True Grit

I approached True Grit with a certain amount of eager anticipation - it's the Coen brothers doing a Western, it's Jeff Bridges, it's Matt Damon. And for once a film turned out to be pretty much what you'd expect - and that's pretty darn good.

Of course, there are some for whom the very idea of a new version of True Grit (and this is a new adaptation of the book, not a re-make of the John Wayne version - important distinction) is sacrilege. But despite the fact that it was the film that Wayne won an Oscar for, it wasn't the classic that it would be made out to be and can't hold a candle to true Wayne classics, like The Searchers. So there is room for improvement, and True Grit Coen-style delivers.

The script not sparkles with their usual wit, but also displays their customary ear for unusual speech patterns and period phraseology. The film looks beautiful, with Roger Deakins adding his usual beautiful touch to the cinematography, aided by some stunning landscape. Of the cast, Bridges has a ball as the drunk marshall Rooster Cogburn and Damon shows a deft comic touch as the Texas ranger version of Monty Python's "When I were a lad...", but the film really belongs to newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, the young girl who hires Cogburn to catch her father's killer. Despite her nomination for Best Supporting Actress, she is the real lead here and gives an amazing debut performance. Elsewhere there is good support from the likes of Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper as the movie's villains.

Its not a perfect movie - the snake pit sequence after the ostensible climax of the film seems slightly misplaced, but overall its a hugely entertaining and well-made film.

Overall - 8.5/10 Definitely recommended - a film that delivers what you'd expect and hope for.