True Grit

Starring: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall, Strother Martin, Dennis Hopper
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
Rating: G
Genre: Western, Drama, Action
1969

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After her father is killed, a young girl (Kim Darby) is bent on revenge on his murderer. She hires an old marshal named Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) to help her.

Review:

Tim: This movie is so amazing because John Wayne gives a terrific performance as Rooster Cogburn, and the Academy finally awarded him that elusive Oscar for Best Actor. The surprising thing is, that as good as Wayne is, he doesn't even give the best performance of the film- that honor goes to Kim Darby, who steals every scene she's in, and more than holds her own against the likes of acting greats like John Wayne and Robert Duvall. All of this amounts to a cast that makes this film incredibly fun to watch. It is so good to see a film with rich characters, that allows its actors room to showcase their talent.

The film is so entertaining because it takes these incredible characters, and supports them with an engaging story that gives them the chance to interact. This keeps us interested, and the plot moves quickly enough to ensure the audience isn't bored for a second.

There are a lot of John Wayne Westerns out there, and it is oftentimes difficult to know which ones are most deserving of our time. While this is not my favorite Western starring Wayne, it is still among his best, and requires a viewing from any Western fan.

While the plot of the film is quite strong, the real reason for this film are the incredible characters that we got to see come alive through the superb performances of the entire cast.

Definitely see this movie and pay attention to the dialogue. Watch for Wayne's excellent "Fill your hands you son of a bitch!" line.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: El Dorado, Red River, The Searchers, The Wild Bunch