Review of True Grit (2010) by Ted W — 12 Nov 2016

One of the finest if not the finest Western ever made - Hailee Steinfeld plays a huge part but Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon add to the success of this at times quite moving film - Bridges is in his element as the gruff Marshall who reluctanly agrees to track down the murderer of young Mattie Ross' father , he's ' the meanest ' and like a Canadian Mountie , always gets his man or men in Rooster's case - there's an element of realism in this modern version of ' True Grit ' , people come from miles around to see the hanging , even making a day out of it by bringing a picnic , the racism towards the Indian who is about to be hanged is done with a large pinch of dark [ gallows ] humour as his death song is rudely interrupted by having a hood put over his head while the white condemned men are allowed their last words .

' True Grit ' is beautifully photographed , in contrast to the 1969 version the action takes place in late Autumn , early Winter as opposed to Spring and for me it just adds to the beauty of the film - from its beginning to its moving end this is a film I'll never tire of and will watch time and time again - fittingly it was bought for me by my Daughter , Becky - she knows a good film when she sees one , thank you , Sweetheart .