"True Grit" Review
2010
A Joel & Ethan Coen Film
Protagonists:
Hailee Steinfeld
Jeff Bridges
Matt Damon
Antagonists:
Josh Brolin
Barry Pepper
When a girl wants to get justice for the murder of her father, she looks to hire the Marshall that won't fail; who has true grit. What she gets is an old, fat drunkard with only one working eye. She also gets competition in the form of a Texas Ranger who wants to turn in the same criminal for another murder.
I am aware of that this is based on a novel, though I have not read it. I have, however, seen the 1969 version of the same film.
Whereas the most recent version fits its name by being gritty and almost painfully detailed, the old version leaves you with the curiosity of when the Cartwright men will start showing up.
The wardrobe choice of the recent version seems as dirty and authentic as can be made possible, even if my first reaction to the female protagonist was; why is Wednesday Addams there?
The old version was too clean not only in wardrobe but also in grooming for the characters. The female protagonist, timid and soft-spoken, looked like she belonged in The Sound of Music rather than the wild west.
The recent acting and cinematography as well as the music selection fit the overall feel of the story, while the old version was limited in its acting talent, camera techniques, and poorly chosen music which sounded more at home in an old Disney animated film.
Granted, the old version has a certain charm about it, but I prefer the better story telling of the modern version.
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