The original ‘True Grit’, directed by Henry Hathaway, was pure self parody on Wayne’s part. And the Coens are much better filmmakers than Henry Hathaway who was a 2nd tier studio director with no personal vision. ‘Kiss of Death’ is as good as he got and that was mostly due to Richard Widmark’s performance.
Wrong! No self-parody involved. The Duke is brilliant in the film - hilarious and tough and strong. Just watch his light touch during the early trial sequence or when he charges Robert Duvall and his gang on Old Bo and then rides Mattie (the admittedly awful Kim Darby) to safety. And Henry Hathaway was a fine director. He directed How the West Was Won, one of the best westerns ever.
I never cease to wonder at the lack of film/theatre taste among freepers.