“If I smelled as bad as you, I wouldn’t live near people.” —Mattie
Today’s quick review: True Grit. After her father is murdered by Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey), Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) hires Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne), a grizzled and trigger-happy marshal, to hunt Chaney down. The duo join up with La Boeuf (Glen Campbell), a Texas ranger hunting Chaney for other crimes, and set out after their quarry. But their mission becomes more dangerous when Chaney takes up with Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall) and his gang.
True Grit is a classic Western drama about a teenage girl trying to bring her father’s killer to justice. Kim Darby stars as Mattie Ross, a prim and capable young woman who ropes two dangerous lawmen into her hunt for Chaney. John Wayne plays opposite her as Rooster Cogburn, whose tendency to shoot outlaws has earned him a bad reputation. True Grit’s well-scoped story and interesting character dynamics help it carve out a niche in a crowded genre.
The highlight of the film is Mattie Ross herself. Young and unimposing, she makes up for these deficiencies with pride and determination. In a world of liars and criminals, she never lets anyone cheat her, never gets the bad end of a deal, and never gives up until she gets her way. The way she gets Cogburn and La Boeuf on her side, as well as her courage in the face of danger, gives True Grit a unique and rewarding angle.
The main pitfall of the film is its characters, in spite of its talented leads. Neither Rooster Cogburn nor La Boeuf is a classic hero, and nearly all of the character interactions are combative, whether it’s the lawmen insulting one another or Mattie trying to keep them in line. The net effect does work in the film’s favor and helps True Grit with the story it’s trying to tell, but it does make the characters harder to get used to.
Overall, True Grit accomplishes what it sets out to do. The backbone of the story is a well-constructed hunt for a fugitive, while the film’s unique lead gives it a very specific identity. Fans of the Western genre will do well to give it a shot. Those looking for a more conventional hero or a film with more warmth and humor may want to look elsewhere. For a more harrowing John Wayne Western about the hunt for justice, try The Searchers.
[7.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a plucky lead and strong fundamentals.