2010’s True Grit is proof positive that with the right filmmakers and actors involved, you can bypass the notion that remakes cannot improve on the original.
Of course, there will always be those who maintain that the 1969 version starring John Wayne is the best. It certainly is a solid movie where the Duke won a Best Actor Oscar, the only of his storied career. For me, however, the slight edge goes to the remake.
The brilliant Coen Brothers decided to embark on this remake, their first Western, casting their Big Lebowski star Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, the role Wayne made famous. Cogburn is a surly, alcoholic U.S. Marshal enlisted by 14 year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) to find the killer of her father. It’s a simple plot (based on the 1968 Charles Portis novel) told well. Very well.
That’s what happens when the Coens are involved. True Grit includes a sterling supporting cast that includes Matt Damon as a Texas Ranger and Josh Brolin as the hunted man. Bridges is first-rate, even though Wayne fans will likely always consider their guy better.
To me, though, the True Grit remake belongs to Steinfeld. She’s the center of the movie and her performance is remarkable. It’s one of the best child actor performances I’ve seen, on par with Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense or Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine.
The other star of the film: Roger Deakins’ wonderful cinematography. True Grit is a beautiful picture to look at and makes the absolute most of its Western locales. The Coen Bros, known for their often quirky movies, play it mostly straight here. There is some well-placed humor (more than in the original), but this is a pretty straightforward classic Western tale. It’s just that most Westerns don’t have as much talent involved as True Grit does. It’s a very satisfying experience.
***1/2 (out of four)
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