Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

In True Grit the Coen brothers breathe fresh life into what was once Hollywood’s bread and butter genre, the western. From High Noon to Unforgiven, every so often a western defies its characteristic limitations of “shoot ‘em up” vengeance and 2 dimensional villains/heroes to create a story charged with authentic characters and values. The Coen brothers succeed here as precociously as their heroine, fourteen year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) triumphs in the pursuit of her father’s killer.

Taking on the character Rooster Cogburn (first created on the screen by the quintessential Hollywood “cowboy” John Wayne) was not only a brave cinematic challenge but for many in Hollywood risky business. Wayne won his only Oscar for his performance as Rooster Cogburn and until now was firmly entrenched in our cinema psyche. It isn’t only Jeff Bridges masterful performance that eclipses Wayne but the deft, engaging script true to Charles Portis’ novel of the same name. In respecting the novel, the Coen brothers have given due to Portis’ true hero/heroine Mattie Ross. Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie) not only holds her own with Oscar winners Matt Damon who is pitch perfect as the vanity infused, over-spurred Texas Ranger Labouef and Jeff Bridges’ gruff but loveable Rooster, she steals almost every scene.

The directors also triumph in their shots of the rich landscape and subtle soundtrack that button down the prairie as barren but beautiful, magnificent yet dangerous, with most of the danger coming from the dysfunctional characters it hides. But down to the real business of this Coen masterpiece and why it is destined to be prominent at the Oscars – all of the directorial craft employed by its makers is in service of Mattie’s singular quest for justice. And this rich story rings true with its audience because justice comes at a personal cost. In the dramatic climax of the movie Rooster risks his own life and ‘Blackie’s’ (Mattie’s horse) in a desperate and fateful ride through the prairie night in an effort to save Mattie. That the cynical and mostly liquored up Cogburn and the proud but inept Labouef rise to meet the occasion is mostly inspired by Mattie’s insistent courage. Seeking out justice it turns out is not only for the Roosters and Labouef’s of the world but also a spunky teenage girl with ‘true grit’. Holster up and get your spurs on – a must see.

Reviewed by A. Romano