2:05:16 Saturday 23 August 2025

True Grit

True Grit
Directed: Ethan and Joel Coen.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfield.

The Coen Brothers; a directing duo synonymous with success, media hype and critical acclaim.

After Oscar winning film ‘No Country for Old Men', The Coen Brothers were attracting attention and everything new with their names on it had critics panting in excitement.

But, for me, they are constantly hit and miss. ‘A Serious Man' was misleading as a so-called comedy, ‘Lady-killers' was a bit of a fail for Tom Hank's career and I am probably the only person in the world that thought ‘No Country for Old Men' was pointless and plotless.

That said, True Grit sparked my interest. Not because I love westerns, or because it was a remake of a very good John Wayne film. But because it has Jeff Bridges – ‘The Dude' from The Big Lewbowski and all around excellent actor with a very underplayed career.

The story focuses on 14 year old Mattie Ross (Steinfield), and her quest for revenge. Acting well beyond her years, she enlists the help of federal marshal Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) to track down her father's killer, Tom Chaney (Brolin), and bring him to justice – in the form of death.

Again, as I said last week with The King's Speech, it becomes difficult to ignore Oscar hype at this time of year, but unknown actress Haliee Steinfield has been nominated for a supporting actress award, making her up there with Anna Paquin as the youngest actress to receive a nomination (she is 15 years old). And you can see why. Mature beyond her years, quick-tongued, and fascinating to watch as she battles out wits and leadership with men three times her age and experience (both in the film world and out). Her journey is our journey, and while typically I find it difficult to associate with children as lead characters, I was hooked.

Matt Damon shows up as LaBoeuf, a Texas Ranger who tags along with an agenda for Chaney of his own. Waning in and out of a Texan accent, I find Damon is struggling to reclaim the former glory of his ‘Good Will Hunting' days and when he develops a speech impediment after an accident in the film, all I could think of was ‘Team America' and the ‘retarded Matt Damon puppet'.

As for Bridges, did he restore my faith in The Coen Brothers? Yes. Although there is a hilarious YouTube video adding subtitles to what Cogburn says because his drunk, slurred speech is very difficult to understand, I still took his part very seriously. He is an actor of many talents and brings something to Cogburn that make shim more than just a drunken, misguided lout as he develops a real relationship with Maddie.

As this is a remake, I feel Oscar glory will fade out for the Coen Brothers, predicting The King's Speech will reign this year.

Despite that, the film stood up all on its own as a powerful film and explored a complex relationship between an old man and ambitious young woman.