True Grit Review (4.5/5)

If True Grit were judged solely on its opening and conclusion, it would go down as a by-the-books drama only made for nostalgic fans of the 1969 original. However, those strangely shallow sections are mere dips in an otherwise great throwback to the Westerns of yore, starring perhaps the most promising young actress of the year. Somehow, despite all the fanfare surrounding Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon's roles in the film, Hailee Steinfield steals the show as Maddie Ross throughout, adding depth and likeability not found in any of the other main characters. What's also quite refreshing about the Coens' latest script is its undivided focus on the objective of heroine Maddie- to find her father's killer and take him back to her homeland to face justice- and thus the point A to point B journey she ventures on with Reuben Cogburn feels much more impressive and memorable than it could have been. There's an ace soundtrack to back the antics of Steinfield and co, harkening back to the likes of the original movie and The Magnificent Seven just as any fan would want it to. True Grit is let down by the uninspiring opening scenes and an anti-climatic denouement, but aside from those shortcomings there's very little to fault in a film that truly dedicates itself to its genre and the conventions that make Westerns so magnificently retro.