The Movie Press
  • Movie Reviews
  • Twitter News/Updates
  • News & Notes
  • DVD
  • Box Office Results
  • Contact
  • About Us

"True Grit" stands among 2010's finest films

12/22/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pop culture seems to have fallen in love with the Western all over again in 2010. First there was Red Dead Redemption, a perfectly paced videogame from the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series. With Hollywood-caliber voice acting and top-notch production values, it is arguably the most exceptional game of the year, and proof of the awe the temporarily forgotten theater of the rugged frontier can still inspire. True Grit finishes the year with even stronger evidence.

Gone are the classic Western two-dimensional portrayals of puritanical and faultless good guys facing off against mustachioed villains with no redeeming qualities just begging to get got—the criminally under-appreciated Canuck Barry Pepper (Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan) is a show-stealer in his supporting role and especially hard to hate as a black-toothed bandit with a bit of a conscience named "Lucky" Ned Pepper.

Jeff Bridges, who last worked with the Cohen brothers in The Big Lebowski, brings Rooster Cogburn to life, creating a character just as memorable as The Dude. Cogburn is a perpetually drunk, one-eyed marshal tasked by tough-as-nails 14-year-old Mattie Ross (played by the amazing Hailee Steinfeld) to track down her father's killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Ross and Cogburn team up with a straight-laced Texas Ranger who has been on Chaney's trail for some time, La Boeuf (played by a 'stache-sporting Matt Damon), and follow Chaney as he tries to escape Arkansas into Indian territory to the west.

Damon's La Boeuf and Bridges Cogburn make the perfect odd couple—thanks partially to stellar performances and partially to an incredibly sharp script packed with humor.

The precocious Mattie Ross has cojones bigger than the men she saddles up with and outwits bumbling businessmen and cunning cutthroats alike in her quest for justice. Steinfeld may be the best leading lady in a Cohen brothers’ film since Frances McDormand in Fargo.

While the Cohen brothers make some tweaks to the classic Western formula, remaining are shots of beautiful scenery (some even filmed around Austin), though they're now pasted together with killer ultra-slow dissolves. One semi-criticism: Anyone who has been to Arkansas will find it evident that True Grit's rocky winter landscapes draped in cold blue hues weren't filmed in the Natural State. But really, that's being nitpicky.

True Grit is stunning, and in true Cohen brothers fashion, it's a five-course meal of a movie filled with drama, comedy, adventure and unforgettable characters. It's also an all-ages crowd-pleaser that's rated PG-13 (no language and just a bit of violence), so for the love of all things holy, when your family wants to go to the theater this holiday weekend, pass on Yogi Bear and Tron Legacy.

--Eric Pulsifer

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    Categories

    All
    Austin Film Festival
    Darcie Duttweiler Reviews
    Derrick Mitcham Reviews
    Eric Harrelson Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Fantastic Fest
    Greg Maclennan Reviews
    Greg Wilson Reviews
    Jessica Hixson Reviews
    Mark Collins Reviews
    Monte Monreal Reviews
    Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Sxsw

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.