Coen brothers to adapt 'True Grit'

Variety Magazine ^ | 03/22/09 | MICHAEL FLEMING

[DTogo]

Clint Eastwood, but evidently “Gran Torino” was it for him.

[youturn]

Maybe Kim Darby is available for a cameo.

I usually like Coen Bros stuff. Fargo is the best, IMHO.

[ClearCase_guy]

Can you imagine, Sean Penn playing the John Wayne Part?

They could combine dialogue from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Milk, and True Grit:

"Fill me Mr. Hand!"

[728b]

Who would you get to fill the Duke's shoes?

Robert Duval would be a nice pick, especially with the history from the first film.

[Professor_Leonide]

I’m all for it! A remake of True Grit would be a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, too many movies today can’t keep the liberal gibberish and “shame” out of the plotline.

[youturn]

Tom Selleck would be my pick. That would get this gal into the theatre.

[kidd]

The obvious choice for the new model Rooster Cogburn would be Keanu Reeves.

LOL. How about Leonardo DiCapprio

[Non-Sequitur]

Who would you get to fill the Duke's shoes?

Robert Duval or Gene Hackman.

[Kimmers]

I miss actors like John Wayne.....he filled the screen

[Reaganesque]

I wouldn’t mind seeing Elliott in the role nor Tommy Lee Jones, particularly if they get a good script. I even think Ian McShane of HBO’s “Deadwood” and, more currently, ABC’s “King” would be an interesting choice. He’s a Brit but, he’s done Westerns and done them well and has the right look. That could be very interesting. I’m just leary of remaking a John Wayne film.

[Kimmers]

Spot on with Selleck.....tight jeans with leather chaps......nice.....

[MozarkDawg]

But while the original film was a showcase for Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's p.o.v.

I have not read the book, but how was the film not told from Maddie's p.o.v.? But for scenes in which she was not a part, everything revolved around her, her experiences, her demands, the great exchanges between her and Col. Stonehill (I'm sorry, not only can I envision no one comparable to The Duke, but no way can anyone out-do Strother Martin either), the movie is her story, regardless some others had to be outlined.

I don't know about dumbest move so much as *what's the point* other than trying to make a buck off a gullible bunch of movie-goers, since no one seems to be able to come up with anything new, ideas, scripts -- it's not as though there aren't a MILLION stories, books out here just waiting to be transferred to the silver screen. Brudder.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

This will turn out to be either a gutsy move on the part of the Coen Brothers or, more likely, the dumbest move in the history of Hollywood and that takes some doing.

The John Wayne "True Grit" was made over 35 years ago and gets only limited play on TV. Most of today's movie-going audience has never seen it, and that will allow the Coen Brothers to make the movie the way they want it. The Coens have made some amazing films in "Miller's Crossing", "The Big Lebowski", "Fargo", and "No Country...". They've also made some pretty bad ones - "Hudsucker Proxy", "O Brother, Where Art Thou".

As for who might play Rooster Cogburn, the Coens frequently cast actors they've worked with before. Maybe William H. Macy? Or Jeff Bridges?

[Iscool]

Probably Sean Penn as the Sheriff, and Tom Cruise as the 14 year old girl...

[ReformationFan]

“Unfortunately, too many movies today can’t keep the liberal gibberish and “shame” out of the plotline.”

Exactly. Whether it’s intentional or not, the Hollyweirders live and breathe the political correctness and cultural Marxism so much it’s almost impossible to keep it out of their movies whether they want to or not. That’s why I find myself watching movies mainly made pre-1990 to avoid it.

“True Grit” isn’t one of my all time favorite Wayne films(I rank “The Sons of Katie Elder”, “Rio Bravo” and “Big Jake” much higher) but I don’t want the Coen brothers to ruin it. At the very least, rename the film and the characters so their post-modern take on it doesn’t ruin it.

[Reaganesque]

...the Coens frequently cast actors they've worked with before.

Which is why I mentioned Tommy Lee Jones. He would be a good choice. Bridges might be a good choice as well. Heck, John Goodman might not be a bad choice. But I keep coming back to..."but, its John Wayne!!!" We'll see.

[retrokitten]

Let’s just pray it doesn’t star Clooney or Pitt ping.

[Palladin]

Remkes are never as good as the original.

[Moonman62]

I hate to see anybody walk on the bone of the Duke but I’m interested to see what they come up with.

They can add a lot of cuss words that weren't in the original. The Coens should have quit after Raising Arizona.

[Little Ray]

Well, as long they don’t try to BE John Wayne, they’ll do alright.

Still the movie has been done right and doesn’t need to be done again.