I think it’s safe to say that, when we first found out about the Coen Brothers remaking True Grit, most people were wary. After all, there was already a beloved classic version of the story starring John Wayne. What could Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and the Coens bring to a story that already had a fantastic adaptation? It turns out, quite a bit.

True Grit astonished audiences with a hyper-stylized version of the western story – a version that stayed truer to the original material by centering the story around the young protagonist instead of Marshall Rooster Cogburn. That’s a lot of weight to put on a young girl’s shoulders, but the Coens found a miracle in Hailee Steinfeld, who received an Oscar nomination for her incredible performance. Not only did she carry the load well, but she helped give the story an emotional center. Honestly, I’m surprised every studio hasn’t been trying to get their hands on the young actress.

As if the performances weren’t awesome enough (and Bridges and Damon are exquisite), the typical “non-traditional” Coen approach is phenomenal here.: the style and patter of the dialog, the gorgeous cinematography, and the willingness to take on the absurd makes this one of 2010’s best movies and definitely the best pick-up on DVD and Blu-ray this week.

Pick of the Week:

True Grit