Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Barry Pepper
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
I spend a lot of time and review space lamenting on how a movie's visual style is usually at the service of a story that more often than not doesn't hold up. The Coen Brothers belong to a special category of filmmakers whose cinematic style isn't at the service of anything. It's an art form in and of itself.
Consider the decision to update the classic western "True Grit." At first I wondered why they would feel the need to remake it. About ten minutes into the movie, however, I discovered I didn't care why. The story may be familiar, but their unique style is more than enough for me.
It's not so much a remake of the 1969 John Wayne flick as it is its own adaptation of the Charles Portis novel. Irony and cynicism are nowhere to be found. This is straight up, pure entertainment…engaging, witty, occasionally violent, often quite funny, and without any undertow of misanthropy that seems embedded with most movie narratives these days.
After her father is murdered by halfwit hired hand Tom Chaney, fourteen-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) embarks on a mission to capture his killer. After a bit of detective work, she enlists the help of Ruben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). He’s the toughest U.S. Marshal around, though many question his violent, incorrigible tactics. His character is called into question while testifying in open court. (He’s asked exactly how many men have been on the receiving end of his punishment. “Shot or killed?” is his supercilious reply.) For Mattie, however, honor is a poor substitute for retribution. Cogburn is a solid mixture of fury and indifference. He’s perfect.
At first he rebuffs her request but soon relents, takes her money and leaves her behind, teaming up with LeBoeuf (Matt Damon), a proud Texas ranger who wishes to capture Chaney for unrelated crimes. Mattie catches up them, convinces them to allow her to ride along. Together, they set out into the Indian Nations to nab Chaney (Josh Brolin) who has taken refuge with a gang led by Lucky Ned Pepper (an unrecognizable Barry Pepper).
Hailee Steinfeld is a relative newcomer to the business. (She recently appeared in the short-lived Fox tv comedy series “Sons of Tucson”.) She’s a terrific centerpiece of the film... not so much a scene-stealer, as it’s not a scene-stealing role. Yet she holds the center of the movie with a sharp wit and a stubbornness that carries the narrative through to its conclusion.
Taking the reigns of Cogburn from the iconic John Wayne, Jeff Bridges combines a curious mixture of brutality and indifference. Sympathy has long since been siphoned from his mindset, though he does perceive when outside influences like one’s pride or lust interfere with the task at hand. (At one point, he stops LeBoeuf from spanking Mattie for no other reason than LeBoeuf seems to be enjoying it too much.) Bridges also incorporates an off-handedness in his line delivery, spouting off insults like they’re mere observations of a weathered old soul. ("If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk water from a hoofprint, I think I'll... I'll shake their hand or buy 'em a Daniel Webster cigar," is followed up with the following observation regarding LeBoeuf's horse... "How long you buys down there been mounted on sheep?")
In the Glen Campbell role, Matt Damon is a humorous contrast to Cogburn's detachment, playing LeBoeuf (pronounced "Le Beef") as an all-too-proud ranger at the mercy of those who doubt his ability. The capture of the elusive Chaney is as vital to him as it is to Mattie. So much so to the point where we start to wonder if he truly wants justice, or wants people to stop thinking he's not that effective at his job. Both, I'd imagine, and in unfortunate equal measure.
Josh Brolin's role as a small one, but memorable. He portrays Chaney as the true halfwit that he is. His impulsive behavior is not bred from a personality quirk, but rather the offspring of cerebral laziness. The slightest molecule of thought requires too much effort on his part. His confrontation with the pistol-toting Mattie on the river is so brazen and foolish that it's a miscarriage of Darwinian justice that this idiot has stayed alive as long as he has.
The combination of Jess Gonchor’s production design and longtime Coen cinematographer Roger Deakins results in an atmosphere of both pure western sagebrush allure and harsh, unforgiving barrenness that gives rise to unsavory acts of aggression. It’s a beautiful movie to look at, enveloping us into its setting with amazing ease.
Will this one rank with the best of the Coen’s films? I doubt it. There are too many great ones in the mix. With a seemingly limitless well of ideas from which to develop, Joel and Ethan Coen’s choice to update “True Grit” still does give me pause. No matter. As I was wrapped up in the story, I simply didn’t care. The thought was moot. I was grateful for the experience of watching a movie that stands alone against the cynicism that permeates the current American psyche. This is a great escape. I’d rather not look this gift horse in the mouth.
* * * 1/2 out of * * * * stars
