From some of the trailers I had watched I imagined ‘True Grit’ was going to be like ‘Kick Ass’ except it would staged in the old west. I thoroughly enjoyed both films but ‘True Grit’ was more Shakespeare on the range than samurai on the run. This movie is already at the top of my 2011 list. Thor and Transformers are going to really have to blow me down [ll] to take the crown away from this flick.
The language that fills this movie was both entertaining and educational. The Coen brothers direction of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry pepper and Josh Brolin was phenomenal, but the movie belonged to Hailee Steinfeld who was the character with the most grit and determination in the film.
Jeff Bridges is the Ghostface Killah of cinema stars. He consistently does classic work, but is always overlooked for the Pacinos and DeNiros in the game. ‘Big Lebowski’ and ‘Starman’ should be on your all-time top 100 movies list, and I put ‘The Fisher King’ on my top 20. ‘True Grit’ just earned a space on the all-time list thanks to Bridges gristled, gnarled, gritty portrayal of US marshal seeking glory and the respect of a young girl.
And Jeff Bridges has been great from the start! I highly recommend all here see “Fat City” from 1972, dir. John Huston, starring Stacy Keach, Jeff, Susan Tyrell and– like DP– at least one black man who knows the value of a hat.
I can’t find THAT scene, alas, on youtube but here’s the intro–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBvpkXWXZU
Note cinematography by legendary Conrad Hall.
And here’s the ending, with Jeff–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0y9phFKDPI&feature=related
It is both the Best. Boxing. Movie. Evar. and the Best. Drunk. Movie. Evar.
Al Pacino is ASTONISHING in “Dog Day Afternoon” (if hip-hop watched that as many times as they’ve rotted their brains with insipid “Godfather II” & “Scarface” the culture would be in FAR better shape than it is) but he didn’t age well: ah, vanity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF1rtd8_pxA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYk2IaHxUeA
A few years later, dir. Sidney Lumet does “The Wiz” too.
And yes, sports fans, “Godfather II” is fucking trash and De Niro’s been ass for decades.
Jeff Bridges (and Jeffrey Wright, who obviously doesn’t get offered the greatest roles in the world) FTW.
I can’t wait to see this joint, and I think you’re right; Jeff Bridges is consistently good, and constantly overlooked. I dug him in K-Pax.
I saw this on Monday. Loved it! Hailee Steinfeld was so good I thought she out performed Bridges, who was exceptional.
Right on, Dallas. I peeped this joint on X-mas Eve, and thought the same thing. I enjoyed Jeff Bridges quite a bit, and almost did a double header (II?) and saw ‘TRON’. ‘True Grit’ wins. I read that this version is closer to the source material than John Wayne’s version.