The Movie
One of the great things about watching Joel and Ethan Coen's careers has been the futile challenge of trying to guess their next move. While they are no strangers to remakes, or to Westerns (of a sort), I like many was surprised to learn that they would be tackling a modern adaptation of True Grit.
The John Wayne original was still fresh in my mind, and so I can report that The Coen Brothers, serving as both screenwriters and directors, haven't really changed all that much. One clear exception is the ending, but why bother to undertake a new interpretation if so much is so plainly recycled?
The story, as before, follows the willful teenaged daughter of a murdered farmer who strikes out on a dangerous journey with a hired U.S. Marshall and a Texas Ranger, out for justice and/or revenge. Jeff Bridges, who dons the eyepatch of Rooster Cogburn, is wonderful in everything he does, but he lacks the instant--and valuable--tough-as-nails recognition of The Duke. One of True Grit's greatest strengths has always been its literate dialogue, much of it transcribed verbatim once again, but this time the load is shouldered by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, a radiant young actress who conveys a wisdom beyond her years.
Also get an eyeful of Joe Lozito's review of True Grit.
The Picture
As shot by Roger Deakins and presented here at 2.4:1, True Grit is truly gorgeous. Light and shadow are exquisitely manipulated, with even difficult clouds of smoke looking clean and natural. Colors of the great outdoors are often strikingly subdued, sometimes allowing the characters or other key elements to really pop. Blacks are amazingly deep and nuanced in every scene. Fine details like bricks in a distant building or blades of grass are clearly delineated. Just a few shots of fast motion exhibited strobing, but this is but a trifle.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is full and enveloping in ways big and small, from Carter Burwell's period-perfect musical score to the noises of nature creeping in from behind. Voices and more show a clear, refined resonance, but the gunshots eventually steal the show, sharp blasts with boom and echo and frequently flaunting directionality across the home theater space. With enough volume, they might just make you jump.
The Extras
"Mattie's True Grit" is a fine start to the extras, introducing us to young Ms. Steinfeld, who in addition to her acting talent also possesses great intelligence and charm. There are also brief (ranging from three to eleven minutes) featurettes about the costumes, the weapons, the main set, the cinematography and a general overview of the cast. Not much comment from the increasingly enigmatic Coen Bros., though.
There is however a half-hour documentary on True Grit author Charles Pontis, by filmmaker Tara Tremaine, with lots of esteemed voices chiming in on the man and his work. All of these special features are in HD.
Disc Two is a hybrid DVD containing the movie in standard definition plus a Digital Copy for iTunes and Windows Media.
Final Thoughts
The Coens might not have left their mark on True Grit, but their sure hand behind the camera allowed the material--and their stars--to shine, while the superb audio and video of their Blu-ray make this a strong candidate for your disc library.
Product Details
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