With Apologies to the Duke

True Grit (2010) is superior to the 1969 original in every way...except maybe that Dennis Hopper wasn't in this one.

The 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld is better than the 20 year old Kim Darby in the role of the 14 year old Mattie.  Matt Damon is better than Glenn Campbell (did I even have to say that?).  And, whether you care to admit it or deny it, Jeff Bridges is better than John Wayne (though neither version was either actors' best movie)  It's so good I may even read its inspiration, the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis.  True Grit deserved better than it got at the 83rd Academy Awards but the Oscar's relationship to excellence is variable and fickle.