I know I’m a little late to the party on this one but I thought, in keeping with the cowboy theme, this would be a good movie for Fully Man to review. True Grit (a remake of the 1969 John Wayne original) is about two men (and a little girl) hunting down a band of thieves in the Wild West. This movie shows us a lot of good masculine themes and some great characters. Ultimately, I’m not sure it all comes together the way that it should by the end.
As the movie’s intro tells us Maddie Ross’ (Hailee Steinfeld) father is gunned down by “the coward Tom Cheney” (James Brolin). Thirsty for revenge Maddie hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Daniels). Rooster is known as the meanest marshal in the west. Maddie hires him because Rooster is most likely to shoot the man who shot her father. Along, the way they pick up the Texas Ranger LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) who is also after Cheney.
This movie is expertly acted, filmed, and scored. Damon and Daniels chew the scenery with their nuanced and powerful portrayals of lawmen who hunt other men for a living. However, neither of these men is without their demons. Daniels especially steals the show as Cogburn. Cogburn is a man who can stare fearlessly into the face of death but is keenly aware of his own self destructive nature. Steinfeld also does an excellent job portraying Maddie as a smart and headstrong girl who has a lot to learn about the world.
As the movie’s intro tells us Maddie Ross’ (Hailee Steinfeld) father is gunned down by “the coward Tom Cheney” (James Brolin). Thirsty for revenge Maddie hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Daniels). Rooster is known as the meanest marshal in the west. Maddie hires him because Rooster is most likely to shoot the man who shot her father. Along, the way they pick up the Texas Ranger LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) who is also after Cheney.
This movie is expertly acted, filmed, and scored. Damon and Daniels chew the scenery with their nuanced and powerful portrayals of lawmen who hunt other men for a living. However, neither of these men is without their demons. Daniels especially steals the show as Cogburn. Cogburn is a man who can stare fearlessly into the face of death but is keenly aware of his own self destructive nature. Steinfeld also does an excellent job portraying Maddie as a smart and headstrong girl who has a lot to learn about the world.
The Cohen Brothers, as usual, do an excellent job in crafting a world this is, in equal portions, familiar and surreal (be sure to check out No Country for Old Men and Fargo). Despite all the excellent aspects of this movie things just never really come together at the end. This movie has very few crescendos staying mostly at the same pace throughout. In the end I couldn’t help but think “was that it?” Despite this minor criticism this is still an excellent movie with some excellent masculine themes.
Does This Movie “Man Up?”
Rooster Cogburn can teach us a lot about being men. Rooster is “real” man. By that I mean no one characteristic of his is blown out of proportion. He has his strengths but he also has his flaws. Rooster is the scourge the criminal world in the Wild West. His toughness and willingness to do anything to get the job done makes him the best. At the same time the things that make him a great lawman have led him down a self descructive path. Despite his reputation as a great lawman is rivaled by his reputation as a drunkard. This shows us the duality of masculinity, there are things that make us great but at the same time those same things make bring us woe. Coburn’s willingness to fully commit to everything he does, drinking included, is what make him a great lawman and a detriment to himself.
In the end Cogburn (and LeBoeuf as well) teaches us that everyman with noble characteristics will show his true stripes in times of duress. In the climax of the movie Cogburn shows us that despite his drunken and surly nature lives a man who is to be admired. Cogburn and LeBoeuf’s commitment to doing what is right is stronger than their individual flaws. Furthermore, this movie teaches us that we must sometimes look past a rough exterior to find a character worthy of emulation.
Rooster Cogburn can teach us a lot about being men. Rooster is “real” man. By that I mean no one characteristic of his is blown out of proportion. He has his strengths but he also has his flaws. Rooster is the scourge the criminal world in the Wild West. His toughness and willingness to do anything to get the job done makes him the best. At the same time the things that make him a great lawman have led him down a self descructive path. Despite his reputation as a great lawman is rivaled by his reputation as a drunkard. This shows us the duality of masculinity, there are things that make us great but at the same time those same things make bring us woe. Coburn’s willingness to fully commit to everything he does, drinking included, is what make him a great lawman and a detriment to himself.
In the end Cogburn (and LeBoeuf as well) teaches us that everyman with noble characteristics will show his true stripes in times of duress. In the climax of the movie Cogburn shows us that despite his drunken and surly nature lives a man who is to be admired. Cogburn and LeBoeuf’s commitment to doing what is right is stronger than their individual flaws. Furthermore, this movie teaches us that we must sometimes look past a rough exterior to find a character worthy of emulation.
Rating
Most Quote Worthy Line
Lawyer: Mr. Cogburn how many men have you shot?
Cogburn: Shot or killed?
Lawyer: Let us keep it to “killed” so that we may have a manageable number.
Lawyer: Mr. Cogburn how many men have you shot?
Cogburn: Shot or killed?
Lawyer: Let us keep it to “killed” so that we may have a manageable number.
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