Matt Damon praises Charles Portis in Empire Magazine

And of course, Matt Damon's not alone--Portis has long been considered one of the great living American novelists and True Grit is beloved among readers. But it's wonderful to hear people involved with the new Coen Brothers film acknowledge the influence of the original novel in the new adaptation.

"It's just a brilliant adaptation," enthuses Damon. "They change stuff to make a two-hour film out of it, but retain so much of the dialogue, and Charles Portis - who is still alive - has an ear for the way people talk. It's a really special script."

Check out Empire Magazine's exclusive interview with Matt Damon for more. And don't forget to become a fan of True Grit on Facebook to keep up with all of the latest news and buzz surrounding the film, set to release in December!