I remember my dad taking me to see the John Wayne/Kim Derby version of True Grit in the late sixties. My mom didn’t do westerns so I was the lucky winner of a ticket to the Cowboys and Indians offerings of the sixties.
Strangely enough, I LOVED True Grit and still remember the movie, even though it was over 30 years ago. So, of course, I eagerly awaited the Coen Bothers remake of this classic, and needless to say, I was not disappointed.
Set in the 1870’s, in Frontier America, Charles Portis’ tale is narrated by Mattie Ross (played by fabulous newcomer Hayley Steinfeld). The feisty 14-year old arrives in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to collect her murdered father’s belongings. She is also determined to see her father’s killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) brought to justice.
Mattie hires the notoriously ruthless US Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to help her hunt Chaney down, and insists on accompanying the drunken, trigger happy, “rough around the edges” Cogburn, despite his best efforts to dissuade her.
Already on the trail of Chaney is a Texas Ranger, LaBoeuf (pronounced La Beef) (played by Matt Damon), and Cogburn and Mattie’s path crosses LaBoeuf’s on the trail, into Indian Country. All three are determined, courageous and outspoken and the result is a sometimes sad, but more often hilarious story!
Mattie’s unrelenting spirit and her innocent, yet insolent character will definitely charm young and old alike. And, Bridges Oscar Nomination performance, and Damon’s good looks and brilliant portrayal of LeBouef make this movie an absolute must see.
Today’s teens will probably say “Thank goodness we were not born in the American Frontier in the 1870s”, and appreciate the high tech world they have been raised in even more!
Age restrictions: From 13yrs. There’s a lot of skiet, skop en donner , (typical Western style) and some gruesome, bloody stuff (also typical Western stuff) but no sex, nudity or bad language.
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