Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/222010 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality Running Time 114 Minutes Genre Sport, Drama Director David O. Russell Writer Scott Silver Cast Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld Studio Paramount Pictures |
TRUE GRIT (2010)
SYNOPSIS
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father
has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney
(Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to
justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S.
Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out
with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney.
Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal
into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger
named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings
him back to Texas for the murder of another man.
--© Paramount Pictures
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father
has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney
(Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to
justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S.
Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out
with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney.
Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal
into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger
named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings
him back to Texas for the murder of another man.
--© Paramount Pictures
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
Director David O. Russell’s (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) The Fighter is a sure knock-out featuring
Oscar worthy performances by Mark Walhberg(Boogie Nights, We Own the Night), Christian Bale (The
Machinist, Batman Begins), Amy Adams(Julie & Julia, Doubt) and Melissa Leo (21 grams, Frozen River).
Micky Ward (Wahlberg), the stepping stone in the boxing industry, is lost in the shadow of his boxing
legend brother, Dicky Eklund (Bale). Unfortunately, Eklund is battling a severe crack addiction and rather
than make a comeback in the boxing industry, his addiction spirals out of control. After a series of
serious infractions Eklund is sent to prison. With his brother in jail, Ward is able to step into the center of
the ring and actually fight for himself. No longer in the shadow of the “pride of Lowell, Massachutes” and
with the motivation of his girlfriend Charlene Fleming, Ward earns back his confidence and respect;
however, Ward knows he needs his brother’s expertise in the ring if he wants to win the World
Championship belt. Released from prison and clean for eight months Eklund convinces Ward to allow him
to train him for his upcoming title fight. With Ward in the spotlight and Eklund in his corner these two
brothers are able to dominate the boxing ring until Ward retires in 2003. The way that Ward and Eklund
dominate the ring, Wahlberg and Bale dominate the screen along with their two leading ladies, Adams and
Leo. Finally, Adams breaks out of her type casted image of “the girl next door” and delivers a believable
and inspiring performance, while Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo delivers possibly the best performance of
her career to date. The relevant soundtrack is outstanding and it carries the film from one scene to the
next. This exceptional screenplay is not only well-written, well-acted, and brilliantly filmed but it is sure to
be enjoyed by adult audiences everywhere.
Oscar worthy performances by Mark Walhberg(Boogie Nights, We Own the Night), Christian Bale (The
Machinist, Batman Begins), Amy Adams(Julie & Julia, Doubt) and Melissa Leo (21 grams, Frozen River).
Micky Ward (Wahlberg), the stepping stone in the boxing industry, is lost in the shadow of his boxing
legend brother, Dicky Eklund (Bale). Unfortunately, Eklund is battling a severe crack addiction and rather
than make a comeback in the boxing industry, his addiction spirals out of control. After a series of
serious infractions Eklund is sent to prison. With his brother in jail, Ward is able to step into the center of
the ring and actually fight for himself. No longer in the shadow of the “pride of Lowell, Massachutes” and
with the motivation of his girlfriend Charlene Fleming, Ward earns back his confidence and respect;
however, Ward knows he needs his brother’s expertise in the ring if he wants to win the World
Championship belt. Released from prison and clean for eight months Eklund convinces Ward to allow him
to train him for his upcoming title fight. With Ward in the spotlight and Eklund in his corner these two
brothers are able to dominate the boxing ring until Ward retires in 2003. The way that Ward and Eklund
dominate the ring, Wahlberg and Bale dominate the screen along with their two leading ladies, Adams and
Leo. Finally, Adams breaks out of her type casted image of “the girl next door” and delivers a believable
and inspiring performance, while Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo delivers possibly the best performance of
her career to date. The relevant soundtrack is outstanding and it carries the film from one scene to the
next. This exceptional screenplay is not only well-written, well-acted, and brilliantly filmed but it is sure to
be enjoyed by adult audiences everywhere.
By David F. Ladd
