True Grit (2010)

The Coen Brothers’ True Grit (2010) is both a faithful adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel and a spiritual reimagining of the classic 1969 John Wayne film. With its stark landscapes, sharp dialogue, and moral ambiguity, this movie stands as one of the Coens’ most straightforward yet emotionally resonant works.

Detailed Summary

Mattie Ross Seeks Justice

The story begins with 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a sharp and determined girl whose father has been murdered by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Unlike her more passive family members, Mattie sets out to bring her father’s killer to justice, proving herself to be far tougher and wiser than her years suggest.

Enter Rooster Cogburn

Mattie hires U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, whiskey-soaked lawman with a reputation for “true grit.” Despite his questionable methods and gruff demeanor, Mattie sees in him the resolve she needs. They are later joined by LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), a self-assured Texas Ranger also on Chaney’s trail for a different crime.

The Hunt for Tom Chaney

The trio embarks on a treacherous journey through harsh territory. Along the way, alliances strain: LaBoeuf clashes with Rooster’s methods, Mattie constantly challenges their authority, and yet the three form an uneasy bond. The pursuit of Chaney becomes less about the bounty and more about Mattie’s unwavering moral conviction.

Mattie’s Confrontation

In a dramatic turn, Mattie herself encounters Tom Chaney at a creek. With her small revolver, she shoots him—though the recoil knocks her down. This moment is pivotal, as Mattie finally exacts the justice she has demanded since the beginning.

Movie Ending

After Mattie wounds Tom Chaney, Rooster arrives to rescue her from Chaney’s gang. In the ensuing chaos, Rooster single-handedly charges into the outlaws on horseback, guns blazing, in a sequence that has since become iconic for its raw, unromantic depiction of frontier justice.

Mattie, however, soon falls into a snake pit while fleeing the chaos. She is bitten by a rattlesnake, and in a desperate race against time, Rooster carries her through the night to find medical attention. This sequence showcases the bond that has developed between the two—grizzled marshal and determined girl—bound by respect and shared hardship.

The film’s epilogue jumps decades forward. An older Mattie, now hardened by life, narrates how Rooster saved her life but later drifted away. She attempts to reunite with him but learns he has already died. Her tone is one of stoic acceptance: she never married, never softened, and never forgot the man who embodied “true grit.” It’s a sobering, bittersweet conclusion that highlights the inevitability of time, mortality, and the harshness of frontier justice.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, True Grit does not feature any post-credits scenes. The film ends with Mattie’s narration and her visit to Rooster’s grave, closing the story definitively without additional teasers or epilogues.

Type of Movie

True Grit is a Western drama with strong elements of revenge, coming-of-age, and moral reflection. Unlike more stylized Westerns, it strives for gritty realism, focusing on character and dialogue rather than action spectacle.

Cast

• Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn
• Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross
• Matt Damon as LaBoeuf
• Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney
• Barry Pepper as Lucky Ned Pepper
• Dakin Matthews as Colonel Stonehill

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Carter Burwell, a frequent collaborator of the Coen Brothers. The music is heavily influenced by 19th-century Protestant hymns, especially “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” creating a haunting and authentic Western soundscape.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in New Mexico and Texas, chosen for their rugged terrain and authentic frontier landscapes. Granger, Texas, doubled for Fort Smith, Arkansas. These locations lend authenticity to the film’s setting, highlighting both the beauty and brutality of the American frontier.

Awards and Nominations

True Grit received 10 Academy Award nominations, including:

• Best Picture
• Best Director (Joel and Ethan Coen)
• Best Actor (Jeff Bridges)
• Best Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld)
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins)

Despite the acclaim, the film did not win any Oscars—a fact many critics consider a snub, especially for Steinfeld’s breakout performance and Deakins’ breathtaking cinematography.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Hailee Steinfeld was only 13 when cast but delivered a performance hailed as one of the best child debuts in decades.
• Jeff Bridges leaned heavily into the character’s mumbling, gravelly voice, which became divisive but undeniably memorable.
• The Coen Brothers insisted on staying faithful to Charles Portis’ novel, particularly Mattie’s sharp dialogue.
• Roger Deakins’ cinematography, with its cold, stark lighting, was designed to strip away romanticized notions of the West.

Inspirations and References

The movie is directly adapted from Charles Portis’ 1968 novel rather than being a remake of the John Wayne film, though comparisons are inevitable. Unlike the 1969 version, the Coens’ adaptation leans more into Portis’ dry humor, darker tone, and Mattie’s perspective as the true narrator.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no major alternate endings known, but some minor scenes were trimmed for pacing. The Coens reportedly stayed very close to the novel’s ending, resisting studio pressure to make it more traditionally uplifting.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• The novel is narrated entirely by an older Mattie Ross, whereas the film dramatizes her youthful perspective before circling back in the epilogue.
• The Coens preserved Portis’ unique dialogue style, full of formal, almost biblical cadences.
• The 1969 film softened some of Mattie’s harshness, while the 2010 version restores her steely, no-nonsense personality.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Mattie haggling with Colonel Stonehill and completely outsmarting him in business.
• Rooster’s drunken court testimony, equal parts comedy and tragedy.
• The horseback charge into Lucky Ned Pepper’s gang with Rooster holding two guns.
• Mattie’s fall into the snake pit and Rooster’s desperate midnight ride to save her.

Iconic Quotes

• Mattie Ross: “You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.”
• Rooster Cogburn: “Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!”
• LaBoeuf: “I thought you were supposed to be a hard man, Rooster.”
• Mattie Ross (epilogue): “Time just gets away from us.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Rooster’s eyepatch is worn on the opposite eye from John Wayne’s version, symbolizing the Coens’ fresh perspective.
• The hymns chosen for the score are ones that would have actually been sung in 19th-century Arkansas churches.
• Rooster’s final gun charge mirrors a scene from the original film but is staged more brutally and less heroically.

Trivia

• Hailee Steinfeld was chosen from over 15,000 auditions for the role of Mattie.
• The film grossed over $250 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Coen Brothers film.
• Jeff Bridges wore the actual eye patch for long stretches to immerse himself in Rooster’s impaired vision.
• Matt Damon cracked a rib during filming but continued shooting.

Why Watch?

True Grit is worth watching for its authentic Western feel, unforgettable performances (especially Steinfeld’s), and the Coen Brothers’ commitment to blending dark humor with stark realism. It’s not a glossy, gun-slinging Western—it’s a somber meditation on justice, mortality, and the unforgiving nature of the frontier.

Director’s Other Movies (Coen Brothers)

• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Fargo (1996)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Unforgiven (1992)
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
• 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
• The Revenant (2015)
• The Proposition (2005)