|
|
Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) helps Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) track down her father’s killer in the Coen brothers’ remake of “True Grit.” |
“True Grit,” the 1969 western that gave John Wayne his only best actor Oscar, probably ranks high on the list of motion pictures that don’t ever need to be remade.
Yet, that didn’t stop those rascally, genre-bending Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel, from turning the Dude into the Duke and putting their own twisted spin on the tale of a teenage girl out to avenge her father’s murder.
Even if you’re a dyed-in-the-saloon John Wayne buff, the brothers’ “True Grit” still represents a significant improvement over Henry Hathaway’s take on Charles Portis’ celebrated novel.
First, Jeff Bridges’ U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn is a trigger-happy, tough-and-gruff equal-to-life boozer in a stark contrast to Wayne’s bigger-than-life boozer Hollywood icon. Bridges’ Cogburn isn’t better, but he’s significantly more humbled and worn out by a life of chasing desperados and living up to his (couple of) wives’ expectations.
Second, Matt Damon creates an inspired LaBoeuf, the egotistical Texas Ranger who sees himself as something of a Sir Lancelot: a brave, noble soul who always gets his man. After 41 years, Damon finally erases the prickly memory of LaBoeuf played by Glen Campbell, easily the worst portrait of a western movie hero by a singing star, at least since Ricky Nelson wobbled and warbled his way through the classic “Rio Bravo.”
Kim Darby’s role as the ultrasmart Mattie Ross has been smoothly hijacked by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the independent girl younger and convincingly sharper, able to get her way through astute and unyielding argument. (Read more…)