Opening 24 Feb 2011
Directed by:
Ethan Coen
Writing credits:
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Charles Portis
Principal actors:
Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper
The recollection of America’s Wild West continues to lose color as our modern world moves closer to being controlled by the higher powers of the 21st century’s technology. Thankfully filmmakers such as the Coen brothers, Joel & Ethan, bring back the rich and vibrant era of America’s Western frontier in collaboration with novelist Charles Portis in True Grit.
The legend of Tom Claney (Josh Brolin) begins with fourteen year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) explaining her disgruntlement with the law. Her father was killed in cold blood by a known coward, Claney, for two gold pieces and escapes to rendezvous with bandits led by Lucky Ned Pepper (Barry Pepper) in Indian Territory. Mattie’s grit is to bring her father’s killer to justice in the courts of Arkansas. Her dilemma is how to travel the dangerous terrain and with whom for the catch. She seeks help from the best-known tracker out of Fort Smith: U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Unfortunately, his old age and skill skewed by drink make him a less-than-desirable authority of the law. Left with no other options, Mattie’s ingenuity persuades Cogburn to join her plight. In route, misery loves company when an obnoxious, squeaky-clean Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) joins the twosome man-hunt for his stake in the fugitive. A handsome reward awaits LaBoeuf if Claney is extradited for crimes committed in Texas. Mattie’s wit, timing and tenacity solidify her ability to hold the peculiar threesome together in order to see justice served. (Karen Pecota)
