If you want to be technical about it, the Coen Brothers have already made a western in the form of 2007's No Country For Old Men. Yet despite being set in Texas, and in a past setting (Regan era 1980's), it isn't a proper western in the truest sense of the word. The Brothers also aren't known for making what we'd call conventional movies. They've dabbled in recognisable genres: Blood Simple is blatantly a film noir whilst Miller's Crossing is a prohibition gangster flick yet all have peppered convoluted narratives, left field plot threads and a wry humour that the brothers have become famous for. True Grit (a second adaption of the epominous novel rather than a remake of the John Wayne film) is there first straight genre piece: a bare bones western with a simple story of murder and vengeance. And it's absolutely magnificent.
There are few duds to be found in the Coen's back catalogue and the consistency of their work is astonishing. What they've managed with True Grit is an honest to god western in the classical sense merged with the usual tropes of their films. The sharp whit of their screwball comedies shows itself from time to time as does their slow but meticulous sense of pacing. How this film hasn't been nominated for an editing Oscar begs belief and why Hailee Steinfeld has been nominated for best supporting actress award defies logic, as she is clearly the lead. She is also terrific, at once a commanding and persuasive presence on screen whilst showing fleeting glimpses of immaturity that remind us that Mattie Ross is in fact just a young girl. Bridges is also excellent as the mumbling drinking Rooster Cogburn. He is an actor that is able to totally immerse himself in a role. You root for Cogburn.
The best western since The Assassination of Jesse James. Maybe even Unforgiven.
5/5
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