “Fargo.” The success of that picture, combined with that of “True Grit,” shows that the Coens produce adaptations that match their work written directly for the screen. “True Grit” also follows “No Country for Old Men” in that both were in the western vein, with “True Grit” becoming the Coens’ first real ‘genre-film.’ The Coen brothers use every one of the filmmaking abilities to create something fairly original, however. The western is a hard genre to add anything new to, and most directors won’t even touch the seemingly outdated genre. Lucky for audiences, the Coens have done just that, creating the best western since Clint Eastwood’s 1992 masterpiece “Unforgiven.”
Final Comment: Joel and Ethan Coen continue their streak of masterpieces, producing a truly great film. Jeff Bridges show us, once again, his incredible acting talent, but it is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld who will truly blow you away.
Rating: 9/10
Written by: Tim Luisi
In what is rapidly becoming a fantastic year for film, True Grit, the latest from directors Joel and Ethan Coen, clearly stands as one of the best that 2010 has to offer. While it contains all of the customary humor, violence, and story elements of a typical Coen brothers film (indeed, if such a thing exists), True Grit hardly ever feels like a movie that could have come from their hands. For the first time in a long time, it never seems as if the brothers hate their characters, but rather hold quite an admiration for them. Indeed, Hailee Stanfield's Maddie Ross, a fourteen-year-old girl who is looking for her father's killer is the most genuine hero in one of their films since Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Here is a character with an extremely straight moral compass; wanting only one thing: justice for her father's death. And yet, even with this character things are not as clear cut as you might expect. For all of her strivings for morality there is still violence in her; a desire for blood. And while the reasons behind it are possibly justified, as in every Coen film, the path of violence can lead to only one thing: devastation.It is in this ambiguity that Maddie Ross as well as Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) display that the Coen's find their rhythm, delivering a love song to the old western, but still exploring all the themes that we have become accustomed to seeing in their works. Although this is the warmest and most emotional film that they have yet made, exploring the tenderness that exists between Maddie, Rooster and LeBeouf (Matt Damon), in the end it as full of inventiveness and excitement as any other Coen film. In lesser hands this film could have been ordinary, but with the Coens in charge, this familiar tale somehow becomes authentic and new.
While some of the best scenes in the film owe quite a debt to the 1969 original, such as the climatic fight scene first made famous by John Wayne, the Coens manage to sprinkle in just enough of their own quirky humor as well as fashioning the ending to more match their worldview to succeed in making this stand well enough on its own. In other words, this is a film that while paying tribute to its predecessor and honoring that style of filmmaking, manages to become its own creation. It is apparent although not necessarily obvious on the surface that the filmmakers had something of their own to say in addition to their love of the genre. Rather than just the surface-level adventure that it could have been, it like the rest of the Coen's oeuvre looks at the wildness of man, using Maddie as a lens with which to observe him. There are in the film, three symbols of manhood: the wild but well-meaning Cogburn, the principled LaBeouf and the villain who killed Maddie's father, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). It is up to Maddie as well as the audience to decide which is the most desirable.
In addition to the Coen's musings, this does work quite exquisitely as a western extravaganza. The action scenes are intense, the pace far improved compared to the plodding original and the humor dead on. The performances across the board are excellent, although the two leading performances from Stanfield and Bridges shine brighter still. Stanfield is a revelation here: at all times poised, clearly showing every intended emotion and bringing a charisma to the role that suggests a bright future for the young actress. She is funny and yet heartfelt, giving a very relatable turn, creating one of the most memorable characters of the year. Just as unforgettable is Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, a turn that unlike Wayne's is filled with a great deal of subtleties and layers. Although it is easy to look at his broadest strokes, where he more resembles Captain Jack Sparrow than the Duke, in his more intimate moments he is just as fascinating to watch. Indeed, the combination of Jeff Bridges working alongside the Coen brothers is now two for two: like The Dude, Cogburn is a cherished creation that will live on for a long time to come. While Wayne won an Oscar for the original film, Bridges delivers a performance that would be far more deserving of one: intense, hilarious, and unwavering.
