True Grit

An updated John Wayne western by the Coen brothers, True Grit features a solid cast including Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin, as well as 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, a new actress on the scene.

The storyline is simple: A girl approaches a notorious marshal to hunt down the man who shot her father. As the pair journeys into the wilderness to seek revenge, they form an unexpected bond. Though fairly orthodox, True Grit is no less riveting, chock full of the proverbial shoot-em-up scenes and balanced with an unexpected dose of charm and humor. The script is both well-written and well-delivered, crafting dynamic, developed characters throughout the course of the film. Though fast paced, the dialogue adheres to the rhetoric of the time. For example, there is not one contraction in the entire movie.

The real surprise comes, however, from Steinfeld, who holds her own amid a renowned cast. Steinfeld delivers the ideal character—a witty, intelligent girl bent on revenge for whom the term “tomboy” seems too feminine.

In all, True Grit is worth seeing at least once, though you could probably predict the resolution before the credits roll.