True-Grit_Jeff-Bridges_hat_Image-Credit-Paramount-Pictures

 The full trailer for Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of True Grit starring Jeff Bridges as Marshal Reuben J. Cogburn has moseyed onto the internet. If this turns out terrible we will eat our oversized cowboy hat.


For the uninitiated, True Grit is the story a drunken marshal, Ruuben ‘Rooster’ Cogburn, and his blood quest to find Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the killer of 14 year old Mattie Ross’ (Hailee Steinfeld) father. Hot on their trail is Texas Ranger LeBoeuf (Matt Damon), in pursuit of Cogburn for the slaying of another man.



Costume design for True Grit 2010 is by the masterful Mary Zophres. Having worked with the Coen brothers on most of their films, she is perhaps best known for creating The Dude’s hippie loafer look in The Big Lebowski (1998). Her memorable creations for Dumb & Dumber (1994), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and A Serious Man (2009) should not be overlooked too. Mary Zophres is one of the best in the business.


In True Grit, Jeff Bridges wears a long duster coat and similar high crown, wide brim cowboy hat to John Wayne in the original film (a role that won The Duke an Academy Award). The colour of the hat is notably different, however. Now a lived in tan, probably made from fur felt. The black eye-patch remains as possibly the most recognisable feature of Cogburn’s ensemble. Note the tall crown bowler in there as well? Generally only worn for formal occasions.

It is clear from the Johnny Cash enveloped trailer that this will be a vastly different experience from Wayne’s 1969 version – itself an adaptation by director Henry Hathaway of Charles Portis’ ’68 novel. Although to ensure the Cogburn character remains symbolic, certain costume facets had to remain – the battered wide brim hat and eye-patch most of all.

True Grit is released in the U.S. on Christmas Day and in the UK on 14th January. For some of us the holiday season is going to seriously drag.