Review of film: "TRUE GRIT" (with Jeff Bridges as "Rooster Cogburn")

Review of film:  “TRUE GRIT”

In 1969, longtime movie star JOHN WAYNE won his only OSCAR for a film role by playing a drunken “two-handed shooter” in a film called “TRUE GRIT”.  It was a memorable performance, although many felt the award was mainly given as a “lifetime achievement” honor…  (He later performed with legend Kathryn Hepburn in a “reprise” of his role, in 1975’s “Rooster Cogburn”)…

…  The Coen brothers have RE-MADE the basic “TRUE GRIT” film for a “modern” audience, tho it kept the idea of using very “formal” dialogue circa the late 1800’s.  The awkwardness of the dialogue made the 1969 version pretty “hard-to-take” in many ways--  but this new version manages to give a good “CONVERSATIONAL” tone to it, & that helps it come across as quite FUNNY at times…

…  In this new version, Mattie Ross (HAILEE STEINFELD) is a 14-year-old girl whose beloved father has just been killed by an outlaw named Tom Chaney (JOSH BROLIN).  She’s wise and tough beyond her years, & simply won’t accept the way the town of Fort Smith, Arkansas has allowed Josh to get away scott-free…

… Hailee toughly bargains with horse-trader Colonel Stonehill (DAKIN MATTHEWS) to get enough money to personally hire an old eye-patched marshall named Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (JEFF BRIDGES) to find Josh so she can kill him…  He’s uneager to get involved, but needs the money— mainly to build-up his supply of WHISKEY, which seems to be his main interest in life…

…  A Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf (MATT DAMON) comes to town, also wanting to catch Josh because he’s wanted for killing a State Senator back home.  He’s keen to capture Josh alive, in order to get a big REWARD that’s been posted on him…  After initially agreeing to work with Jeff, since they’re working at opposite purposes (& Matt doesn’t want to allow Hailee to come WITH them as she wants), the lawmen eventually go their separate ways…

…  Josh is pursued into what was then the Indian territory (now Oklahoma), where he apparently has joined up with OTHER lawbreakers including a gang run by Lucky Ned Pepper (BARRY PEPPER)…

Jeff, Hailee & Matt keep having encounters & “tussles” with various inhabitants of the area, and they’re frequently violent in nature (to the point of being deadly & “final”)…

…  Will Jeff eventually FIND Josh?  Will Hailee have her wish of being able to KILL him for what he’s done to her family?...  Will “Lucky Ned” REMAIN lucky, or will “true grit” by his pursuers rule the day?...  Will Hailee escape the perils she HERSELF faces (from wild animals & others)?...  What will “postscripts” show happen to various of the main characters after the “basic” CHASE ends?...

…  I found this film to be a real PLEASURE:  Jeff & Hailee were EXCEPTIONAL in their lead roles, & Matt (in a somewhat “quieter” role) also does a fine job (as do Josh & Barry in much smaller roles).  The “stilted” type dialogue actually “WORKED”, giving a real “mood” and humor to the “Old West” proceedings…

…  Thus, for the finely-crafted enjoyment it brings, I’m rating this film at 9.0 out of 10 stars…  Go SEE the “Rooster” crow at daylite (or even nitetime)!