fies the trend and emerged to be more compelling than the original. After watching Black Swan, Blue Valentine and The Fighter, this movie comes as a pleasure to watch as even though no heart-wrenching scenes are shown, True Grit is artistically done.
It’s a movie set in the good Old West with enough gunslinger action scenes to make it rough and enough dry humor to take off the edge. The Coens made a film that took a life form on its own. Its settings, costumes and musical score transported the audience into a completely different world, back in 1969. The brothers made the film based on the novel, not on the movie previously done. Both movies are the same, content-wise but the newer version is more entertaining as the antics of the actors and stresses are infused with enough comic relief. The Coens managed to bring back the Western genre that has been forgotten in Hollywood.
Jeff Bridges has huge shoes to fill in the role of a U.S Marshall Ranger Rooster Cogburn who wants to be respected despite of his constant state of drunkenness. He is funny when the script calls him to be while still being serious in other scenes. He made the character more tangible, unlike John Wayne’s version. The character is flawed but still very much lovable
I had serious doubts about Matt Damon playing Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. But minutes after seeing him in action, I have to remind myself he is the same actor who played Jason Bourne. He nearly got away with the whole film in his so adorable funny side. You could tell he enjoyed doing the movie as he is not uptight, not too trying hard to fit the role. He just glided with the film and his banters with Bridges are totally out of this world. Josh Brolin made an impact, given the small screen time allotted to him. Given more projects and probably a lead role, he could be a name to be reckoned with in the movie industry.
After holding an open audition/casting for the lead female role of Mattie Ross, 14-year-old newcomer Hailee Steinfeld stood out among almost 15,000 girls. I could see in her performance why she’s casted. For a newbie, having a screen presence may be difficult (take for example Christina Aguilera’s lackluster performance in Burlesque) but Hailee just did that, she commanded the screen with her sweet presence. I could see a very bright future for her in Hollywood.
I am really entertained; I emerged from the theater with a smile on my face. In the situation nowadays wherein a film is either a trashy comedy/romcom or an “artsy” one, True Grit gave movie-goers something refreshing. True Grit really has grit.

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fference for Jolie almost knocked over my love for Depp. But I did see this film just to have something to write about. I’m happy I got really low expectations because after watching this one, I felt cheated of my money.
Have you seen Knight and Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz? If you did, don’t watch this film. It is basically the same plot, the only difference is in Knight and Day, the guy is the one who knows spy stuffs while in The Tourist, it’s the other way around. The director, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (director of the award winning The Lives of Others) should have shelved this film altogether. There are reports that he abandoned doing the film and then came back again to finish it. Others said that Depp and Jolie are second choices. The role for Frank Tupelo, a Wisconsin math teacher, is intended for Tom Cruise while Elise Ward should have been Charlize Theron. Talk about Knight and Day mixed with The Italian Job. If the actor, actress and director did not put enough effort in filming this film, why the heck did they continue with it? Camera shots are boring, even the chase scenes appeared lazily done. If not for the glorious cinematography, the movie is a failure. Venice is shown in all its majestic beauty, with the villas and cobbled street and colorful foliage shot to illustrate the backdrops. Thanks for its location, the movie has a saving grace.
Appearing as a math teacher complete with a tweed coat and rumpled appearance, Johnny Depp did not give a first-rate performance as I expected. His attitude ranges from nonchalance to dull. It is painful to see such an actor performing a role that does not fit him. The only scene of him I enjoyed is the one where he is running in the roof barefoot and in pajamas. I laughed at that one but some of his dialogues (to be honest, most of his dialogues) fell flat. I blame the writers on this blunder. Angelina Jolie looks good. Whenever she’s in a film, regardless of her state of undress, she looks riveting. What the wardrobe did to her in this film is atrocious and criminal. Instead of looking like a model with deadly skills, she looks uncomfortable with her gowns. Not only did she look frumpy and uncomfortable, she does not suit the role either. Charlize Theron would have pulled it all off but not Angie.
If you’re looking for an entertainment, I could say that this film at its best could entertain you. It’s just not my kind of comedy. I’d rather go with the straight comedy than watch this. I wish I could have demanded my money back. But alas, I could not.

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r (The Blind Side is a really great film)? The answer is quite simple: there is something dramatic about punching and getting punched. Seriously.
David O’ Russell helmed this one and he did one hell of a job. The angles and techniques he used made the film somewhat scratchy and the effect paid off. The fight scenes look like you’re watching TV back in the 90’s. The scratchy and gritty effects highlighted the color contrast and made the film earthy. Boxing is bloody, it is earthy. The cinematography captured this so well I did not have trouble imagining the film set in the said time period, in the small town of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Mark Wahlberg is a revelation. He did his research in boxing well, going as far as watching the top pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao, train in LA. The absolute faith he has not only in himself but in the people around him makes Micky an ultimate fighter in life. The only thing I had a hard time of is hearing his dialogue. Mark has a tendency to mumble to himself and I couldn’t catch up a line or two that he uttered. Nonetheless, he gave a truly remarkable performance.
The actresses are quite accomplished in their respective roles as well. The controlling and selfish mother and trainer, Alice, is truly fitting for Melissa Leo. One tends to hate her as she pushes everyone around but in the end, you’ll learn that she only wants the best for her family, even though she hurts them in the process. Amy Adams as Micky’s girlfriend Charlene gave support and direction in Micky’s character. She provided the audience an outsider’s view of the Micky’s family. She is the reason why the lead character decided to dump his mother as manager and take hold of his own career.
The actor I loved the most in this film is Christian Bale. After The Dark Knight, he took acting jobs not apt for him and his career went into hibernation. After this film, I am pretty sure he will be in every critic’s list of finest actors. He definitely looked the part of Dicky Ecklund, Micky’s trainor, brother and former boxing legend in Lowell who became an addict. Bale’s face became hallowed and he is so thin you will not have trouble picturing him as a crack head. No doubt he is nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the Golden Globe for The Fighter. He is so good I couldn’t think of anyone winning the award but him.
The film is not just another boxing film. The ringside action is what counts in the end. You would realize that family is an integral part of everyone’s life.

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