Behind The Scenes Video: The Coen Brothers' True Grit

I'm wildly curious about True Grit, the new version of the Charles Portis novel currently lensing under the supervision of Joel and Ethan Coen. For the past couple weeks I've resisted posting the many set photos that have hit the internet as the film shoots in New Mexico and Texas. Mostly because they didn't show much; you could see old west building facades and some period-appropriate costumes, but there wasn't anything that really suggested what the movie would look like.

Now there is some video, but the useful factor here is that it shows some brief glimpses of the young, mostly unknown actress Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the story's heroine, Mattie Ross.

On Location Vacations has embedded a handful of clips from the film's set in Granger, TX, a small town northeast of Austin. You can see the aforementioned old west sets, a steam engine, horses and dirt streets, and the relatively conservative dress that seems to comprise a section of the film's costuming.

Looking at the way Mattie is dressed, it isn't hard at all to see how the notion of using Protestant hymns for the score makes total sense. Actually, looking at these outdoor shots, I love that idea more and more, and really hope it sticks as the film moves forward.

You can't really see too much in these clips, and that's a good thing. For the most part, I'd rather just wait for the teaser to see how the Coens are really putting this together — the behind the scenes glimpses are fun, but I'm much more excited to see this world through the lens of Roger Deakins' camera than via an onlooker's phone or consumer camera.

We won't have to wait long, either, as the film, which also features Josh Brolin, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Jeff Bridges, is scheduled for a Christmas Day release.

On Location Vacations has some photos, too, which give a few better close-ups of the set.