A Little Girl and The Dude: Out For Retribution

Joel & Ethan Coen's latest film, a remake of the 1969 True Grit, held a special place in our hearts before we even saw it. Being native Arkansans, we were anxious to see how the Coen brothers would treat a Western set in our home state. We were lucky enough to get to attend a preview screening a week before the film's theatrical release and we have to say the brothers did us proud (even though the film was actually shot in New Mexico).

Mallory doesn't have a terribly high tolerance for Westerns and therefore had fairly low personal expectations for this one. However she does tend to trust the Coen brothers and the atypical approach they often take to telling the stories of average people. This one tells the story of a little girl who enlists the help of a U.S. Marshal to aid in her quest to avenge her father's murder. While not greatly relatable to the average viewer, Mattie Ross- played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld- solicits the sympathy of the audience early on. We want her to succeed. That sympathy can, in large part, be attributed to Steinfeld's performance. She comes across as intelligent and confident when in her element, but we're reminded that she's a young girl at various points during her adventure. Both sides of Mattie Ross were believable. 

Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross

In fact, all of the performances were excellent. Jeff Bridges could pass as an Arkansan any time he needs to and Matt Damon was a convincing Texas Ranger.  For the first time in a movie that we can remember, the Arkansans don't sound like they're from Alabama or Georgia.  This wouldn't have happened if it weren't a Coen brothers film, as most of their films tend to have the correct dialects for the areas they take place.  Granted in No Country for Old Men Tommy Lee Jones grew up in the county the entire film takes place, but the other characters in their other films tend to have accurate accents.  The characters in the film rarely seemed to utter a single contraction.  It can be slightly distracting, and exceedingly proper, but we assume historically accurate.

It being a Coen brothers film, we expected some humor sprinkled throughout. However we were both surprised at the number of times we found ourselves, along with other audience members, laughing out loud. The witty remarks were well written, but also well delivered by the actors as they were often simply stating the obvious. Despite that most of the laughs derived from subtle sarcasm, the biggest outburst in our viewing was the result of Bridges' character, Rooster Cogburn, literally kicking a child off of a porch. This film was the closest we've seen the Coen brothers come to writing/directing a "feel good" movie, but at the same time it is a true Western, and not some hokey adventure.  There is little violence, but when it is there it is swift and visceral.

Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn

True Grit is expected to be one of the ten nominees for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and it quite possibly is one of the best films of the year (we have missed a few of the front runners).  Of all the films we have seen this year we'd both put it in our top 5.  We recommend you see this film, especially if you're Arkansan, but even if you're not you should still enjoy it.  Make sure to check back on Saturday for our review of Black Swan, it is finally coming to Little Rock!

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