True Grit

I'm probably going to get in trouble for saying this, but here goes:  I've never seen the 1969 film version of True Grit.  Sad and totally irresponsible, I know, but there you have it.  That being said, this new version directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen, which is more of a new adaptation of the original 1968 Charles Portis novel than a remake of the first film, is pretty damn good. 

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is a 14-year-old girl in 1877 Arkansas who hires tough, merciless, and mostly drunk Deputy US Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to hunt down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the hired hand who murdered her father.  Cogburn certainly doesn't need any help, but the strong-willed Mattie, determined to see her father's killer brought to justice, accompanies him on the hunt.  They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBeouf (Matt Damon), who has also been chasing down Chaney for killing a senator.  The three ultimately combine forces, however unwillingly, to get the job done.

Now despite the impressive roster of big names in the cast, this is Hailee Steinfeld's film.  This was her first major acting gig and somehow she manages to blow away everyone else in the film.  Which is not to say the adults didn't do their part either.  Taking on a role that the legendary John Wayne won an Oscar for is no easy task, but Jeff Bridges is brilliant as Rooster.  Matt Damon's LeBeouf is a perfect as a reluctant third party in the manhunt, and while Josh Brolin doesn't have a whole lot of screentime, he brought the right amount of sleaze to Tom Chaney.

It would almost criminal not to mention Barry Pepper's performance as outlaw "Lucky" Ned Pepper.  Almost unreccognizable under those sheepskin chaps and his red eyes and rotting teeth, he makes an even better villain than Brolin does.  Why don't we see this guy more often?

I'm not the biggest fan of Westerns (hence why I've never seen the original True Grit), but that didn't really matter here.  The new True Grit was terrific, with fantastic performances, sometimes funny, sometimes brutal, sometimes melancholy and tragic.  Definitely don't miss it.