A Truly Gritty Movie Review

I've been waiting over a week to use that Title.  I'm going to review these movies in the order they were released.  I actually saw the new version of "True Grit" first, then watched the original.

"True Grit" (1969) - John Wayne won the Oscar for his role as Rooster Cogburn in the original "True Grit".  After seeing this movie, I don't think Wayne's performance was much different than any of the other movies I've seen him in.  I'm not saying he was bad...I just expected more of a stretch to his acting capabilities since he won the Oscar.  Oh well, for everything he did for the film industry, I guess he deserved an Oscar anyway.

So, for those who haven't seen it, the premise is Mattie Ross' (Kim Darby) father is killed, so she hires Rooster Cogburn and is joined by Texas Ranger Le Boeuf (Glen Campbell) to track down the murderer.  What follows is a little bit of a character study and a little bit classic western, as Rooster softens towards Mattie, and they develop almost an Uncle/Niece type of relationship.

Overall, not a bad movie, but not as good as the next movie I'll review.  I'd call this one 3 stars.

"True Grit" (2010) - Jeff Bridges received a nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in the 2010 remake of the John Wayne classic.  Additionally, Hailee Steinfeld was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mattie Ross.  And, for just a little more nominating craziness, the Coen brothers got a Best Director nomination, and this movie got a Best Picture nomination.

The Coen brother's take, as you might expect, is darker than the original.  The weather is worse, the night's seem longer, and the characters have a darker side, especially Cogburn.  But, this version is also funnier, and frankly just better acted.  Steinfeld was terrific as Mattie Ross, and Bridges was outstanding as usual.

The Coen brothers didn't deviate from the original very often, but where they did, the deviation was better. This version of the film had a different take on the conflict between Cogburn and Le Boeuf, as well as how the relationship with Cogburn and Mattie ends.  Frankly, this ending was more appropriate than the 1969 original, and was more true to Cogburn's character, while still showing a softening of his character towards Mattie. 

I rate this one 4.5 stars, and recommend that if you decide to only watch one of the "True Grit" movies, choose the newer version.