True Grit (2010)-Returning to the Classic Western Narrative

It's been a nearly a year since I reviewed a movie and perhaps now that I have time, interest, and renewed enthusiasm to go over another movie we may as well open up with a good one. I'll admit, it seems a bit silly to review a movie that has been out in theaters for a while but I was rather impressed by the Coen duo's sincere take on the American Western as a whole. Some may remember 1969's original True Grit starring John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Rooster as more comedy than drama but the Coen brothers take this story and adds a new depth of which is rarely seen in a remake particularly of this quality. Rooster is no longer the bumbling fool nor is Mattie played as so doe-eyed as in their previous counter-parts. The journey is long and paved in as many hardships and sacrifices as there is blood. Bad guys are not as black and white as they were in western movies of old and sometimes innocence must be lost in order for anything of worth to be gained when dealing in vengeance. This isn't your parents' lighthearted True Grit, this is real true grit.

In this remake of True Grit, we sympathize to the plight of a stubborn yet spirited Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) who has set her sights on avenging her father's death with the help of the grizzled and often drunk U.S. Marshal and bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Their prey is Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). It is an all too familiar story of a vengeance-seeking young lass paired with an older veteran of violence and yet Steinfeld and Bridges manages to pull this off in a way that is both endearing as it is touching down to the very end as pieces of both characters start to rub off on one another as we see this pair trudge off to capture her father's killer. Mattie becomes more hardened as Rooster begins to let down his roughened exterior towards the girl.

Rounding out this duo is the surprising but excellent choice of Matt Damon as the sometimes pompous and ineffective Texan Marshal LeBoeuf acting as rival and competitor to claiming Mattie's bounty for his own interests. While sometimes useless, LeBoeuf provides a very much needed foil to Rooster's methods that lends itself to some lighthearted moments in all the action that is more welcome than distracting to the Coen brothers' darker interpretation of the original movie.

Speaking of action, oh yes, there is quite a bit in there. Classic stand-offs and gunfights are a must for any Old Western and here the the movie certainly pleases genre enthusiasts. The Coen brothers add an intensity to these fights as Mattie and Rooster narrow in on Tom not only in the cinematography but also in how they flesh out the back story of the proposed "bad guys" of the film. Moments of honor and humanity are demonstrated by some of the villains that only contributes to the tenseness of the situation. One can't help but sympathize with our heroes' enemies with the many shades of gray morality and desperation that Coen paints them in. Barry Pepper certainly shines in this ambiguous bad guy position as Lucky Ned, leader of Tom's gang. Oh, Lucky Ned certainly is a bastard but you can't help but like the man. As for Tom, the center of this whole manhunt, he appears pitiable as he is laughable a man given how vile he is built up over the course of the film.

Despite all odds, eventually we see our unlikely heroes reach the end. I dare not spoil the ending but I shall say that the Coen brothers do save the best for last. There is no comedy, no lighthearted joke and bonanza music nor do we see the classic riding into the sunset in a blaze of glory. Only bittersweet quiet.

5 out of 5: A solid remake of an old Western that overshadows its predecessor in almost every way that is a rare sight to see for remakes in general and yet the Coen brothers manage to take the story and make it their own with a stellar cast.