Review of True Grit (2010) by Stefan G — 01 Feb 2015

Unlike the John Wayne version, this film focuses on the perspective of the young girl, which, in my opinion, creates a far stronger perspective. The story itself is well-paced, and though sometimes the narrative isn't wholly convincing, the way the story is set up paves the way for an enjoyably gritty western.

The characters themselves are appropriately serious, and the performances, while not always moving, encapsulate the grittier side of the Old West. In my opinion, the best performances came from Jeff Bridges, who single-handedly turned what was just another cowboy hero into a unique character with a more distinctive personality, and in the end, he develops into an all-round likable character who, despite his flaws, is certainly good enough to get the job done.

Perhaps the best part about the film is its visual style, which, in many ways, could accurately represent the Old West, and I say that because of the gritty visuals, the setting, the costumes, and the overall tone, which is set so well that it was completely convincing.

Even if it's not the best western out there, it's certainly a welcome addition to a genre that supposedly went out of fashion many years ago.