Directed by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Written by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld, Barry Pepper
Rating: [3.5/5]
Justice while deserved may not always be swift as many have learned through the years where at times you have to do things yourself to make them right. At no time was that easier in the times of the old West as exhibited through the thoroughly entertaining True Grit. While not a major work by the legendary Coen Brothers, still something that gets the job done exhibiting some excellent crafts.
Following the murder of her father at the hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to hunt the man down and have him hung for his crimes in the state of Arkansas. While also refusing to not tag along for the journey Mattie and Cogburn get joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who also has an interest in tracking down Chaney for the murder of a Texas Senator.
Fairly straightforward with its narrative structure, True Grit shows the Coen Brothers operating in fine form in their attempts to create this streamlined story. Within it, the motivations are quite clear with a young daughter looking for revenge with her father dead, a Texas Ranger doing his duty, and a U.S. Marshall looking to collect a paycheck. They all know what they want and it all gets aimed towards one man and the journey to get there makes for a watchable journey filled with plenty of conflict as one might imagine.
One of those threads comes from the obvious of a fourteen-year-old tagging along for the journey. Certainly not a commonplace addition for these two professionals but she knows she can more than hold her own. Mattie proves she will not reach contentment just waiting at home for these two men to get the job done but would rather be there when they finally catch Chaney and have a more direct impact on the serving of justice. This allows Hailee Steinfeld to completely steal the show from the other veteran actors around her. Steinfeld brings all of the necessary fervor and determination to make her such an easy character to root for. A character with plenty of composure for her age, but still ultimately a child, which Steinfeld ensures to instill to great effect.
On top of Mattie’s presence, the dynamic of Cogburn and LaBoeuf wavers from respectful and adversarial with the latter mostly holding firm for the majority of the film. From a mix of ego and competitiveness, these two just don’t like each other very much, which makes this journey a bit tumultuous at times. The business between these two men differs from what they have with Mattie and it shows in the ways they threaten not to work with each other any longer to the point where it becomes a bit silly. It’s in these moments the Coens sprinkle in some of their comedic touch. As masters of tonal balance, they put in just enough of that comedy within a very serious story to bring those necessary moments of levity.
With this far-reaching journey, the production value could be felt on-screen with this feature operating as a Western with a capital “W.” From the cinematography and sound work, this feature brings us right into the action and this world of the West. We get fully immersed in the surroundings and every shot from their guns gets felt, along with the impact they leave on those who meet the bullet at the other end. Every sequence brings this energy that exhilarates while also bringing a level of suspense because we quickly begin to care for these characters. It comes as no surprise Roger Deakins served as the Director of Photography for this picture with some eye-catching shots throughout the film that truly pack a punch.
Well and truly getting the job done, True Grit serves as one of the better westerns of the 2010s but not even the best one done by Joel & Ethan Coen in the same decade. It does not have that same punch their better works have but when this strong feature is considered a mid-level work then you just know you’ve got an absolutely killer filmography. With this film, Hailee Steinfeld knocks down the door and makes you notice her screen presence and it quickly becomes a welcomed one seeing how she stepped up right beside these other well-seasoned actors and became the most memorable figure of the whole project.
Films with Josh 
