True Grit
The brief
The Coens strip their remake down to bone and sinew, creating something harder and more mythic than the John Wayne original. Hailee Steinfeld's Mattie Ross is a force of nature wrapped in Victorian propriety, while Bridges' Cogburn mumbles through layers of grime and whiskey like a feral mountain man. The whole thing moves with the deliberate pace of a funeral march, punctuated by sudden bursts of shocking violence that feel both inevitable and surprising. Perfect for fans of No Country for Old Men who want their westerns served cold and unforgiving.
The verdict
If you appreciate slow-burn character studies with sparse dialogue and sudden bursts of brutal violence, this is essential viewing that showcases the Coen Brothers at their most uncompromising. If you prefer action-packed westerns or expect the warmth of the John Wayne version, you'll find this remake too cold and deliberately paced for your taste.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for serious western fans
- 👨👩👧👦 Teenagers who appreciate character studies
- ⚠️ Skip if you want lighthearted entertainment
Heads up
- Graphic gun violence and shootouts (moderate)
- Character hanged on screen (brief)
- Dead bodies shown throughout (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Cast
- Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Dakin Matthews, Jarlath Conroy
Official synopsis
Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Both feature gritty Western adventures with dark humor and moral complexity.
Total runtime: 1h 50m + 2h 01m = 3h 51m
