A Star is Born

"True Grit"

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

Based on the novel by Charles Portis

With Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Matt Damon

Sometimes an old time Western film is just the kind of escapism you need. If you are one who is hungry for the comfort food of an old time cowboy yarn, get over to the cinema and see “True Grit.”

“True Grit” is nothing new. It was a 1969 Box Office hit starring John Wayne, who won his only Best Actor Oscar for playing Rooster Cogburn in the film. It is faithfully based on the novel of the same title written by Charles Portis and the current version is as much a crowd pleaser as was the Wayne version.

Revenge, plain and simple, is the theme of “True Grit.” Directors Joel and Ethan Coen have recreated the story, adding their own comic touches.

The film opens with a three-way hanging in a dusty old Arkansas town. Among the onlookers is Mattie Ross (Hallie Steinfeld), a determined 14 year old girl who is looking for someone to hunt down the outlaw Tom Cheney (Josh Brolin) who murdered her father. She has decided that the beat up, usually drunk, one-eyed federal marshal Reuben J. “ Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) is the man to do it and hires him for the job. He resists, but tenacious Mattie wears him down. Mattie is one very tough cookie. She insists on accompanying him on this pursuit. Mattie wears pigtails, a big hat, and is primly attired in proper feminine garb. Smug La Bouef (Matt Damon) is a Texas Ranger also trailing Cheney to arrest him for the murder of a senator. This unlikely trio starts off together to find their man.

“True Grit” continues with the requisite shootouts, log cabin confrontations, campfire dinners (where beans are eaten from a can), and run-ins with some pretty bad and pretty dirty hombres—some fingers are even chopped off. The trio passes through miles and miles of expansive, often frozen landscapes.

There is nothing profound about “True Grit.” It is a straightforward and traditional tale of retribution. It is also a story of the extraordinary fortitude of a teenage girl. Mattie is courageous, single minded and is able to handle people who are many times her age. Rather than being lost in the sadness of losing her father, fearless Mattie takes up the reins to snare his killer.

The Coen Brothers are masters of storytelling. They have retooled “True Grit”

with trademark touches of their dark comic humor. The characters are nearly cartoonish. Rooster Cogburn staggers, grunts, and is never far from his whisky jug. He is a little too long winded at times and you wish you could better understand his slurred words. Nefarious Tom Cheney is an insane buffoon of a criminal. The bad guys are not only extremely depraved, but also vastly grimy and grubby.

Jeff Bridges is superb as the growling, crotchety has-been marshal who knows he is a mess, but doesn’t care. He won the Academy Award last year for “Crazy Heart,” and he is certain to be nominated best actor again this year. You barely recognize that Matt Damon is the actor playing the taciturn LeBouef. Even his voice is different. But the film really belongs to Hallie Steinfeld. Her character is well written, and she gives a powerful performance of a precocious, level-headed, teenager who is mature beyond her years. You will be seeing a lot more of her in movies yet to be made.

“True Grit” is a character piece that covers familiar territory. Who knew that a film about a stinky old drunk cowboy and a stubborn teen would be box office gold? But it is a lot of fun. Check it out.