I had no time to post this up yesterday, but it’s time you had your say on the Coen brothers’ latest. I am a big fan, of course, and a bit predisposed, given my love for the genre. But rattle off your thoughts in the comments section below if you get a chance to see it over the holiday.
Comments
79 responses to “Tell us what you thought of ‘True Grit’”
“Beautiful” would be my word of choice for this film. Every shot felt like it could’ve been framed on my wall. Every note in the score provided the setting with a pitch-perfect mood. Every line was delivered with such deliberate honesty and experience. This is no gaudy piece with directors or actors trying too hard to catch our attention. It is intentionally paced for lovers of the genre and lovers of steady, confident filmmaking. They certainly don’t make movies like this anymore.
The cinematography was beautiful – the shot of Bridges shooting the cornbread especially stands out.
Such a great film. Black Swan, on the other hand, was a disaster.
It was way too slow for me and I really didn’t care about any of these characters.
I think that Bridges probably deserves to be in the top five, but mainly because of his outstanding characterization. Otherwise, there wasn’t much difficulty in his scenes or a variety of emotion.
As far as Hailee Steinfeld, she was very good but didn’t have a lot of levels in her performance. I would put her above Mila Kunis and Jackie Weaver, but not the women from “The Fighter”. She really shouldn’t be in this category though.
I really like Josh Brolin in this film – great characterization and he had some tough scenes.
It was brilliant. One of the Coen’s best and certainly their most moving. It is without a doubt better than the original. Jeff Bridges and the rest of the cast are brilliant. Hailee Steinfield deserves the Oscar. I just really loved it. The cinematography was the best of the year. I can’t sing this movie’s praises any higher.
It’s my favorite film of the year. I haven’t seen any film this year with such a fully realized cast of characters, such a rich thematic landscape, such a cinematic vista. From the stunning tracking shot at the beginning to the final scene, every shot is perfectly framed, it looks like a painting. Burwell’s score sing with an effortlessness and rich orchestrations. I can’t think of a film this year more filled to the brim with cinematic bliss. The Coens are truly masters of their domain.
Thank you James D! I thought I was taking crazy pills when Black Swan began to pick up accolades.
Going to see True Grit tonight, I’ve been pumped ever since the teaser dropped back in September. Back then, Dec. 22 seemed soooo far away!
I loved it! The Coens once again create a great film. Of course Deakins is in top form, but when is he not? Hailee Steinfeld kills it! It’s like the role was written for her! Bridges was great, but that was almost to be expected. Damon also does fine, but to be fair, the character isn’t too flashy and he doesn’t really have much to doo. Every other aspect was perfectly spot on!
Good movie, strong performances all around (though there’s little character development, and Josh Brolin is totally wasted).
Main complaint would be the ending, which I thought was unsatisfactory.
I have admiration for it. The craftsmanship is superb. But there was definitely “something” missing for me.
Acting:
Bridges – excellent characterization. I loved how I could only understand him about 70% of the time; and that actually added to the portrayal, haha. Top 5? Um, not quite on my ballot.
Steinfeld – She’s Lead. No doubt about it. That is some wretched category fraud right there. And flame me all you want – though I think she was very, very good; especially for a 13/14 yr. old … I was not bowled over. I didn’t witness any kind of revelation other than a young girl spouting quick, intelligent dialogue quite well, and looking suitably concerned in the tense spots. I wasn’t “wowed” like I was with Keisha-Castle Hughes or Saoirse Ronan. I didn’t feel it. But again, still completely stellar.
Matt Damon – I SO preferred him to the Glen Campbell portrayal in the ’69 version.
Josh Brolin – very small role, but I think he made the most of it.
Barry Pepper – LOVED him as Lucky Ned.
My favorite sequences include: the opening, the man hung from the tree, the bearskin witch doctor, and the 4-against-1 on the plain. Go Rooster!
I did not care for the coda/epilogue, at all.
So, it’s a 7.5 or 8/10 for me, overall. And I am slightly disappionted that I didn’t love it as much as some others.
Well written, beautifully crafted, good acting – but I was emotionally detached to it. And I only bought the comrarderie/relationship btwn. Rooster & Mattie because the plot told me so. I didn’t feel it as much as I wanted to.
I will say, however, that it IS wonderful to see a Coen Bros. movie do stellar mainstream business (5.5 million yesterday, wow). I definitely liked it enough to enjoy the success it’s having thus far.
True Grit is my favorite Coen Brothers film. Acting, directing, cinematography, score, it all worked.
Damon is somehow being left out of the year end accolades but he was fantastic in the film, easily his best work since The Talented Mr Ripley.
The only thing I didn’t like about the film was how they shot the ending, with Rooster and Mattie on the horse. It looked like rear projection and it ran counter to the lovely camera work throughout the film.
Early WOM and box office prospects are great. I’m expecting 100m+, probably closer to 110m.
To answer everyone’s question regarding the scene on horseback at the end of the film; it was shot on location in Austin TX. Having lived there for several years, I can tell you our night sky just looks like that, no other way to explain it. It looks strange, and that’s represented in the film. Apologies for our ugly nighttime.
No apologies, haha. I thought the skyline looked strangely beautiful. :)
Hopefully going on Monday… read the book about 2 weeks ago, didnt love the store so much, but cant wait to see what the Coen’s do with it and Deakin’s work…
Thanks Kev, when I saw the film last week I immediately thought “why are they suddenly on a soundstage?” lol.
Yeah it’s strange looking out here. I’ve gone hunting with my dad and grandfather for years in Southwest Texas and it looks off, and slightly unnatural at times, but it has a lot to do with the moonlight. It’s uncommonly bright out here.
Looking forward to seeing this X-mas day with my whole family.
Having seen the original film, I didn’t think I was going to like this. Westerns are not typically something I seek out – I find the characters a little dry, the momentum lacking and my interest drains quickly. I was curious what the Coens might do with this though, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Steinfeld gives a wonderful performance as the character with true grit, a girl who demands to be treated as an equal. She’s strong willed, and even though she’s naive, she’s tough as nails. She will get results. One thing I really appreciated about the film was her final scenes – they show a fully developed character and, more than any film in recent memory, they show that a child growing into an adult will be exactly the same person at their core as they have always been. She belongs in the lead category along with Bridges. Hers is the best performance in the film.
Bridges does a very good job as well, nailing his comic notes. Seeing him fall off his horse and shoot at cornbread in a drunken haze were probably the highlights of his turn for me. We do get to see him show some heart, but this isn’t his story. He is supposed to be the hero (in Mattie’s mind), but in the end he is mostly a helping hand. The relationship between him and Mattie fuels the film.
I am generally a big fan of Matt Damon, but I found him to be a bit hammy in his role. Brolin has a throw away character (which he overplays) and the villains were all appropriately harsh. The backdrop is gorgeous and the story soars above the average Western by focusing on motivations, demanding the audience to understand Mattie’s situation and become drawn in by her search for justice.
B+
I wasn’t expecting much, but I actually really enjoyed it. Carefully directed and well-written. Bridges and Steinfeld were terrific, but I really didn’t care for Damon (think he underplayed it) or Brolin (hammy disaster that was fun to watch for all of the wrong reasons). Great cinematography and costuming. 7.5/10
Not gonna lie, I thought it was kind of a disappointment.
Maybe it was just that all of the publicity was making it out to be a no-holds-barred, gritty unsentimental Western, but I thought it was really quite the opposite. If it wasn’t for a few moments of extreme violence and some great scenes of Coen dialogue, I’m quite convinced that Disney could have made this movie. And I’m not just saying that as an expression. I can run through that film in my mind and imagine Disney producing it.
Great performances all around, great dialogue and fantastic cinematography (though not at all Deakins’ best work), but the storytelling was too tame, the music was nice, but misused and out of place, and I was left feeling a lack of emotional connection between Cogburn and Ross.
I’d give it a 7.6 out of 10.
Tom, you have completely echoed every feeling I had about this film when I saw a few weeks ago at a screening. Very forgettable other than some good acting by the leads.
I gave it a C+ at best. Incredibly by the numbers for a Coen Bros. film.
Man, people are so joyless at Christmas time. Can’t believe some of the responses I’m reading. Whatever, doesn’t change my mind on it.
