The Brothers Coen showed the world their idea of a western with No Country for Old Men. The film became an instant classic, but being that its set in 1980, it doesn’t quite qualify as a classic western. So when the trailer hit for the Coens’ remake of True Grit, they had my full attention.

We are introduced to Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a clever 14-year-old girl with one thing in mind, finding the man who murdered her father (Josh Brolin) and return the favor. In an attempt to accomplish the aforementioned retribution, Mattie hires U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her in her quest.

Meanwhile, Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) arrives in town looking for the same murderous man, Tom Chaney. LaBoeuf purposes that the three team up, but Mattie quickly refuses as the Ranger wants to bring Chaney in to be hanged for another murder instead of her father’s. Mattie and Cogburn take off in search of their man, as LaBoeuf stays close on their trail.

I have to say, I was more than excited for this one. The Coen brothers and a great trailer usually mean a great film. To me, True Grit is the exception. It looks wonderful and is well acted but it falls into that standard western mold way too much. Without their names being plastered all over the posters and the TV spots, it would be difficult to peg True Grit as a “Coen brothers film.” Sure, the dialogue and bits of humor bleed through as Coen-y elements, but their obvious style and ability to create a unique atmosphere just don’t show up.

Hailee Steinfeld is a joy to watch on screen and a great young talent that is choked full of potential. I didn’t see an award worthy performance out of her but it’s a tremendous debut nonetheless.

Matt Damon is fun to watch as the odd and sometimes creepy LaBoeuf, but I’m a bit disappointed with Bridges. His character just seems to be an older, drunker version of Bad Blake from Crazy Heart set in an earlier era. He’s entertaining but a bit of an afterthought throughout.

And then there’s Josh Brolin. His role could be played by Stephen Baldwin and it would have the same effect on me. The character is that minor and that useless.

True Grit feels very much like The Ladykillers in a way. It is a much better film than the Coens’ one and only debacle, but it has the same lack of Coen originality. Both are remakes of previous films, and while they try to make them their own, they fall short and fall into that unfortunate category as just what they are, remakes.

If you love westerns, then I’m sure you’ll really enjoy this film. But don’t be surprised with the lack of violence, storytelling and yes, grit, that you get with most Coen brothers films.