New True Grit (2010)

It’s been 27 years since Joel and Ethan Coen’s first deliverance of brotherly genius with the snarling brilliance of Blood Simple (1984) which set the foundation for glimmering catalogue of revered and treasured timeless classics that which have become synonymous with the Coen brothers brand. When studying the aforementioned filmography one cannot help but locate a Shakespearean style split within their cinematic portfolio. And it isn’t hard to find your equivalent Comedies or Tragedies. Especially when you think they do the frenetic and the farcical sublimely in offerings such as Burn After Reading (2008), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)  and perhaps to this day their signature piece The Big Lebowski (1999), which fulfil the Comedic end of this comparison. Black humour even swings it’s way into the more darkened choices making Tragedies are a little tougher to distinguish but there is no denying that there is much that is tragic in the Coen’s most underrated exhibit The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) a hang dog expression of a film, whilst Fargo (1996) and the mighty No Country for Old Men (2007) also fit the bill.

So where to place True Grit? A Gun slinging, Horse Riding adventure of true Western pastiche, conjured up with undoubted Coen Wizardry and idiosyncrasy. Aesthetically the film is a triumph, set in late 19^th Century Arkansas  True Grit captures the beauty of the American old west by combining elegantly crafted and selected sets with powering scenery. Held in a delicate time incumbent of post civil war savagery and yet preserved in a pre-industrialised grace. Structurally it follows in the simplistic path of other Coen works, a reoccurring methodology is designing the narrative around a man hunt or a goose chase and we get the former here. Mattie Ross played irresistibly by the irresistible rookie Hailee Steinfeld is caught somewhere between the lines of vengeance and justice brought about by her back story predicament, having lost her father to a botched robbery she seeks out see the now fugitive man who did it punished, but there is one problem she is a puny 14 year old girl who gets by on a brazen wordy tongue, fuelled by unrelenting smarts and courage. 

So by putting her self-taught virtues to the test Mattie finds the man the who she believes can get the job done which comes in the shape of the human Cyclopes Rueben Cogburn an ostensibly uncompromised man ravaged by war and alcohol, almost burdened by his tough guy reputation as much as he abides by it. And it’s funny that the word abides allows an easy set up to introduce Jeff Bridges as the man to detail Cogburn in his first Coen reunion since reprising the “Dude” and the performances aren’t too dissimilar in the sense that Cogburn and the Dude are self ostracised, alcoholics who care little for what others may think of them. It will be difficult to say how Bridges career will be most remembered, but Jeff is on top form here and his leisurely and casual style works wonders with Rooster. Matt Damon chips in as the “all the gear, no idea” Texas Ranger Leboeuf, jangling spurs and all, is the third member of the group and a quiet success. “LeBeef” as his is name is somewhat amusingly uttered, allows Damon to provide some comic relief with a performance of deliberate overtone and lacking of sophistication. 

The Coen’s cap it all off by immersing our heroes in a wondrous adventure that takes pseudo fantastical elements reminiscent of O Brother, encountering mystifying corpse collecting Indians, and bear suited dentists are undeniable Coen touches. The film has a pulsating No Country like mode of deadly cat and mouse, filled with all shoot-outs and chase scenes to keep the audience on seats edge. All in all True Grit is another fluent outing from Joel and Ethan, a sharp and convincing statement of their talent.

8/10