Seth Lamey
The “Western” genre was an early pioneer of genre film making in Hollywood’s classic era, dominating the screen until eventually fading away to the background in the 1960s and 1970s. The advent of television had also adopted the genre to great success, and headed into the 21st century that trend would continue. Shows like Deadwood, Hell on Wheels, and many variants ofYellowstone would find their audience. Films set in the old west would be rare in the new century but occasional some did leave a lasting impression. In 2010, auteur film makers Joel and Ethan Coen would adapt the 1968 Charles Portis novel True Grit into a film of the same name. Their command in aspects of writing, directing, and editing—with some key casting of both a crop of veteran actors and a shining-star newcomer—made for a fresh and crafty addition to the genre.
True Grit had been adapted on screen previously, with legendary Hollywood western actor John Wayne taking on the role of Marshall Rooster Cogburn. A loose adaptation of the Portis novel, the 1969 film was no doubt a vehicle for Wayne’s star to shine and land him his long elusive best actor award at the Oscars, one he would succeed in. Changes from the novel would include centering Wayne’s Cogburn in the narrative, changing the books POV from Maddie Ross to Cogburn leading the charge to find her fathers killer, Tom Chaney.
When the Coen’s tasked themselves to make a new adaptation of True Grit in 2010, they changed it back to 14-year-old Mattie Ross’s perspective of the dangerous journey. Centering a Western around a teenage girl was surely a progressive idea in such a hyper masculine genre. This change marked a vital casting decision that lead the directing duo to Hailee Steinfeld, winner of a 15,000 girl search for their Mattie Ross. Alongside Steinfeld they would bring in veteran actors Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Barry Pepper. The casting as Steinfeld was nothing short of brilliant. Her assertiveness, maturity, and expressive gumption was exactly what this film needed in contrast to the serious and sometimes bumbling nature of her adult counterparts.
Set in 1878, 14 year old Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) travels to Fort Smith Arkansas after her father was murdered by one of his accompanied men after a dispute. She tasks Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to chase down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) and bring him back to see justice for her fathers murder. The duo fall into plans with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) in pursuit across Choctaw Nation for Chaney and the “Lucky” Ned Pepper Gang. While the film is titled True Grit and that is what Mattie Ross seeks in a Marshall to complete her mission, it is a character trait that her, Cogburn, and LaBoeuf all possess by films end.
Mattie Ross exhibits true grit by her very forward nature as a business person in trade and her determination to guide Cogburn and LaBoeuf through to the end of her desired mission. Whether it be winning a trade, riding her horse “Little Blackie” across a river, or shooting Tom Chaney at point blank range she earns her spurs by the end of the film. Cogburn’s and LaBoeuf quarrel of masculine ego trips and pains of the past but eventual both make right by the girl. In a thrilling climax, Cogburn takes on the Ned Pepper Gang by himself in a shootout showdown on the plains, and after much boasting of his marksman ability, LaBoeuf lands a life saving blow to save Cogburn’s skin. Rooster completes a tireless journey across horseback to save the life of a snake bitten Mattie Ross at the films climax, a heroes send off for the final moments on screen for Bridges’ Rooster Cogburn.
By 2010, the Coen brothers were a known and revered film making force in the film community. With forces on film such as Fargo and their Oscar winning No Country For Old Men their reputation to making unique and idiosyncratic genre blends of crime, noir, western, and comedies was academic. Adapting Charles Portis’ novel and making their own take on True Grit in retrospect was a good move, showing them play in a nearly forgetting genre for the big screen. As a writing team they included a lot of the mid-19th century dialogue and syntax of the time, with everyone in the story speaking proper and with elegance (no contractions). Almost jarring to hear in modern times, the deliver of said dialogue is a breath of fresh air and with both seriousness and comedy rolling off the tongue of their actors it makes the film endlessly entertaining. While dominated by quippy dialogue, the film no doubt packs a punch on occasion with explosive violence in the form of gun violence in step with the time.
Adding to their authentic Western verisimilitude is legendary costume designer Mary Zophers fitting out characters in dresses, coats, and hats of the time. Long time Coen brothers cinematographer Roger Deakins provides beautiful landscape shots of rural Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also composes intimate close-ups in candle or fire lit settings, providing a classy and professional look for the 2010 Western. A Coen regular since the early 1990s, the cinematographer became quite adept to executing the look required for their films and eventually was award a Best Cinematography award for his work on the Denis Villenueve film Blade Runner 2049. Composing the musical score would be Carter Burwell, another Coen Brothers stalwart. From the films opening shot, his track “The Wicked Flee” entices audience of action to come with a soft piano melody and eventual giving award to orchestral horns and violins mixed with piano. Riffs of church hymm’s of the time were used as inspiration, and a nod to a Coen Brother film favorite The Night of the Hunter revived the song “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”
The reception to True Grit upon its release was universal praise from audiences and critics alike. It earned $250 million at the worldwide box office, a great return for its $38 million budget. Critic Roger Ebert exclaimed “What strikes me is that I’m describing the story and the film as if it were simply, if admirably, a good Western. That’s a surprise to me, because this is a film by the Coen Brothers, and this is the first straight genre exercise in their career. It’s a loving one. Their craftsmanship is a wonder,” and also remarking, “the cinematography by Roger Deakins reminds us of the glory that was, and can still be, the Western.” The film would garner ten nominations at the Academy Awards, with young Hailee Steinfeld highlighting as an acting nomination for best actress in a leading role. The film earned a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 8.1/10 and was named on many Top 10 film lists of 2010.
This film marked the near peak of the Coen Brother prime as a film making duo. They would make three more films together in the 2010s but ultimately part ways and each make films as solo efforts. Their follow up film after True Grit would be a dark comedy musical about a 1960s down-on-his-luck folk singer Inside Llewyn Davis, their last great film together as a directing tandem. Hailee Steinfeld has gone on to an interesting career. She would find a good role in the coming-of-age drama The Edge of Seventeen and bounce around franchise films in the Pitch Perfect series and Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. Her acclaim as an actor would once again be featured with an auteur director in 2025’s Ryan Coogler southern gothic horror film Sinners.
Jeff Bridges reunited with the Coen Brothers 12 years after his iconic performance in their neo-noir stoner comedy The Big Lebowski and would win his Oscar a year before True Grit for the musical drama Crazy Heart. Matt Damon shed the Bourne and Ocean’s franchises to take the part of LaBoeuf in True Grit. He has since gone on to work with Soderbergh, Ridley Scott, and other marquee directors in Hollywood. Josh Brolin reunited with the Coen’s three years after his performance in No Country For Old Men. He would work with them again for Hail, Cesar! and would fine fame in the Marvel franchise films as big bad Thanos and also a small role in Dune.
The genre of modern Westerns is cold and dry with just a few films worth noting. Andrew Dominick’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford dared to restore a serious and dramatic reverence to a dying drama but ultimately sat on the fringes of the film community in limited fashion. Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog did so 15 years later, although with a limited release and Netflix home it did not reach the masses like True Grit. The Coens crafted an adaption that was true to the Portis novel and towards what they wanted told about a Western story of excitement, struggle, and overcoming adversity. Their casting of Steinfeld was a bullseye, and her chemistry with her more seasoned actor collaborators added humor and grounded realism for the Western frontier. Their ability to create an affecting and lovable Western in a time when few others can makes True Grit stand out as a gem of strong film making and enduring quality.
