As an ardent John Wayne fan, this film was agonizing to watch. I can see how Jeff Bridges got a lot of Hollywood praise for his interpretation of the title role because he did his level best to lambaste a great American icon.
John Wayne, even playing a drunken U.S. Marshall, always kept that intangible edge of dignity and honor intact. This film does everything but.
Matt Damon’s introduction to a 14 year old girl was, “I’ve a hankering to kiss you on the lips” as she lay in bed, barely awake. This is vintage Joel and Ethan Coen, though, and their trademark trashing of all things great and noble. In writing and directing this film, I think they forgot to take their antipsychotic meds.
Not to be outdone, Matt Damon does his damnedest to disparage all our grand preconceptions of the Texas Rangers. He literally whips the 14 year old girl (we have this vague notion that it’s because she jilted him the last time they met in her hotel room) and generally is a dark character in this dark drama.
The young lady with the true grit has that and more. She’s an encyclopaediac with a sharp tongue, a vicious attitude, and an adult-sized ego far, far beyond her years. There’s not an ounce of tenderness or give in this girl. She doesn’t have grit in her soul but sandpaper.
It’s hard to imagine either the U.S. Marshall or the Texas Ranger showing a liking for her at any level, other than sexual; and, now that you mention it, that’s likely the Cohen Brother’s intention.
This is not your usual young girl. She’s what in the modern day we perceive as a born lesbian.
The anal expressive kind (as opposed to the anal retentive), the “male” who wears the pants in a lesbian relationship. She’s cold, cruel, un-excitable, and quotes the Bible like it was a writ of habeas corpus. I’m sure the lesbians adore this young gal.
Gangsters love to see law and order icons tarnished. Hollywood loves to see their reigning stars subverting what few decent values remain in our culture.
I can see why the film got so many Academy Award nominations.