While this is a fun movie, it is also a beautiful one, filled with the most gorgeous images and some of the most touching moments of any film this year. While part of me wonders if this film is necessary, much of it being familiar thanks the to the 1969 film, most of me doesn't care. The Coen's continue to show with this film why they are the greatest filmmakers of all time. It doesn't matter what genre they decide to try their hand at. Each of their films is a unique and immeasurably rewarding experience that makes you want nothing more than to watch another. Not all of their films are perfect; True Grit isn't, having some issues with a few of the side characters being a little too stereotypical as well as perhaps borrowing one or two too many scenes from past films. But, the majority of the characters are rich, the themes within more so. Since No Country for Old Men the brothers have been on an incredible hot streak, with no other directors even coming close to touching them.
After True Grit they're still rolling.
Final Rating: 9/10
In recent years, Hollywood has gotten the idea that remaking nearly every movie is a great idea. The lack of original, new ideas is almost sickening and just when I’ve labeled just about every rehash a cinematic disaster, “True Grit” comes along and gives me some kind of hope.
The film is a remake of the 1969 Western directed by Henry Hathaway. The original starred John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, in what would become his only Oscar-winning performance. The interesting thing is that the film is considered by most movie reviewers to be a lesser entry to Wayne’s resume. At the time of the Oscar win, Wayne’s health was beginning to decline, and many argue that the award was a last minute effort to acknowledge the career of a true legend. Filling the shoes of Wayne in this reinvention is Jeff Bridges, an Oscar winner last year for his work in “Crazy Heart.” Behind the camera this time around are Joel and Ethan Coen, the directing team who previously directed Bridges in the cult classic “The Big Lebowski.”
What largely makes “True Grit” work is its ability to tell us a familiar story from a different angle. The original film largely focused on the character of Rooster Cogburn, probably because Hollywood studios at the time knew Wayne’s star power would draw people to the theaters. The 1968 novel by Charles Portis, upon which both films are based, actually focuses on the character of Mattie Ross, portrayed by Kim Darby in the 1969 version and by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in the remake. The Coen’s decision to move Ross to the center of the story is what makes the film work. The story, after all, builds around Ross’ decision to hire someone who can track down the man who shot and killed her father. That man turns out to be Cogburn, a United States Marshal who shows ‘true grit.’
The performances in “True Grit” are some of the best from 2010. Bridges reinvents Cogburn, bringing both humor and tragedy to the character. As secondary as the character may be, Bridges crafts another astonishing performance, showing the audience that he is one of the finest actors working today. He has come to be someone we can always expect a great performance from. The real stand out of “True Grit,” however, is Steinfeld. The fourteen year old actress seems like a seasoned actress so it’s surprising to see that “True Grit” is her first feature film. In a year filled with great performances, she stands with them all. Her Mattie Ross is a strong character and Steinfeld takes the audience us on a journey by showing the character’s growth throughout the film. Personally, I cannot wait to see more from this actress, who’s basically guaranteed an Oscar nomination for her work here. Matt Damon and Josh Brolin show up in the film as well, although their characters didn’t seem to be as developed. Damon less so, who provides humor to the often brutal film. Brolin’s acting abilities, however, seem to be squandered. His character shows up in the last twenty minutes of the film and seems to have little depth. Any possible complaints I have of the film would probably be because of his character.
The Coens’ direction is really what drives “True Grit,” however. Since their feature film debut in 1984 with “Blood Simple,” the Coen brothers have established themselves as the finest directors working in film. No director has presented such a wide array of films, and since their debut the Coens brothers have been nominated for an astounding ten Academy Awards, winning four. The duo started by writing original material and they have a unique writing style. Their views of an ultimately bleak world are always brought to life with wit and a surprising real-life resonance. In 2007, “No Country for Old Men” became the first adaptation for the brothers. Up until that point they had only written original works, the most notable being 1996’s “Fargo.” The success of that picture, combined with that of “True Grit,” shows that the Coens produce adaptations that match their work written directly for the screen. “True Grit” also follows “No Country for Old Men” in that both were in the western vein, with “True Grit” becoming the Coens’ first real ‘genre-film.’ The Coen brothers use every one of the filmmaking abilities to create something fairly original, however. The western is a hard genre to add anything new to, and most directors won’t even touch the seemingly outdated genre. Lucky for audiences, the Coens have done just that, creating the best western since Clint Eastwood’s 1992 masterpiece “Unforgiven.”
