True Grit

"We don't achieve true perfection, because instead of redefining the genre (see No Country for Old Men), the Coens heavily rely on certainty, but during the final credits, the honest western force truly hits me. The biggest acting merits undoubtedly belong to Bridges, whose casually loose and uncompromisingly tough Rooster dominates, while the occasionally slightly dull Hailee Steinfeld is a surprising disappointment. I had some minor issues with the unbalanced pace of the film for quite a while, but the final half-hour saves everything. Minute by minute, the main antagonist's arrival brings tension and emotion, without a second of shortage, not to mention the flawless finish. In retrospect, it becomes clear that some plot twists were overly evident, but despite that, I can't be upset with the film thanks to its straightforwardness and sincerity. 70%" (2011-01-28)

I'd been meaning to rewatch True Grit for quite some time, continuously putting it off until today. Yes, the Coen brothers once again struck gold with me. This type of western typically has an intriguing start and a powerfully action-packed ending, with a lengthy bridge of seemingly endless wandering connecting these islands, gradually lulling the viewer to sleep. However, with this movie, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the bridge, and the credit for that undoubtedly goes to the screenwriters, as well as Jeff Bridges, and Hailee Steinfeld. These two delivered engaging and convincing performances and dialogue throughout the journey, making the nearly two-hour runtime race by. Oh, I almost forgot, Matt Damon was also there. The fact is, whether there was shooting, talking, or just beans, I had a great time again with this western. / Lesson learned: If you want to be properly buried, don't die in winter. 4*- (2022-07-18)

The Coen brothers are known for their maximum precision, with which they approach every tested genre and film being prepared. In True Grit, this can be seen in every aspect, whether it is the casting, prop selection, the well-crafted screenplay, and above all, traditionally high-quality directing. This film is a return to the traditional western, which experienced its golden age about 60 years ago and has been rather languishing in recent decades. Precisely because it is a return to the roots of the respective genre, there are no major surprises and it is not a modern genre variation like Dead Man or Dances with Wolves. This is a classic battle of good and evil, tough men and wilderness, where law and justice are far from what we imagine in today's courtrooms. However, it is rawer, less romantic, and somewhat more sober than the famous films of the golden era. Furthermore, the presence of a stubborn girl who stubbornly seeks to avenge her father's death and bosses around the gunmen brings important lightness to the film. It is unnecessary to highlight other film elements, such as the camera or music because in the case of the Coen brothers they always work perfectly. Overall impression: 80%. If I were a fan of the genre, I would not hesitate to give it 5 stars. (2011-06-06)

Maybe I need to apologize to the Coens or something. I saw True Grit in the movie theatre some time ago, wasn't too impressed, gave it three stars, praised the actors, Deakins and Burwell, complained about the lack of originality, that it was not in the Coens’ style, and the weird epilogue... That was it. But today I watched the DVD, and the complaints are almost gone. I don't know why that is. Maybe I already knew what I was getting into beforehand, and I wasn't expecting what I was expecting before the movie theatre screening, so I enjoyed myself. True Grit suddenly had great momentum and, in addition to the "execution", "hanged man", "Indian children" and "dentist" scenes (the latter especially), I was suddenly appreciating everything in between. Suddenly I found myself smiling for two hours, and at the end I was moved like a little boy. Just that epilogue, though... (2011-09-22)

Strong on detail. The Coen bros offer something more than a story about a spirited girl who wants to revenge her father’s death. They are talented in delivering the goods in ways as yet unseen. And Jeff Bridges should have gotten that golden baldy this year for his iconic portrayal of Rooster Cogburn. Otherwise an excellently acted (really great Hailee Steinfeld) adventure drama packed with great lines, which is surprising just where you aren’t expecting. Your fifty dollars gone. Gone the whiskey - seized in evidence. (2011-05-25)