True Grit
2010/ US/ 110 mins/ Dir. Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast inc Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon
The Coen brothers return, offering their own distinctive take on Charles Portis’ revenge-western novel.
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.
‘It could be the Coens’ most straightforward film, but it’s also one of their best.’