true grit

We went and saw the new True Grit this weekend. Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn worked surprisingly well, for me. He's no John Wayne, but still, he is very good at creating characters, and this one is no exception. It is weird. If I hadn't seen the original, I would be very satisfied with this version. Over all, I'm sure the acting is better. The Coen (is that right for them?) brothers did a great job. I'm much more appreciative of modern acting styles, than the 60's style. All that being said, there is still something that draws me to the first film. I'm not sure its even a rational something. I guess I need to watch it again to make a better comparison. I'll probably be disappointed in the original.

I was distracted by the stilted dialogue a little. The... formal use of language (for lack of a better description) by the band of outlaws talking to each other didn't seem natural. Yes, I'm sure it was intentional, and dialectic, but the actors and their characters seemed to struggle with it. Also, even though it is rated PG-13, I don't think it is as action/adventure-y as most kids will enjoy.

Still, overall, I recommend it!