True Grit (2010)

Cowboy films have almost gone the way of the dodo. Relegated to midday-movie status on television, cinemas have recently seen little of the Wild West. With this in mind, it is nice to see the Cohen brothers bringing the genre back in such an impressive way. 'True Grit' does not shy away from the elements that define the western: accents are thick, actors are grimy and death is treated as an inevitability. This allows the brothers to surprise the audience with some excellent black comedy between the gunfire and makeshift tourniquets.

The cast is full of memorable characters, but the film rests on the interplay between the main trio. Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon play US Marshall 'Rooster' Cogburn and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (respectively). Both of these actors are at the top of their game the entire movie and the way they play off each other is a masterclass in itself. There is an instant rivalry between the two characters due to their different military backgrounds. A lot of this tension is subtle and told though simple glances and pauses, but when they begin taunting and arguing for real it becomes even more honest and engaging. It adds a lot of depth to the characters, especially when it extends to trying to impress the girl they are escorting. The girl in question is Mattie Ross, played by Hailee Steinfeld. I was initially anxious about her role: working with two of the most accomplished actors in Hollywood is no easy task, especially for a teenager! This turned out to be a non-issue, as Steinfeld proved to be tremendously engaging on the screen. Her character manages to appear tough, determined and charmingly naive at the same time. She complimented the rest of the cast beautifully.

The visual style of the film is what most would expect from a western: dirty, gritty and full of old-world pride. The same can be said of the music. However, there is a distinct advantage that this film holds over other, older examples of the genre. The difference lies in the gift that the Coen brothers bestowed on the film: their aptitude for crafting dialogue that is fast-paced and clever whilst still remaining accessible to the general audience. An excellent example is when Cogburn is justifying a recent set of killings to the jury. The audience immediately gets a sense of Cogburn's character, the environment that the film takes place in and foreshadowing regarding the difficulties that the group will face later in the film. When all this can be achieved in the background of what is primarily a dark comedy scene, it is clear that the dialogue in the film is one of the greatest strengths it holds.

There have been scant few quality western films recently. In my opinion, 'True Grit' is certainly the best since 2008's 'Appaloosa'. With a fantastic cast and excellent pacing, it is worthy of all the critical praise it has been enjoying since its release.