Final Comment: Joel and Ethan Coen continue their streak of masterpieces, producing a truly great film. Jeff Bridges show us, once again, his incredible acting talent, but it is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld who will truly blow you away.
Rating: 9/10
Written by: Tim Luisi
In what is rapidly becoming a fantastic year for film, True Grit, the latest from directors Joel and Ethan Coen, clearly stands as one of the best that 2010 has to offer. While it contains all of the customary humor, violence, and story elements of a typical Coen brothers film (indeed, if such a thing exists), True Grit hardly ever feels like a movie that could have come from their hands. For the first time in a long time, it never seems as if the brothers hate their characters, but rather hold quite an admiration for them. Indeed, Hailee Stanfield's Maddie Ross, a fourteen-year-old girl who is looking for her father's killer is the most genuine hero in one of their films since Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Here is a character with an extremely straight moral compass; wanting only one thing: justice for her father's death. And yet, even with this character things are not as clear cut as you might expect. For all of her strivings for morality there is still violence in her; a desire for blood. And while the reasons behind it are possibly justified, as in every Coen film, the path of violence can lead to only one thing: devastation.It is in this ambiguity that Maddie Ross as well as Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) display that the Coen's find their rhythm, delivering a love song to the old western, but still exploring all the themes that we have become accustomed to seeing in their works. Although this is the warmest and most emotional film that they have yet made, exploring the tenderness that exists between Maddie, Rooster and LeBeouf (Matt Damon), in the end it as full of inventiveness and excitement as any other Coen film. In lesser hands this film could have been ordinary, but with the Coens in charge, this familiar tale somehow becomes authentic and new.
While some of the best scenes in the film owe quite a debt to the 1969 original, such as the climatic fight scene first made famous by John Wayne, the Coens manage to sprinkle in just enough of their own quirky humor as well as fashioning the ending to more match their worldview to succeed in making this stand well enough on its own. In other words, this is a film that while paying tribute to its predecessor and honoring that style of filmmaking, manages to become its own creation. It is apparent although not necessarily obvious on the surface that the filmmakers had something of their own to say in addition to their love of the genre. Rather than just the surface-level adventure that it could have been, it like the rest of the Coen's oeuvre looks at the wildness of man, using Maddie as a lens with which to observe him. There are in the film, three symbols of manhood: the wild but well-meaning Cogburn, the principled LaBeouf and the villain who killed Maddie's father, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). It is up to Maddie as well as the audience to decide which is the most desirable.
In addition to the Coen's musings, this does work quite exquisitely as a western extravaganza. The action scenes are intense, the pace far improved compared to the plodding original and the humor dead on. The performances across the board are excellent, although the two leading performances from Stanfield and Bridges shine brighter still. Stanfield is a revelation here: at all times poised, clearly showing every intended emotion and bringing a charisma to the role that suggests a bright future for the young actress. She is funny and yet heartfelt, giving a very relatable turn, creating one of the most memorable characters of the year. Just as unforgettable is Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, a turn that unlike Wayne's is filled with a great deal of subtleties and layers. Although it is easy to look at his broadest strokes, where he more resembles Captain Jack Sparrow than the Duke, in his more intimate moments he is just as fascinating to watch. Indeed, the combination of Jeff Bridges working alongside the Coen brothers is now two for two: like The Dude, Cogburn is a cherished creation that will live on for a long time to come. While Wayne won an Oscar for the original film, Bridges delivers a performance that would be far more deserving of one: intense, hilarious, and unwavering.
While this is a fun movie, it is also a beautiful one, filled with the most gorgeous images and some of the most touching moments of any film this year. While part of me wonders if this film is necessary, much of it being familiar thanks the to the 1969 film, most of me doesn't care. The Coen's continue to show with this film why they are the greatest filmmakers of all time. It doesn't matter what genre they decide to try their hand at. Each of their films is a unique and immeasurably rewarding experience that makes you want nothing more than to watch another. Not all of their films are perfect; True Grit isn't, having some issues with a few of the side characters being a little too stereotypical as well as perhaps borrowing one or two too many scenes from past films. But, the majority of the characters are rich, the themes within more so. Since No Country for Old Men the brothers have been on an incredible hot streak, with no other directors even coming close to touching them.
After True Grit they're still rolling.
Final Rating: 9/10