This is one gorgeous movie. There is a scene where Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) and Mattie Ross (Hallee Steinfeld) are riding on their horses at night and the backdrop is just a black sky filled with stars and it takes your breath away. I swear I swooned.

“True Grit” is a classic Western. There are VERY bad guys, kind-of good guys (in comparison to the badder guys), tough gals, spirited horses, wide-open spaces, lots of dirt, lots of gunplay and a pot of beans. Little wonder they seemed to like to sleep outside considering all the beans they allegedly consumed.

Obviously, everyone was excited at the prospect of the Coen brothers reuniting with Bridges after the glorious results of their last outing, “The Big Lebowski” (for those of you who are movie-illiterate). Jeff is more in “Crazy Heart” codger than Dude mode here…so I guess the catch-phrase should be “The Duke abides”?

Jeff is beyond reproach. He manages to do a broken-down drunken country western type without copying his Bad Blake portrayal, which shows how awesome an actor he is. Hallee Steinfeld, as the young girl attempting to avenge her father’s death, is so amazing that I wanted to adopt her and I don’t have even a hint of a maternal molecule in my makeup. Somehow, Matt Damon (as the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf) comes off completely hot, even though he’s covered in hair and unrecognizable. Naturally Josh Brolin plays a terrific evil guy (Tom Chaney). Special mention should be made of the mesmerizing effect Barry Pepper’s butter-colored ragged teeth have on the viewer.

Don’t miss this movie. Not only is it as pure as a Western can be, it’s also really funny and has some moments that will make you want to hide your eyes behind your popcorn. It’s been a good holiday season for movies and this is definitely one of the best.

Barry Pepper



Hailee Steinfeld and Matt Damon



Ethan Coen, Jeff Bridges and Joel Coen



Matt Damon



Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges