True Grit

An open meadow in the rocky region of the west; Four outlaws on horseback face off across the field against one oversize hulking rider named Rooster Cogburn.
The outlaw leader says "What do you want Marshall?"
"I aim to kill ya today."
"That's big talk for a one eyed fat man."
Cogburn's good eye widens an he shouts "Fill yo hand you sunovabitch!"
They ride toward each other, guns blazing.

If the above description is not your idea of a good time at the movies do not see the Coen Brothers latest adaptation of the western classic "True Grit". I loved every frame but at least four women and one gay man have told me how much they HATED this film. It must be a cultural thing. They don't get it. I do.
Only the Coen Brothers would have the bravado to attempt this kind of a remake. The original, adapted from a novel by Charles Portis, was iconic, winning John Wayne his only Oscar. He really deserved it, playing Rooster Cogburn as a parody of the western character that he invented. But that version was tongue-in-cheek, more comedy than cowboy.
This version is truly grittier, more influenced by the novel. A young girl wants to hunt down her father's killer. She's only 14 but she talks like she's 34. She manages to bully the giant Rooster Cogburn into seeking justice on her behalf and against better judgment she insists on going along. The role is played by an amazing young actress named Hailee Steinfeld (the original cast a much older actress) who all but steals the movie. Really, she's a blast to watch.
Jeff Bridges plays Cogburn as an aging mountain of backwoods justice, barely able to keep his deteriorating body involved in the hunt. Along with a Texas Ranger who happens to be after the same man (Matt Damon), this trio rides for justice, payback and a cash reward.
The Coen Brothers use a heightened, stylized dialogue that works because the rest of the film is a reminder of just how tough life really was in the West. You can smell the sweat and horse manure in almost every frame. "True Grit" isn't just a title, it's a feel. The grit is tangible. Bridges is destined to follow up an Oscar win with at least a nomination, although his tendency toward mumbling (ala Brando) may cost him a repeat win. And Steinfeld is an Oscar-worthy revelation.
OK, the Coen Brothers aren't for everyone and Westerns aren't for everyone but if you're a fan of either the artists or the genre, you're in for a hell of a ride.