True Grit (2010)

Generally the rule of thumb when it comes to remakes is that the original is superior, and when said original is a classic and beloved Western starring John Wayne, it undoubtedly makes the task of remaking it even more difficult. Luckily this didn’t deter the Coen brothers in the slightest and, despite protestations that True Grit isn’t actually a remake, have managed to create a film that is superior in every way.

The plot is a much truer reflection of the book it’s based on than the original film despite main story being essentially the same; a stubborn young women enlists the help of an old and tough US Marshall to help her track down her father’s killer. Along with the occasional help of another bounty hunter on the killers trail, they travel across the expanses of the American west eventually leading to a showdown with the man their after.

There is no doubting that the plot behind True Grit is an incredibly simple one but it’s also the perfect setup for a western based on revenge and the relentless pursuit of a killer. The Coen's have created a beautiful setting for their film with some excellent cinematography of the vast American deserts and real attention to detail when it comes to the sets and locations. The acting from all involved is spot on with Jeff Bridges excellent as the old and grizzled US Marshall Rooster Cogburn but the real standout is young Hailee Steinfeld as Matty Ross who plays her part to perfection. She is the real main character of the film and how she only received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress I’ll never know. The relationship between Cogburn and Matty is excellently developed and provides for some strong dramatical scenes. The only real problem with True Grit lies with the pace of the film, the mid section is largely devoid of action and instead focuses on the entirely drama aspect of the film. This is by no means boring but drags on for a little too long eventually leading it to feel a little out of place for a Western based on revenge. When the action is on screen it’s excellent though with some incredibly realistic set pieces. The final half an hour is great and harks back to the golden age of westerns and provides some top notch entertainment.

It’s great to see the Western back on the big screen, when it’s done right it is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining genres of film. True Grit is a very good film with all the elements of an excellent Western. The only problem is its surprisingly light of action and has a midsection that drags a little but otherwise it’s well worth the time give it a watch and is certainly a superior film to the original.

8/10