These were all nagging thoughts in my head, ones that I just ignored because it was the Coen Brothers.  I knew deep down there was really no reason to doubt that they had made a totally badass traditional western, especially considering how great No Country for Old Men was. I figured that sort of brutal R-rated violence would translate perfectly to True Grit.

Instead the news comes out that the film is PG-13, and that it was always intended that way. It will be the Coen’s first PG-13 drama. Garbage. Are they getting soft? Do they see the need to create a film for a wider audience? These are the guys that from their first feature, Blood Simple, reveled in violent consequences. These are the guys that filmed Miller’s Crossing and Fargo. Why’d they decide to pussy out with a western? And why’d they have to play up Bridges’ character as a sheriff who shoots first and asks later if I don’t get to see the carnage he inflicts?

I’m not complaining about straight-up violence here, either. It’s also that so much of the Coen’s dark comedic undertones and so many of their disturbing, yet hilarious ideas only worked within that R rating. It’s not that you can’t make a great PG-13 film, but I just don’t see the Coen’s utilizing their full talent within such a framework.

Perhaps I should trust them to know themselves a bit better than I do. It’s not like I’ve even seen all of their films, and they haven’t even made a PG-13 dramatic film to point at and say it didn’t work for them. And I’m still going to see True Grit, I’m just glad I hadn’t had a chance to work myself into a frenzy over it yet.

Now Black Swan on the other hand…