The Coen Brothers (Joel and Ethan) are true artists and have contributed more to film in the past 25 years than just about anyone else. Their catalogue (Raising Arizona, Fargo, Miller's Crossing, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man, etc) contains a number of classics (and only a few duds, Ladykillers *cough*) in a number of genres and they are one of the few director(s) who makes a film a virtual must-see just as a virtue of their mere involvement. Jeff Bridges is without a doubt one of the top actors working today. His performance in "Crazy Heart" was truly remarkable, and elevated something that could have been Lifetime "Movie of the week" level schlock to something much, much more. He's worked with the Coen's before, in the comedy/cultural cult classic "The Big Lebowski", as the legendary Dude, a film and role that are near and dear to my heart. This film is the Coens' second remake, after the deeply flawed "Ladykillers", but the source material is quite different indeed. The original, 1969's True Grit, is one of the great westerns, and for my money, one of John Wayne's best performances, indeed the only won for which he brought home Oscar gold. Into the Duke's sizable shoes steps Jeff Bridges, playing the deliciously crusty Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn, a man who's cunning, violent, drunken, debauched, and also quite funny. This is a remarkable film. Visually stunning, tremendously acted, where it may be strongest is in the language and dialogue, it's poetic and often artistic.. hearkening back to an era where language held a prized place in our culture, as opposed to today's "Jersey Shore" era where "like" is every other word and mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers are barely capable of forming coherent thoughts. This film calls to mind the great era of Westerns - where the majesty of the settings and the strength of the personalities defined us through American fables, featuring great men and grand deeds, the stuff of legends filtered through a distinctly American lens. In an era where cynicism and moral relativism dominate discourse, it's refreshing (to me at least..) to know the stakes and get a classic, straight-forward story presented in such a well-done fashion.
Bridges, is, as expected, terrific. Wonderfully gruff and just an all-around miserable bastard, he's part hardened killer, part Bad Blake, part "The Dude" and all awesome. Matt Damon more than holds his own as a more straight-edged lawman, a Texas ranger known only as "La Beouf". The real star here is young Hailee Stanfield, who more than holds her own as spunky, precocious Mattie Ross, who seeks vengeance for the murder of her father. This isn't a story you've never seen before, it's a manhunt with revenge as the primary motivation. Josh Brolin (also a Coen vet) plays a somewhat vile villain and Barry Pepper is an unexpected surprise as the leader of the outlaw gang our intrepid wanderers are pursuing. It's sort of a Western road trip movie with a solid body count stacked up along the way. I won't say any more so as to not spoil the plot.
At once epic and intimate, the Coens do justice to a classic cinematic genre, rendering the period brilliantly. The artfully done portrayal of a time and place that seems so far away elevate this film from an homage to something more.. a great example of the genre perhaps? At times funny, dark, charming, witty and violent (not entirely unlike the old west itself), this is a great flick that's well worth a watch. Don't go in expecting your worldview to be forever altered by what you're seeing, but simply enjoy the artistry of filmmakers and performers at the top of their respective games, and remember that films like this is why there will always be a special place for movies.
8.5/10.
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