Day 4:28 pm
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Coens do Western right with “True Grit;” performances power “The Fighter”
Known for quirky comedies (“The Big Lebowski”), dark dramas (“No Country for Old Men”), and sometimes both combined (“Fargo”), the Coen Brothers have crafted “True Grit” as their most straightforward and mainstream film to date. It’s an entertaining yarn that executes all the classic Western elements and adds distinct Coen dialogue alongside a trio of great performances.
Based more on the Charles Portis novel than the 1969 film adaptation starring John Wayne, “True Grit” follows 14-year-old Mattie Ross as she hunts down the man who killed her father in cold blood. The tough-talking Mattie is played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in a firecracker of a performance. She’s the highlight in a movie populated by Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and a one-eyed Jeff Bridges.
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