The western has been a genre in dire need of a comeback as of late. The Coen brothers have always had some love for the setting (No Country for Old Men notably), so if anyone is to be up for the challenge of bringing it back, it would be them. What was unexpected was for them to tread into remake territory, bringing the John Wayne classic back, a film I admittedly have not seen. Viewed as its own beast, True Grit 2010 is a highly entertaining, very well written and very well acted western tale, but didn't fully satisfy my hunger for some good old fashioned retribution.
The film is about young Mattie Ross hunting Tom Chaney, the killer of her father, with the aid of notorious US Marshal Rooster Cogburn and occasional aid of Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who has been chasing Chaney for some time. Mattie is not satisfied simply letting the two men take care of it and insists to accompany them herself. The three reluctant allies make their way through Indian territory to face Chaney and the gang he has shacked himself up with.
The Coen touch is clearly felt in the side-characters encountered, notably a bear-skin wearing doctor of questionable honesty. These moments give it almost a noirish feel at times, but truth be told this is as close to a straight genre film as the Coens have ever made. Western through and through, True Grit does little to mess with the formula and tone, unlike perhaps more daring films like The Proposition.
Even through it is a genre film, its a damn well made one. The setting feels like a long-lost memory at this point for most audiences, and is represented beautifully. The dialogue rarely if ever feels modernized, but strays from unintelligible archaic babble. Even more importantly, the film can be downright brutal. The old west was, I imagine, a violent place compared to modern society, and the film does not shy away from the blood, racism and cruelty. Those who can't take animals getting hurt should be wary of the film's climax, and those who squeam at the sight of blood should bring a shoulder to bury their eyes into.
The best part of the film is indeed the characters and the performances behind them. The weight of the movie falls on the shoulders of young Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, who stands with Chloe Moretz as one of the great emerging young actresses of the year. She shows maturity well beyond her years and pulls off some incredibly impressive dialogue believably, especially notable in the first twenty minutes (the bartering scenes are almost the highlight).
Those worried Jeff Bridges wouldn't be able to pull it off can put their worries to rest, as while Steinfeld is the emotional center, Bridges carries the movie as the entertainment. His performance is highly believable, yet this is Mattie's story and not Cogburns. As such, he's an incredibly funny and occasionally cunning major character. Matt Damon pulls off the arrogant asshole LaBoeuf as well as the necessary changes his character undergoes. Josh Brolin gives a perhaps confusingly meekish portrayal of Chaney, but it just makes his character that much more interesting. Barry Pepper makes the most of his small role as the gang leader.
The problem with the characters is that nothing really seems to happen. Mattie is already hard as rock when we meet her, rather than having to build up due to necessity. Rooster only begins to change his stripes at the very end, and does so very quickly. LaBoeuf emerges as almost the most interesting character to watch change, but is relegated to the sideline. Perhaps I'm expecting too much of an old story, but I also felt unsatisfied by the ending, with everything working out a bit too neatly aside from one tripup.
True Grit is not the best film of the year, as many thought it may well be. It is a very well made and entertaining western sure to please fans of the genre and not make its detractors as bleary-eyed as they might expect, but its ending prevents it from reaching classic status. Hopefully its success ushers in a new wave of westerns, for the cinema scene surely needs them.
The film is about young Mattie Ross hunting Tom Chaney, the killer of her father, with the aid of notorious US Marshal Rooster Cogburn and occasional aid of Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who has been chasing Chaney for some time. Mattie is not satisfied simply letting the two men take care of it and insists to accompany them herself. The three reluctant allies make their way through Indian territory to face Chaney and the gang he has shacked himself up with.
The Coen touch is clearly felt in the side-characters encountered, notably a bear-skin wearing doctor of questionable honesty. These moments give it almost a noirish feel at times, but truth be told this is as close to a straight genre film as the Coens have ever made. Western through and through, True Grit does little to mess with the formula and tone, unlike perhaps more daring films like The Proposition.
Even through it is a genre film, its a damn well made one. The setting feels like a long-lost memory at this point for most audiences, and is represented beautifully. The dialogue rarely if ever feels modernized, but strays from unintelligible archaic babble. Even more importantly, the film can be downright brutal. The old west was, I imagine, a violent place compared to modern society, and the film does not shy away from the blood, racism and cruelty. Those who can't take animals getting hurt should be wary of the film's climax, and those who squeam at the sight of blood should bring a shoulder to bury their eyes into.
The best part of the film is indeed the characters and the performances behind them. The weight of the movie falls on the shoulders of young Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, who stands with Chloe Moretz as one of the great emerging young actresses of the year. She shows maturity well beyond her years and pulls off some incredibly impressive dialogue believably, especially notable in the first twenty minutes (the bartering scenes are almost the highlight).
Those worried Jeff Bridges wouldn't be able to pull it off can put their worries to rest, as while Steinfeld is the emotional center, Bridges carries the movie as the entertainment. His performance is highly believable, yet this is Mattie's story and not Cogburns. As such, he's an incredibly funny and occasionally cunning major character. Matt Damon pulls off the arrogant asshole LaBoeuf as well as the necessary changes his character undergoes. Josh Brolin gives a perhaps confusingly meekish portrayal of Chaney, but it just makes his character that much more interesting. Barry Pepper makes the most of his small role as the gang leader.
The problem with the characters is that nothing really seems to happen. Mattie is already hard as rock when we meet her, rather than having to build up due to necessity. Rooster only begins to change his stripes at the very end, and does so very quickly. LaBoeuf emerges as almost the most interesting character to watch change, but is relegated to the sideline. Perhaps I'm expecting too much of an old story, but I also felt unsatisfied by the ending, with everything working out a bit too neatly aside from one tripup.
True Grit is not the best film of the year, as many thought it may well be. It is a very well made and entertaining western sure to please fans of the genre and not make its detractors as bleary-eyed as they might expect, but its ending prevents it from reaching classic status. Hopefully its success ushers in a new wave of westerns, for the cinema scene surely needs them.