Jeff Bridges gives a typically flawless performace in another Cohen brothers production.
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld
Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is a 14-year-old girl who sets out to get justice for her father’s death at the hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) a lowlife who shot him and bolted after Mattie’s father tried to prevent him from getting into a fight at a bar. Given a choice of the best marshals to help bring Chaney to justice, she chooses Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a mean old hand with a drinking problem. After some convincing, Rooster agrees to set off with Mattie, along with LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) a Texas Ranger who wants to bring Chaney to justice for a separate crime.
I loved every part of this film. The storyline is straightforward, for Cohen brothers standards, and is an adaptation of the book Charles Portis and the 1969 film by the same title, starring the great John Wayne as Rooster. It is western by classical standards, but even if you’re not wild about the genre, this film will appeal to most people. When you pay to see a Cohen brothers film you know you are going to get an even mix of drama, action, blood and comedy, but what I enjoy most about their films is the depth and quirks of the characters on screen. Although it’s recognised as a classic, the 1969 film wasn’t half as funny as this brilliantly rewritten remake, whether you’re laughing at Rooster’s blunt crassness, which Bridges executes superbly (to nobody’s surprise), or at the lamentable LaBoeuf, who plays the fool (I found myself saying ‘Matt Damon’ in Team America fashion in parts), you will laugh watching this film, as well as being gripped by its fast pace, engaging characters and compelling plot.
I feel I should say that although Matt Damon does, to an extent, play a semi-comedic role, I thought he gave a convincing performance as LaBoeuf. For most of the film LaBoeuf’s speech is muffled after he bites his tongue (I’ll let you watch to find out why) and to achieve that sound Damon tied a hair tie around his tongue – that’s method acting! As I have mentioned above, Bridges was typically brilliant, I don’t think it’s possible for the man to give a bad performance, and I was also impressed with Hailee Steinfeld, who thoroughly deserved her Academy Award nomination for her performance.
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