True Grit (2010) - Movie No. 342

Co-stars: Jeff Bridges (Rooster Cogburn), Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie).

Plot: In 1878 Fort Smith Arkansas, a 14-year girl hires a US Marshal to go after her father's killer.

Pros: , Direction, Set and Custom Design, story and dialog very similar to the book.
Cons: Bridges mumbles his lines, The Bear Man, Good dialog from the book cut

Except for a few misfires (The man in Bear Skin and the Outhouse scenes) the movie is an excellent retelling of the novel. The dialog (taken mostly from the novel) is funny and charming. But how does it compare to the 1969 version?

1) Its obvious the Coen's (despite their BS denial) *have* seen the '69 version and they adjust there film accordingly. Knowing Bridges couldn't compete with Wayne in certain scenes, they made some changes. The famous "Rat" scene is cut, the comic story of Cogburn's former life is done in throwaway fashion, the showdown in the meadow is shown mostly from Matte's POV not Rooster's and final scene of Rooster (Wayne) in cemetery is cut and replaced by Mattie epilogue - which is in the book.

2) The exuberant '69 Bernstein score is replaced a somber low key one.

3) The new movie is much more realistic. The violence in the cabin is much more graphic and shocking, the scenes in Ft. Smith are more historically accurate. The clothing, weather, terrain, and weapons are more historically accurate. Too much of the '69 version was standard Hollywood Western.

4) Damon is far superior to Campbell (anyone surprised?)

5) The first 40 minutes (up till Matte fords the river) of the new Movie are superior to the old one, with a couple of exceptions. Strother Martin is sorely missed, as is the "Rat speech".

6) Bridges is OK - but he adopts a gravely, deep accent which often mutes and diminishes the comic dialog. Best example, Bridges' version of Rooster's life speech (A clumsier child you'd never see, etc.) compared to Wayne's. Bridges gives a performance, Wayne was a Film star.

7) While Steinfeld is very good, in a lot of lines Kim Darby is far superior. Kim's reading of the line "Rooster Cogburn is no good friend of mine! He led us straight into your hands, and now he has left me with a gang of cut-throats! Is that what they call "grit" in Fort Smith? We call it something else in Yell County." is memorable as is her 'discussion' with Stother Martin and her chemistry with Wayne.

8) 1969 supporting characters are better. Stother Martin, the defense attorney, Robert Duval, Cheney, etc. Except for the Undertaker and Boarding house owner all the '60 players are better.

9) The Coen's Direction is far better. The scene where Damon says goodbye to Mattie in the Rain is well done and the ride to save Mattie's life is much more dramatic.

10) The Coen's cut a lot of good lines. All the lines with Stonehill about being a "Good Christian" are cut in the new version. Also cut is Mattie's line: "Those horses can't outrun Little Blackie! They're loaded down with fat men and iron!" and Rooster's classic line: "In the lip? What was you aiming at? Rooster: His upper lip."

Summary: Despite being inferior to the '69 version in many ways, an excellent movie. Rating ***