Just saw it a couple hours ago. Thought it was a good genre movie, nothing near the brilliance of something like Black Swan, but neither is it trying to be. It’s a good old-fashioned Western and that’s what makes it enjoyable. The first hour is fantastic, with Hailee Steinfeld shepherding the audience through her wonderful journey. But the second hour is terribly slow and it loses momentum, by the end it becomes quite conventional (with Mattie becoming the damsel in distress right after displaying such strength killing Tom). And the movie does take forever to end, even though it has a very nice epilogue (wish they had star-cast Mattie in her old age, it’d have been a nice cameo for someone like Frances McDormand or something).
Hailee Steinfeld is not supporting though, she’s great, but she’s in the completely wrong category. She should be nominated for lead, it’s a much more impressive performance than the overrated performance the usually great Annette Bening gives in The Kids Are All Right.
Jeff Bridges is indulgent and hammy as usual. Matt Damon is good but his role isn’t particularly meaty, especially considering the film is by the Coen brothers, I expected the character to be a bit more interesting. Josh Brolin has barely anything to do.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, it deserves to be in the top 10 at the Oscars, but wouldn’t nominated it for Director. Cinematography is wonderful, but again much preferred Libatique’s work in Black Swan.
But that’s just it (Tom C, Kyle, the rest). I, too, did not feel an actual connection between Cogburn & Mattie. It’s onscreen. But I didn’t feel it.
Acting, good. Craftsmanship, good. Overall, good. But it didn’t walk out of the theater in cinematic bliss.
Are people really not happy with a Coen brothers film unless the characters are all miserable, and the story is hopelessly grim? I love No Country for Old Men, it’s a balls to the wall masterpiece, and one of my top 5 films of the last decade, but what is it about True Grit that is so off-putting to people? I really don’t get it.
I agree with James D. I found True Grit to be one of the more cinematically satisfying experiences of the entire year, but Black Swan just didn’t do it for me. And Hailee Steinfeld is on my list of stars to look forward to what they’ll do in the future, cause she really is this film. Just purely fantastic, simple and pure, and I don’t even like Westerns, but I loved this one, so there you go.
Kevin K, not at all. I don’t long to see unhappy/grim people and situations. And that’s obviously not this movie.
My only issue with ‘True Grit’ is that I didn’t feel a strong connection between Mattie and Cogburn. Both of them have their moments of wit and humor. They both grow to learn from each other. But I wasn’t emotionally rattled by them as I should have been. And I don’t think the last 5-7 minutes helped any.
But again, that’s my only issue with the movie. I was missing that ‘wow’ sense of emotion. The movie had everything else; just not the emotion, for me.
And though it’s only one component, it’s a big enough one to knock my rating from a 4 stars/A to a 3 stars/B.
I think it’s an intangible thing that individual viewers will either feel (for the relationship btwn. Cogburn and Mattie), or they won’t. I happened not to, and it looks like some people felt similarly. Not all, though.
Well then I guess I’m on the outside, because I definitely felt the emotion in it. One of the most moving films I’ve seen this year. The themes explored about moving on and gaining closure have been something that really shaped what films I responded to this year. Maybe I’m just still sentimental about the LOST finale, but thats the kind of film I’ve really latched on to this year with True Grit, Inception, Shutter Island, and Toy Story 3. So I supposed it’s in the eye of the beholder then. I just am wondering if people saw the same film I did.
But I also feel people are mistaking the relationship between Mattie and Rooster as a father-daughter thing. Not at all. They respect each-other as intellectual equals, as comrades, as friends. I think assuming there’s a fatherly thing going on is a severe misreading of the film, and I’ve heard some complaints that such a relationship wasn’t developed enough in the film, where I argue it’s not developed because it’s not there at all, it’s something completely different.
I thought it was “meh” and pretty disappointing for the Coens. Besides the cinematography and Hailee Steinfeld’s performance (which was brilliant), what was so great about it? Jeff Bridges mumbling out the side of his mouth shouldn’t garner mandatory critical acclaim.
And after all the anticipation of Mattie meeting Tom Chaney, Brolin was in the film for like 10 minutes, and he wasn’t even menacing, he was a douchey little wimp; pretty anti-climactic villain. And then Barry Pepper shows up out of nowhere, and we’re supposed to be riveted by his past “cop/robber” relationship with Rooster via a brief few sentence explanation at the near end of the film? I just don’t get what everyone is raving about…
Kevin, I, too, loved Inception, Shutter Island, & Toy Story 3. I’d said True Grit is probably around 15th of the year for me (out of MANY). I think it’s fantastic that you and plenty took a lot away from the film. I just couldn’t get overly excited/moved.
