Movie #370 ......................... "True Grit" (2010)

Movie #370 "True Grit " (2010) was so much better than the original with John Wayne. It's better in photography (with Deakins as cinematographer, he's one of the best), acting (the first girl was okay, but this one is mesmerizing --- there's something about her that demands attention, and Bridges is great, and Matt Damon is.....well....cute, accent and all --- and much better than Glenn Campbell, but the bar isn't that high); the story is more gritty, but not that much changed (except at the high point and end), and the dialogue was better. I liked the way everyone talked "up" rather than "down" which is usually the choice in the western genre. o Overall, the focus has changed from Rooster in the original to the little girl ----- but really, other than that, not much has changed --- I was quite surprised (saw the original "True Grit" right after we saw this one --- AMC had a tribute to John Wayne last night) Even though the dialogue/choice of words differed, the films were very much the same ---- it opened with the girl dickering with the local horse owner,Rooster's intro is much the same, Le Beouf is introduced in the same way, etc..... like I said, the ending and high point differ and small things here and there, but the movies are very much the same --- I was surprised because the Coen brothers and Bridges said they wanted to go back to the book ---so I expected more deviations from the original movie -- but they must have meant the high point and end. Anyway, there's much here to like and I rate it a 4.

4 stars
True Grit
(2010) PG-13
After her father is murdered by drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), hires Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an alcoholic U.S. Marshal, to help her exact vengeance. The disreputable Rooster still has grit though, and mounts an epic search. The pair is joined on their quest by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is also hunting for Chaney, in this updated Western from Joel and Ethan Coen.
Genre: Westerns, Dramas Based on Classic Literature, Pre-20th Century Period Pieces
Format: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown