True Grit
The Coen brothers out artillery to offer a new version of “True Grit”. Despite their absurdity customary, the great care given to dialogue and impeccable interpretation, the story is meant minor and forgettable, all because of his story lacks depth and pace stiff. But a film that celebrates the return of the legendary Dude can not be all bad.
A 14 year old daughter (Hailee Steinfeld) wants to avenge the death of her father. That’s why she decided to hire lawyers to find and eliminate his killer (Josh Brolin). She did however find nothing better than an old marshall alcohol (Jeff Bridges) who spends his time grumbling. Together with another representative of the order recalcitrant (Matt Damon), they begin their odyssey that will be far from fantastic.
While Zhang Yimou was a remake of their amazing debut “Blood Simple” with a result that left much to be desired, the Coen brothers attacked the entertaining but forgettable update “True Grit”, first book of Charles Portis then a successful feature film, Henry Hathaway, which has taken the show in 1969 (there was also some version that was released in 1978). True to form, the makers of “No Country for Old Men” fully appropriated this strange universe, creating even more crazy characters, twisted and staggered, sprinkling all the violence that arises at the speed of lightning. A real box of surprises for Western more humorous than dramatic.
The creation of 1969 is far from being a classic. It is at best a light and entertaining derivative sensational masterpieces, which the largest is undoubtedly “The Searchers”. This perhaps explains why this new version has wanted to move away and return original words. Both verbal exchanges are ample smile (the Coen brothers are experts in creating amazing sounds that play with English to make it almost inaudible), as the script takes its time to grow, and when it does is superficial. Despite a nice staging a bit too impersonal and pleasant soundtrack of eternal accomplice Carter Burwell, the book is always a finger to fall in big joke, ridiculously tasty but totally useless.
This is hardly surprising that the actors take center stage, so much that they completely overshadow the many side issues. At the time John Wayne won an Oscar for this being sullen who had alcohol problems and games. While not his best role in his career (it is easy to prefer those in “Rio Bravo” and “Stagecoach”), was an opportunity for Hollywood to underline its considerable contribution to American cinema. This will probably not the case for the bear licked evil Jeff Bridges who just get their hands on the famous price through bittersweet “Crazy Heart”.
However, this does nothing to performance truculent, as pathetic and touching, in line with its dungeon of “Tron: Legacy”. In fact the shadow of his unforgettable Dude of “The Big Lebowski” is fully felt, especially in the way he mumbles, from all around and send out a replica surprising and unexpected. Thanks to him the book remains quite commendable, especially since it is well supported by a flawless distribution. This is not Matt Damon, Josh Brolin or even Barry Pepper who forced him to surpass himself, but the newcomer Hailee Steinfeld which will undoubtedly become the sensation of the hour with his sharp tongue.
This “True Grit” contemporary is not a bad movie. It is just not up to the many talents in place. By attacking a trial once a minor, the Coen brothers did not want to smash your face as Gus Van Sant on “Psycho”. Except by taking some risks, the designers of marking “Fargo” lay their vision the less essential since “The Ladykillers” in 2004, which was already a remake. No doubt the brothers needed to evacuate a little following their much higher “Serious Man” and they will return to the charge with new material even more inspiring.
