First Hit: A different and powerful version of a wonderful western story.
Jeff Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn a rundown US Marshall who drinks way too much, is a great shot and is not afraid of any man.
He is hired by Mattie Ross (played by Hailee Steinfeld) a 14 year old girl whose father was shot by Tom Chaney (played by Josh Brolin). Chaney has run off into an Indian reservation. Mattie is headstrong and from the moment the film opens I was amazed at her character, her presence and the ability of Steinfeld to make Mattie her own.
Matt Damon has the third important part is this saga as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. He joins the search for Chaney because Chaney is wanted for killing a judge in Texas. LaBoeuf and Cogburn don’t see eye-to-eye on how to track Chaney so Cogburn and Ross split up from LaBoeuf. As they are about to give up because the trail has gone cold, Ross stumbles on to Cheney. Well you can imagine what happens next.
Bridges is fantastic in bringing to life a different Rooster Cogburn than the one John Wayne brought forth. What was wonderful is that Bridges performance did nothing to diminish Wayne’s portrayal and added his own unique version with some real character and depth. This is an Oscar contending performance. Steinfeld, was phenomenal and nothing short of great. Poise, character and immediately mesmerized me into fully believing her every action and word. She did not falter or lose character in any way. She could garner an Oscar nomination. Damon was very good, and as the third character fully rounded this film. Joel and Ethan Coen wrote the screenplay and directed this without the tendency to make it more twisted or impactful. This film is shot straight-up and it is good.
Overall: Truly a wonderful western that doesn’t feel out of date or out of character.