Synopsis: True Grit is a mythic Western adventure story of vengeance and valor from award winning film makers Joel and Ethan Coen, whose stirring adaptation hones in on the plain-spoken humour, bold storytelling and rough beauty of Charles Portis’ classic American novel.
The time is 1870s, the setting is frontier America just after the Civil War, and the taleteller is 14 year old Mattie Ross journeying to Fort Smith, Arkansas, determined to extract justice for the death of her father, shot in cold blood.
Mattie (Hailee Steinfeld) arrives in Fort Smith as her family’s sole representative, in search of the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who is said to have killed her father for two gold pieces before setting out into Indian Territory as a fugitive. Beholden to follow Chaney and see him hanged, Mattie enlists the help of a man rumoured to be the most ruthless U.S Marshal in town – trigger happy, drunken “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), who, after many objections, agrees to hunt Chaney. But Chaney is already the target of Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who also aims to catch the killer and bring him back to Texas, for an ample reward.
Their stories entwined this hunt for Chaney leads this unlikely posse towards an unpredictable reckoning as they find themselves caught in a tale of mischief, brutality, courage, disillusion and unalloyed love.
Review: Following the unlawful murder of her father, 14 year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) takes the dramatic decision to seek justice herself and hunt the killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).
Enlisting the help of the most skilled U.S. Marshall in the land, “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Renowned for his skill and ‘true grit’ “Rooster” takes up the task and reluctantly sets out with Mattie in search of Chaney into the Indian Territories. Accompanied by Texan ranger, come bounty hunter, LaBoeuf (Matt Damon); whose life’s work has been to hunt down and kill Chaney, the three set out on a journey of discovery and are pushed to their limits.
Based on the Charles Portis’ classic American novel and following the 1969 original picture version, starring John Wayne, the Coen Brothers have taken produced yet another iconic movie. From the opening scene Hailee Steinfeld steals the show and certainly deserves her recent Oscar Nominations.
Jeff Bridges delivers a powerful presence as the alcoholic and vulgar U.S. Marshall and the chemistry between Bridges and Damon is brilliantly entertaining and keeps you hooked throughout.
This film certainly does show genuine ‘True Grit’ and it is quite sad that due to the high caliber of films that have been on offer this year that this film has been stopped from gaining any awards at the Oscars.
