Paramount+ Western Remake Is Better Than Original Classic With Iconic Star
Remakes are often regarded as poor substitutes for the original, examples of studios trying to cash in without being forced to develop a production entirely from scratch. But there have been notable remakes over the years that have either re-imagined the source material for modern audiences or given fans a bigger, bolder incarnation of one of their favorite films. One overlooked example of a remake eclipsing the original movie is the 2010 film True Grit, which gave audiences a much more vivid depiction of the 1968 novel that both films were based upon.
A Classic Story Of Betrayal And Revenge
True Grit follows 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) as she searches for a hired gunman to track down the man who betrayed and killed her father while the two were in Arkansas. She succeeds in luring Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a raucous and vulgar drunk who agrees to take on the job. The two are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is also hunting Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) so that he can be brought to justice for the murder of a Texas state Senator.
The film shows separate bonds developing between the young Mattie and her two older male counterparts. True Grit has the three of them in positions where they must prove their respective “grit” to one another as they forge ahead to find an elusive and brutal killer.
Jeff Bridges Reinvents Rooster Cogburn
Remaking a classic western had its challenges for directors/screenwriters Joel and Ethan Coen, most notably how audiences would receive Jeff Bridges in the very role that garnered an Academy Award for John Wayne. Cogburn in the 2010 remake is almost a different personality altogether, giving Bridges the opportunity to really shine as an unapologetic and vulgar drunk (unlike Wayne’s Cogburn), and also took the opportunity to allow the character to give well-timed comedic relief.
All things considered, Bridges stepped into Wayne’s boots like no other and gave viewers a performance that was certainly Oscar worthy (nominated, but no dice).
Elevated Performances From Damon And Steinfeld
True Grit shows Matt Damon overshadow Glen Campbell in his depiction of the Texas lawman, no question in helping give the remake an edge over the original. But it was Hailee Steinfeld that vaulted the Coen brothers’ version above and beyond. Her Academy Award-nominated performance as Mattie was flawless and allowed the young actress to outshine her veteran co-stars.
Creative Liberties Were Taken, But That’s Not A Bad Thing
The remake might not follow the Charles Portis novel to the letter, but it does give fans a closer adaptation than the 1969 film. The book’s graphic violence wouldn’t have been welcomed by big studios in that era, but definitely was able to hit its mark in the 2010 version.
Much of what makes the Coen brothers production top the 1969 version is how the filmmakers approach a movie. Classifying the 2010 True Grit as a remake might not be fair, as the duo never set out to remake any previous endeavor. Instead, they pour over the original source material (in this case, a novel) and use that to adapt their screenplay from.
Stream This Amazing Remake On Paramount+
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This is much of why the character development, subplots, and other noticeable differences exist between the two film versions of Portis’ novel. And while it might be a hard sell to convince older film audiences that the Coens gave viewers a better product, True Grit‘s 10 Academy Award nominations and its $252.3 million box office haul beg to differ.
You can stream True Grit with a subscription to Paramount +.
