True Grit

Objective Rating (How much merit I think it deserves):
8/10
Subjective Rating (How much I personally like it):
7.5/10

Year released: 2010
Runtime: 110 minutes
IMDB page: here

Not much of a Western fan either (man, I hope this is not going to turn into a blog of things I'm not a fan of), and I realize last time I said that about country music, it was also a Jeff Bridges film (Crazy Heart). But yeah, this is a great film. I'm a bit of a fangirl for the Coen brothers. They've got this brand of humour that is not very much in your face and sometimes requires a double-take. But the hidden barbs are delicious brain teasers. And things are almost always unexpected (case in point: No Country for Old Men).

However, True Grit has got to be among the more rule-following and heart-warming of the Coen brothers' works. Based on the novel of the same name (of which the 1969 John Wayne movie is also based), it is the story of a 14-year-old girl in the American West in the 19th century trying to track down her father's killer with the help of an alcoholic, weathered and slightly trigger-happy US Marshal. And a Texas Ranger who talks too much.

The acting is quite beautiful; the language of that time period is spoken with such fluidity and everything is so believable, which is hard to achieve in this day and age of cynicism, especially toward Westerns. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld makes a deep impression as Mattie, stubborn and clear-minded and sternly reasonable, way beyond her supposed 14 years. Jeff Bridges as the Marshal is ragged, ruthless at times, and seems unreliable until he comes through for you. Every time. Matt Damon is the proud Ranger who always has a comeback for you but you just can't help but doubt if his money (or skills) is really where his mouth is. Watching the relationship between the three characters flourish during the course of the pursuit is the most rewarding part of this film.

I don't know about winning all the awards (speaking of which, Golden Globes this Sunday night!), because this film doesn't necessarily have that much ... shine to it, but it definitely has the makings of a classic that you would want to watch on some afternoon years afterward.