True Grit

I’m not a fan of westerns, but I really looked forward to True Grit. I was mostly curious to see how the Coens could incorporate their slower narrative and creeping Wild West vibe among those seasoned and rugged heroes, and it turned out pretty much the same as always does. Once again, they managed to create a very specific genre film with their own rules and formulas, something that never has the desired effect with their comedies (in my opinion), but it does with dark crime thrillers, and now also here – I was literally in bliss all the time. The story is a bit more adventurous for a classic western, it relies on a careful portrayal of each character, and if the Coens got a motif from somewhere, I think it was Jarmusch's Dead Man, which I thought of several times. Otherwise, the film has pretty much everything a proper western should have: beautiful landscapes, a straightforward plot, great villains (for a long time we imagine them only on the basis of the narrative, which earns them a lot of respect), and excellent performances – Bridges is brilliant, but the young Steinfeld towers over everyone. And then there's the Coens’ touch, which can sometimes make a film quite unpleasant, but usually adds a whole new and incredibly voluminous dimension. The western is still alive!........... I'm downgrading to 4* after a some time, unlike other top Coens’ films, this one has completely faded from my memory and I have no need to ever see it again. (24/11/2012)

An old, one-eyed sheriff whose best friend is a bottle full of whiskey, a determined ranger dressed in a ridiculous suit, and finally a 14-year-old girl with a tongue sharper than a razor who lost her father and wants revenge. This totally disparate trio come together to hunt criminals. What came out of that?! A pretty solid Wild West flick that mixes action, humor, and good old fashioned western. The cast was terrific (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld vs. veteran Jeff Bridges), the audiovisual execution was engaging, and the script was peppered with a lot of wit. (29/01/2011)

One great piece of Western poetry smelling of gunpowder, beans and tears. The film, which is perhaps most reminiscent of No Country for Old Men in Coens' pedigree, but with its humility towards genre conventions and absolutely brilliant work with the central triangle, creates a very pleasant and warm place of nostalgia and melancholy for the old dusty times of heroism. (15/02/2011)

Even though western is far from my favourite genre, I was looking forward to True Grit, if only because it would be my first opportunity to see a story from the Wild West on the big screen. The execution is above-par, but that shouldn’t be a surprise, the Cohens know how to make movies. Unlike most viewers, though, I had a serious problem with the actors, everyone except Jeff Bridges. Damon, Brolin and the praised all the way to heaven Steinfeld felt… robotic. They just didn’t fit into the western setting, I didn’t believe they were people, I only saw characters written on paper. This leads to another complain I have: the epilogue. In the last five minutes the Cohens try to squeeze emotions and they do it in an unexpected way. In the cinema I didn’t get the dramatic intention, but now it’s clear and I appreciate it somehow because it’s fairly untraditional, but that doesn’t alter the fact that it didn’t work on me. True Grit disappointed me in the same way that No Country for Old Men did three years ago. I prefer the Cohens in comedy :) (26/02/2011)

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. (25/05/2011)