Posted on 03/24/2009 8:48:48 AM PDT by Reaganesque
As their next film, Joel and Ethan Coen will put their spin on "True Grit," the iconic Western that won an Oscar.
Not a traditional remake, the Paramount film will be more faithful to the Charles Portis book than the 1969 pic, also distributed by Par.
Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory.
But while the original film was a showcase for Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's p.o.v.
Pic will be their first period Oater.
Project reteams the brothers with Scott Rudin, their partner on the Oscar-winning "No Country for Old Men." The Coens wrote the screenplay.
The original starred as the teen, Wayne and as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.
"True Grit" originated at DreamWorks when that company was Par-based, but it was one of the projects that Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg left behind since the original is part of the Paramount film library. Former DreamWorks prexy , now a Par exec, is steering the project for the studio.
The Western steps in front of another novel adaptation the Coens have with Rudin: "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," based on the Michael Chabon novel and set up at Columbia.
The Coens just completed "A Serious Man," which they scripted, for Focus Features and Working Title.
They are repped by UTA.
Clint Eastwood, but evidently “Gran Torino” was it for him.
Maybe Kim Darby is available for a cameo.
I usually like Coen Bros stuff. Fargo is the best, IMHO.
They could combine dialogue from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Milk, and True Grit:
"Fill me Mr. Hand!"
Robert Duval would be a nice pick, especially with the history from the first film.
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.
Tom Selleck would be my pick. That would get this gal into the theatre.
LOL. How about Leonardo DiCapprio
Robert Duval or Gene Hackman.
I miss actors like John Wayne.....he filled the screen
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.
Spot on with Selleck.....tight jeans with leather chaps......nice.....
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.
Probably Sean Penn as the Sheriff, and Tom Cruise as the 14 year old girl...
“Unfortunately, too many movies today cant 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.
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.
Let’s just pray it doesn’t star Clooney or Pitt ping.
Remkes are never as good as the original.
They can add a lot of cuss words that weren't in the original. The Coens should have quit after Raising Arizona.
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.
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