What makes True Grit special is the combination of action and dialogue. I don't think any other action flick has nearly this high of quality of dialogue. I can't think of one that comes close anyway. And while all elements of movie-making are important to me, I'm especially partial to excellent dialogue, which seems like a rare quality in movies. True Grit has excellent acting, amazing cinematography, and a great plot. The scenery wasn't super-spectacular, but I definitely wanted to go 'coon hunting and travel through that landscape with them, setting up a nice campfire with a rope around my bed to deter snakes.
But the dialogue. . . . oh my. They speak using the more formal language of the mid-1800s. I'm familiar with it mainly through things like letters and teachings from early church leaders or maybe something like a Civil War book where I've read excerpts of letters or something. Or in movies, maybe something like dialogue from Sense and Sensibility. But I never thought about ordinary people on the Western frontier speaking like that. I suppose many did. After all, Joseph Smith lacked formal education and spoke and wrote like that.
Anyway, the dialogue is sparkling, witty, humorous, and enchanting. The repartee between the various characters is engrossing. It's almost annoying when a gunfight breaks out because the verbal sparring is so delicious! Yet the balance between dialogue and action is perfect, and the chemistry between the various characters is amazing. The ending seems just right as well, neither sticky-sweet nor bitter.
I know the Coen brothers, who directed the film, get praised lavishly and routinely by critics. I didn't think I had ever seen anything by them, but I just looked it up and I've seen and adore Raising Arizona and O Brother Where Art Thou (which I'm also remembering for excellent dialogue). Anyway, I'm a fan. Go see it, even if you swore you would never see a Western!
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