Review- True Grit

  

True Grit (2010)-

This “remake” is decidedly better than the original. Young Hailee Stienfield steals the movie outright, while a gruff, scruffy Jeff Bridges pulls off something of a minor miracle in holding his own as “Rooster” Cogburn- John Wayne still owns the role but Bridges shines, nonetheless. Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper are pitch-perfect in smaller roles.

Some may find themselves put off by the quirky dialogue and dead pan delivery- it's familiar Coen Brothers territory and I found myself amused, and quite immersed, throughout. The cinematography from the legendary Roger Deakins is superb and a climactic showdown in the film’s third act is cinematic gold.
The film is a bit too short for it’s own good but maybe that’s a case of just wanting more.

I recently read the outstanding novel by Charles Portis and recognized that much of the aforementioned dialogue is lifted directly from the book, though I was bewildered as to why so many small but poignant moments were missing from this film. What happened to General Sterling Price, the cat?

 **SPOILERS** (Of a sort) -- In the book, a character accidentally reaches for a cup of water with a hand that's just had all of it's fingers severed off. I would have thought that the Coens would have scored a touchdown with this- it was right down their dark humor alley, so to speak.

I feel that Johnny Weismueller was the best Tarzan, Sean Connery is remembered by most as the best Bond and Christopher Reeve will probably live forever in the hearts of many as the definitive Superman. John Wayne remains the best Rooster Cogburn- that said, the death or retirement of an actor, however beloved, shouldn’t stop an iconic CHARACTER from living on for future generations to experience and embrace. Those who refuse to see the film because of some kind of John Wayne “sacrilege” would be doing themselves a disservice.

True Grit is the only Western film released theatrically in 2010 and that’s a damned shame.

Highly Recommended- 8.5 out of 10