I loved the acting and the cinematography, but overall I didn’t think the end result was anything special. It didn’t stay much with me afterwards. I’d say it was good, but not great.
I think the anachronistic language will be off-putting to younger and/or less literate viewers. But even those who don’t fit those categories are likely to subconsciously be doing some language deciphering, which can’t help but diminish (however, slightly) the overall moviegoing experience. I think once people are more attuned to the rhythms of speech and the plot details, they’ll be able to more fully enjoy the film during subsequent viewings. Again, I’m not saying that the film was difficult to understand. And in fact, I found it more humorous than I was led to believe by some critics. But I do think that having such language hurled at you, rather rapidly at times, distracts you somewhat from simply sitting back and taking in the film as a whole.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and am eager to see it again. I certainly wouldn’t put it in my top tier of the Coens’ filmography, and I’m not sure multiple viewings will ever change that. But it’s still a very solid effort, and easily better than most movies released in 2010. I do think the cinematography has been a bit overrated by some, though I would love to see Deakins take home an Oscar as much as the next guy. I also didn’t find anything particularly striking about the score, but then again, maybe all the focus on the language was making it a bit challenging to devote enough attention to these other elements. Again, further viewings will tell the tale.
I CAN say that I really enjoyed the acting, pretty much across the board. Can someone who’s read the novel and/or seen the original tell me if there is a pre-existing reason for the oddness of Tom Chaney’s voice? Anyway, Bridges was excellent, and only occasionally hard to understand. I will admit that some of his courtroom comments were too muddled for me. Maybe I should ask Santa for Q-tips. The real joy of the film, of course, was discovering Hailee Steinfeld. Her performance was wonderful, especially for a debut, but what I really loved was seeing a strong, well-spoken, intelligent, teenage female leading character. True, most girls who could use better role models or cinematic heroes aren’t likely to see True Grit, but a person can dream, can’t they? I now fully understand what the Coens meant by a “young adventure story,” and it certainly works as such.
I will say that the ending seemed to come on suddenly, with the epilogue seeming a bit rushed and unsatisfactory. Can anyone tell me why they think one character referred to the other as “trash?” Was it because they didn’t stand in the presence of a lady? If that was the only reason, it seemed a bit unrealistic, possibly because of the way the line was delivered. Again, I was so thrown by this sudden epilogue that I may have missed something.
All in all, it was a stellar effort from the Coens, and I think they probably achieved most of what they hoped to achieve with this picture. I know that’s being awfully presumptuous of me, but I’ll stand by it for now. I should add that the fact that this is a remake is probably coloring my overall reaction to it, simply because I’ve always admired the Coens’ originality. I don’t care that they did a remake, and as someone who hasn’t seen the original or cared for John Wayne in general, I didn’t feel they were treading on sacred ground. But I’m sure there are plenty out there who did grow up loving the original, and I’d be interested to hear their take on this particular adaptation.
In short (ha!), I didn’t leave the theater feeling either disappointed or wowed. I did feel nostalgic for a cinema that once featured many characters like Mattie Ross, but the plot didn’t deeply affect me on an emotional level. Again, multiple viewings could change that. Either way, this is one well worth seeing on the big screen, as well as a worthy entry to the Coen catalogue.
Also, I was stunned during the credits to discover that Steven Spielberg was one of the executive producers. I’d had no idea going into the film.
A fine film all around. Superb photography and a heavenly score by the always unpredictable Mr. Burwell (and I mean that in a good way-his choice use of piano and horns always packs a major punch)
I liked it, but I wish they’ve wouldve extended it another 30 minutes or so. It felt like it was only an hour long.
Don’t worry Kevin K: I definitely thought that this is one of the most moving films I’ve seen all year.
Agreed with Red: it felt really short and by the time the epilogue came, I said to myself “Wait where’s the rest of the movie!”
As far as what I liked about it, there is nothing to add that hasn’t been mentioned already. Score. Acting. Cinematography. All pretty solid. Can’t really add much to the conversation here.
