True Grit (Mo***1/2 Jo****)

John says:
Having one of the best trailers of the year, I was entering into the showing of True Grit with mildly-high expectations. On the whole, the film is technically brilliant. The Western genre is perfectly recreated with beautiful sets, costumes, and camera work. After the movie was over, though, I realized that while the movie had few flaws, it simply did not live up to the expectations one expects when going to see a Coen brother's movie. As absurd as it sounds, True Grit was just too 'by the book.'

Right away it must be said, Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld carry the movie with ease. Each one's character is stubborn, determined, and completely believable. While it may not be a career-best piece for Bridges, it is nonetheless a solid performance, especially knowing it stands on equal footing with John Wayne's Oscar-winning turn in the same role 40 years ago. Hailee Steinfeld's performance easily steals the show. Her whip-smart performance and delivery of some of the most clever dialogue of the year equally matches Bridges and Damon and establish her as one of the finest young actors.

Having seen the original, I was surprised both at the similarities and differences. I am aware this film is based on a novel, but it is interesting seeing the different interpretations of the story. On the whole I still believe that the original may be a more enjoyable film, but the ending of the Coen's film, like all their others, is perfect and definitely left me wanting more, even though a majority of the film I found myself approaching bored with scene after scene of extensive dialogue.

My consensus? A finely-made Western with sharp performances and beautiful sets. The cinematography is exquisite (thanks to the immaculate Roger Deakins (though I am not sure if this should be the film he finally wins an Oscar for. It was beautiful, but nowhere near his best work..)) I suspect fans of the Coen brothers may find themselves more disappointed with this movie than others, which is interesting. It may help bring them a larger fan base and get people more interested in their other films, too.

Maureen says: 
Being a Coen brothers fan and having somewhat of a soft spot for old-looking movies and westerns, I had high hopes going into True Grit. Although certain aspects of my expectations were realized and then some, the bulk of the film did not quite live up to the promise of its predecessor. Although technically nearing perfection, this film simply does not have the "wow" factor to win at the awards this year.

The film began relatively slowly... although wonderful acting by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld steals the show from the get-go, the audience cannot help but wonder, "when is something finally going to happen?" This is uncharacteristic of the Coen brothers' usual style, which is perhaps why the film ends in an ultimately unsatisfying fashion. Truly, the acting by Steinfeld and Bridges carries the film; without them, it would hardly be interesting to the average viewer at all. To the actors' credit, however, the characters are developed fully and intricately, and both Steinfeld and Bridges should receive well-deserved nominations in the coming awards season. Steinfeld, in particular, holds her own against the well-established Bridges and Damon, and is the center of attention in nearly every scene.

Aside from the acting, the film is equipped with a variety of beautiful ornaments, including score, cinematography, art direction, and costumes. It seems hard to imagine that it will not be recognized for these categories at the upcoming Awards. Even with the beautiful sets and camerawork, however, the overall effect of the script was dull and monotonous. Often, scripts filled with dialogue can be as riveting as the most action-packed film; here, the talking falls flat and the audience finds itself looking at its collective watch.

Coen brothers fans will find this film different from nearly everything else they have ever done, and unfortunately, not always in a positive way. Though True Grit exhibits impeccable filmmaking and will undoubtedly be recognized with multiple nominations for this in the awards season, the film does not quite realize what should be the ultimate goal of any movie: entertaining the audience.

(Awards potential: Best Picture, Best Actor (Bridges), Best Supporting Actress (Steinfeld), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing)

*The Academy recently announced the film's Original Score was deemed ineligible for one reason or another. This is especially upsetting considering the score is one of the best aspects of the movie and is easily one of the best original scores of the year