True Grit- Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

True Grit tells the story of young Mattie Ross (young in years, but not in spirit) and her desire for the capture of her father's killer in the Native American Region of the American West as helped by an old US Marshall. 

Upon completion of True Grit, one thought comes to mind. The performance of Jeff Bridges. Rooster Cogburn is an everyman western antihero. Unlikeable most of the time, likable when it counts. His acceptance of Mattie Ross's (played by wonderful newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) lust for revenge is proof that he is the guide behind the events that unfurl due to the little girl's vendetta at the loss of her father. The repercussions of such a vendetta are felt at the film's undeniably satisfactory climax, but one can't feel as if there was a little more to be desired of such a compelling, yet simple tale.
Much of the enjoyment of a rather ordinary tale is through the interaction of the primary trio. Bridges's Cogburn, Matt Damon's Laboeuf (albeit to a lesser extent) and Steinfeld's Ross. Laboeuf is the no-nonsense counterpart to Cogburn's nonsense filled life. The movie succeeds at its best when Damon and Bridges share the screen. The two play off each other wonderfully and their eventual genuine desire to help Mattie results in a satisfying and violent end.
Speaking of violence, the film pushes the limits of what can be seen in a PG-13 film with its intense sequences of action. However the film is all the better for it. The film's cinematography is outstanding and captivating shots of clear nighttime skies are evidence of a long past era in American History.

9.5/10 stars