Movie: True Grit (2010)

Rating: B+

A passing of the torch from "The Duke" to "The Dude", and quite honestly, I'd have to say...I much prefer The Dude.

True Grit (1969)


True Grit (2010)


I love the detail that the Coen Brothers always put in their movies. But I'm not always a fan of the pace of their films. Somehow however, it works for this version of a movie based on a movie based on a book. Well, sort of. The 2010 version of True Grit, according to media outlets adheres much more closely to the novel of the same title by Charles Portis. The Coen Brothers, known more for their quirky, dark comedies like Fargo, balance some heavy material with some well placed comedy. 


Watch closely at the trailers at the disheveled look of Jeff Bridges' bed compared with John Wayne's bed. The new version makes Rooster Cogburn much more believable and much more...well...gritty. I'm not sure who Hailee Steinfeld is, but she does an admirable job keeping up with brilliant performances by Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. Matt Damon really seems to be coming into his own as of late and proved yet again, that he's going to be here for a long time. But it is The Dude's performance that really stands out and beyond Oscar worthy. The Coen Brothers must have some amazing chemistry with Jeff Bridges, because they really do seem to bring out the best in him.

The movie was also beautifully shot, using some retro looking scenes, paying some homage to the 1969 version and providing the western additional authenticity. It's not a fast paced, action packed action movie; rather, a great character study of some pretty interesting characters and a throwback to an instant classic Western.

~Cheers.