Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
Release Date: December 22nd, 2010 (limited)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences
western violence, disturbing images.
Distributors: Paramount Pictures
I viewed the original True Grit film in 1969, so as far as my memory of the film it was John Wayne wearing a patch, a little annoying girl, and him riding his horse with reins in his mouth with guns a blazing. So for me, going in this was just a remake. I was more curious about their adaptation of the film and the Cohen brother’s use of originality in their craft. Comparing and contrasting, seem to have a forty-year gap in film making time, style, cast members, and faded memory.
The opening scene gave us a juxtaposition view of the beauty of the snowflakes in the backdrop, and then the image of the stiffing body of Mattie’s murdered father. One of the film’s enduring strengths was the cinematography. The camera was constantly enhancing the scene, frame by frame.
Ethan and Joel are amongst the finest filmmakers of our time. They have penned and or directed Fargo, No Country for Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Oh’ brother where art thou? Barton Fink, and a series of some very weird titles, and some truly clever indie films. They have a go large, or go home attitude about what they do, and how they do it. This film is so well constructed between dramatic, action, clever conversation and comedy. Near its conclusion the Cohen brother’s have a Fargo “Wood chipper moment”, where the audience is a tad stunned by the turn of events, no doubt that most or all were gripping their chairs.
I thought that the cast was great, well all except Matt Damon, I did not think he worked in this period piece. I never bought into his role as the Texas Ranger; he is more a Boston Red Sock. Another confliction was his ability to recover from rather serious tongue injury sustained in the shooting accident. Really? Film is part suspension of disbelief. This seemed like a flash from the “forget what you just saw device” in Men in Black.
The rest of the crew is truly superior, every small bit player well placed, as was Barry Pepper, Josh Brolin (for his 10 minutes), and the extraordinary Hailee Steinfeld, who was cast as Mattie Ross, a young lady looking for revenge for her father’s murder. Steinfeld delivered some of the films best lines and did them with silky smooth skill and machine gun quicks.
Jeff Bridges may have won this year had he not just got done placing an Oscar on his fireplace mantel from last year.
Quite frankly, it didn’t seem like he was acting, he is Lloyd Bridges son for heavens sake, and his use of the language should be all twisted in attitude, it was just who the heck he is. Wasn’t it Denny Green the football coach from the Miller Lite commercials that said: “He was, who we thought he was”? He was absolutely Rooster cast and portrayed. Here Jeff, 2nd place…
Of the top three in the best film race, this has really high likeability. It just doesn’t have much probability, of winning.
