Plot: What’s it about?
Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) last saw her father when he left to do some business, but he never returned. Instead Mattie had to travel to Fort Smith, to claim her father’s corpse. When he left, her father was with a hired hand named Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey), a shady dude with a gambling problem. As it turns out, when Mattie’s father tried to keep Chaney from getting himself in over his head, only to be shot in return. Mattie has learned that Chaney has joined forces with Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall) and his boys, which means tracking down the murderer won’t be a simple task. So she decides to seek out a U.S. Marshall, but not just anyone, she needs a special kind of Marshall for something this important. Her search takes her to “Rooster” Cogburn, a one eyed, mean bastard who seems to be the best man for the job. After he takes her money however, he turns his back on her to hunt Chaney with a Texas Ranger, refusing to let Mattie join them. Will Mattie give up that easily however and if not, can she ever prove to Cogburn that she deserves to be part of the hunt?
John Wayne would have been one hundred years old if he lived to see 2007, so its appropriate that Paramount has revisited one of his films with a new Special Collector’s Edition. True Grit is remarkable even within Wayne’s considerable filmography, if for no other reason than it earned him his lone Best Actor statue. After decades of playing rough cowboys and seasoned military grunts, he would take home his Oscar for, of all things, a comedic role. I’ve seen some claim Wayne simply parodied his well known screen persona here and that is true to an extent, but few have worked an eyepatch this well. This is at heart a family western, rated G after all, but there is some violence, to be sure. The story is simple, but works well and provides Wayne a platform to create this incredible and memorable character, Rooster Cogburn. But while Wayne does steal the show, the rest of the cast is also solid and as I said, the story is more than adequate. Paramount’s new version has new video & audio treatments, plus some extras, so if you want to own True Grit, this is the one you’ll want.
Video: How does it look?
True Grit is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a new transfer and without question, is superior to the old release in every respect. The print is cleaner, with minimal grain to be seen, while detail is also perked up a touch in places. The main change comes in the colors, as hues are more stable and accurate this time around. So the visuals have a more natural presence, as intended. I saw no problems with contrast, black levels look terrific here. All in all, a much improved visual transfer that should delight fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio has also been overhauled, with a new Dolby Digital 5.1 option on board. As expected, the audio is still reliant on the front channels, but the surrounds do kick in at times. This is a western, so guns are drawn and shots are fired, so those scenes allow for some extra punch to come through. You won’t be inclined to dodge the bullets, but the atmosphere is more immersive, thanks to the audio enhancements. At the same time, elements that should be more laid back, such as dialogue, remain as intended, so the mix is always natural in overall sound. This disc also includes a mono soundtrack, a French language track, and English subtitles, should you need any of those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main attraction is an audio commentary track, which has Bob Boze Bell, Jeb Rosebrook, and J. Stuart Rosebook talking about the production. I think they put a little too much stock in the film’s legacy at times, but they also provide a good amount of insight about the movie. Not a knockout session loaded with great information, but if you’re a fan of the movie, you will want to give this a listen. You can also find four featurettes, but the longest runs ten minutes and in truth, none offer much substance. The best of the lot is the ten minute piece on star John Wayne, with some worthwhile interviews from peers of The Duke. This disc also includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
