Jeff Bridges’ 95%-Rated Must-Watch Is the Best Western of the 21st Century

While the conservative genre veterans claim the golden era of Western movies had gone with Clint Eastwood’s classic flicks of the 60s and 70s, we completely disagree with it.

There are several modern genre’s gems, starting from Javier Bardem’s No Country for Old Men and Russell Crowe’s 3:10 to Yuma (both 2007) to Leonardo DiCaprio ’s Django Unchained (2012). They all present brand new, yet brutal Western characters.

These include Jeff Bridges’ protagonist in the 2010 movie that can be considered an exceptional movie in every aspect. It both pays homage to the genre’s classics and brings new vision to it.

The film’s plot follows a feisty teenage girl who is trying to find those who are guilty of murdering her father, that’s why she hires a Deputy U.S. Marshal (played by Bridges) to help her. The duo is later joined by a Texas Ranger who is also tracking the criminals.

This synopsis seems to be reminiscent of good old Westerns where people venture into hostile lands to dispense some Old West justice. Indeed, the truth is that it’s a remake of John Wayne’s classic flick from 1969, created by the accomplished Coen brothers.

The filmmakers managed to re-invent the story about revenge, friendship and justice and to make it even more heated. Cinema lovers know that the Coens are recognized as the masters of razor-sharp dialogues, and this movie is no exception here.

However, the main key to the movie’s cult status is its cast. The performances of Bridges, who is no stranger to Westerns at all, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and the newcomer Hailee Steinfeld are so convincing here that the film can fully immerse you.

Titled True Grit, it’s truly one of the most worth-watching modern Westerns that stands out due to its literally perfect mix of unique direction, impeccable acting and writing and, of course, spectacular depiction of Wild West landscapes.

It’d be a pretty good movie choice if you liked Jeff Bridges’ Hell or High Water (2016), but if you haven’t seen both of them, you can arrange a double feature movie night.

Check out True Grit to judge whether it’s the best modern Western by yourself, as it’s available for streaming on Prime and Hulu .