As far as dislikes, a lot of the crucial set ups (Pepper) and situations (Mattie riding through the river) were so underplayed that it didn’t resinate much. Say what you will of the original, but it got its points across a lot clearer.
Seen it twice now and really liked it except the end. I thought a second viewing would change my feelings on the ending, but it didn’t. It just leaves me wanting.
Pretty much everything JJ1 said (who I am beginning to crush on and yes, despite the name I am a girl) sums it up so I won’t repeat it all here.
I guess I will be the only person carrying the flag of this film all year. So be it.
Haha, Kevin K., don’t be so glum. Have you read most of the comments here? Sounds like it went over decently, pretty well, or amazingly well for the most part. You’re not the only one who loved it. :)
Colin, well, I am a guy. I’m flattered to be crushed on. :)
Hailee Steinfeld for president. She was fantastic and definitely gives a lead performance. Matt Damon was also great.
I’ve never been under Jeff Bridges’ spell, so predictably, I wasn’t a fan of his work here. Hilarious at times, impossible to understand at others, I can’t help but feel that there are more deserving performances this year that need to be recognized. That being said, he’s a lock for a nomination. Blah.
Yeah, as good as he was here – I’d rather Gosling got in for sure, or even a Bardem/DiCaprio/Surprise.
strangely enough – the brouhaha over the trailer making the film seem really mainstream turned out to be correct in my opinion. It was a perfectly crafted above-average movie, but with all the hype that a late December release brings, not to mention the Coen Bros. directing, I was led to believe that this was going to be more of a big deal than it turned out to be. I feel like it was more along the lines of The Town or just a really high quality “commercial” film that is already proving to be successful at accomplishing what it set out to do: make a killing at the box office. I can accept that the film is more than likely to be nominated for Best Picture, and although I can list 20 films I think are better, it just is too difficult to argue the politics for why it will easily snag a nomination. However all of the other obvious predicted nominations seem really unnecessary to me – the screenplay and directing seemed so straightforward that I didn’t even feel like I was watching a Coen brothers movie, or even that interesting of a movie at all. And none of the acting was at all revelatory: Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges were fine but have both been a lot better in other films, and while Hailee Steinfeld carried the film quite well in her LEADING role – I feel like she has quite a lot to learn before she can become a really great actress that would ever deserve any type of awards recognition.
I just feel like the film is going to really benefit from everyone’s laziness this year. There were no 11th hour surprises to shake everything up and for months now people have just been going through the motions that this film, sight unseen, was going to be nominated for all these awards. Now that the film has come out and it has turned out to be a good (not great) film, I guess it is just too difficult to imagine a world where the Coens don’t get nominated for Screenplay or Directing or Bridges and Steinfeld for actor and supporting actress b/c it has been on everyone’s prediction list for so long that it is too hard to find replacements or something. I know the critics have been really kind to this film, and the below the lines really do deserve a lot of recognition, but in a few years will everyone remember this film as one of the greatest westerns of all time (or even a really great Coen bros. film?) I am just not convinced that it will stand that test of time.
I basically agree with a lot of what Michael just wrote.
A good, but not great western. Cinematography was exquisite but Burwell’s score didn’t exactly connect with me. Bridges was entertaining, though I’m not sure he should be nominated. Steinfeld was best in show, without a doubt. Damon played a very amusing character that, by the end, seemed lacking in development. All of the dialogue/character interplay was fantastic, and I loved Barry Pepper in his few scenes. Still, the hype had me thinking this would be top tier Coens, and it’s not. The plot was a little too simple for my taste (Cogburn and Mattie bond over their journey to avenge her father’s murder), which wouldn’t be a problem if the film was thematically resonant ala No Country or A Serious Man. The film almost felt too old-fashioned. Overall, a decent western but nothing to rave about.
B+
Can’t wait to see this.
As for people feeling sheistered by the ending, lets not forget No Country for Old Men and A Serious Man (the latter of which, I thought, had an ending so abruptly dissatisfying that it was somehow awesome).
Megan, having seen all three movies … I thought that the ending of No Country was abrupt, but fine contextually. I also thought A Serious Man’s ending was brilliant. But for True Grit, I just didn’t find it cinematically satisfying; either by itself, thematically, or otherwise. It just was.