Posted on 12/27/2010 11:55:37 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
For those who feel it's disloyal to the memory of John Wayne to even watch the new version of "True Grit," please hold your horses. To not give this film a chance on that basis is like not giving Elvis Presley's version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" a chance because you think it's disloyal to Art Garfunkel. Even Paul Simon said Elvis nailed it. And Jeff Bridges turns in a stunning performance as Rooster Cogburn. Or should I say, a staggering performance. He plays a gruff, seemingly oblivious, functional alcoholic with paternal undertones of regret which will feel familiar to anyone who knows such characters in real life.
I vaguely remember seeing the original "True Grit" on video not so long ago. I was distracted by Kim Darby's trendy boy haircut, which was quite a stretch for the 1880's. As Mattie Ross in the new film, Hailee Steinfeld looks like a fourteen year old from the Old West and believably speaks her sharp dialogue like a homeschooled teen might today-- uninhibited and with a head full of knowledge beyond her years. She holds her own with the U.S. Marshall and the Texas Ranger, played by Matt Damon, and she says clever and biting things you wish you could think to say. But that's good writing.
And this "True Grit" is a package deal. The acting, the writing, and the cinematography are all beautiful. I have a thing for authentic looking westerns. In recent years I thought "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and "3:10 to Yuma" both were visually alluring and captured the eerie, dusty, coldness of the western frontier. Likewise, "True Grit" seeks authenticity with the earthiness of tired horses and homemade clothing, and a paucity of rations in the snowy wilderness. All the characters reflected a kind of innocence and naivety of a world that existed just moments before the telephone and automobile snowballed into the technologically jaded culture of the late 20th century.
There was not a weak performance from anyone, not even Matt Damon, who carries the baggage of being Matt Damon. His baggage worked for him in this role, actually, as a masculine, blustery Texas ranger who, like Rooster, was ultimately decent and chivalrous.
The greatest scene to me, the one with the most emotional impact, was one that most Americans would agree was morally correct, but which would actually spark debate in some circles. It involved the punishing use of a horse and I wish more would not be said about it for the sake of those who haven't seen the film yet, but it exquisitely defines the heart of Jeff Bridges' character.
If Hollywood cared (which they don't) about rewarding filmmakers who make grand films that appeal to theater going audiences, they would give the Best Picture Oscar to "True Grit." As it is, their tendency these days is to figure out who had the most ignored, left-wing screed of the nominees and shower Academy love upon it.
Well, I guess we'll see.
While the Mag Seven was good, if you see the original ( the Seven Samurai) the Mag Seven gets quite diminished.
Can’t wait to see it. I was on-call last week and am now trapped by the snow. When the trailer first came out ,I was enthralled and got the original from Netflix.
The Duke was great, but in the original Darby was poorly casted- too old. Statfeld is age appropriate and from the trailers seems perfect.
Glen Campbell came across as an overly-coiffed girly man for his role. While I don’t like Damon’s ideology, he can’t be worse than Campbell.
Strother Martin was great, and Dennis Hopper and Duvall could do almost no wrong, but their roles were too small that they were almost wasted.
And the guy who played the Josh Brolin role, was a character actor who gave little to the role.
I think it’s possible to like both of them. The new movie can be good on its own, perhaps technically even better and it doesn’t need to be any threat to John Wayne’s performance, which I’ll always love.
Supporting actress? Curious... Why wouldn’t hers be considered a “lead” role?
I actually was referring to all of his baggage. Somehow it works for his character here I think. I’m surprised how many people want to avoid a film that uses guns unapologetically (damon’s character is even celebrated for his marksmanship) and for valuing human life over animals, and justice over some liberal ideal of non-violence above all. Shouldn’t good filmmaking be encouraged?
Politics aside, I am a HUGE fan of the Coen brothers. Can hardly wait to see this movie.
As a kid, I wasn't a big fan of John Wayne until he performed this role, and it changed my whole appreciation for the man, and at early enough a time in life to then have the chance to see everything he filmed, from every era (thank God for TCM).
I read the novel before I saw the original film, and really appreciated the true feel of the dialog which reminded me of that of my own folks.
Yeah, I'll give it a chance, and the cast choices help, even if Matt Damon's blowhard political statements make me physically sick.
“Sound of Music” called “Sonrisas y lágrimas”, the story of the Von Hernandez family’s flight to freedom in the U.S. from Mexico.
You have it backwards. It will be about their flight FROM the US, pursued by GWB & his jackbooted henchmen, and INTO the paradise that everyone knows is Mexico.
The tough part will be filming along the border without having the entire crew murdered by the Mexican drug lords...
Actually “Fargo” characters had more of a Minnesota type accent. My Norwegian mother in law sounds quite a lot like Frances McDormand.
Casting Damon in that role just seems like a sharp stick in eye of people who are fans of Westerns(probably the most pro-America and conservative segment of the film-going public.) And it just emphasizes the liberal hypocrisy of the hollywood crowd—they’ll make all kinds of movies with firearms and have no problem taking your money then they’ll use that money to campaign to ban firearms. Heard on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk yesterday that Spielberg has one of the best collections of guns in the USA. Wonder how he votes?
Thank you. I felt compelled to write something because the film was just so good.
bump for later
I’m no expert, just loved the movie.
Okay, I’m not gonna wait. Y’all have me talked into going tonight. Leaving in a few minutes actually.
We really enjoyed the movie and I am sure it will receive many awards as it should and my grandson is going to rent the original asap. The Bridges family had their roots here in Eureka Ca and I lust for Jeff’s grand parents home on Dolbeer at Chester streets...
I’ve met a lot of people that talked like that, but it was very seldom people under the age of 60.
I’m looking forward to seeing it, and I am a huge John Wayne fan.
A friend of my wife and her husband saw it today, and has not seen the JW version. I’m going to loan them my DVD, and it will be interesting to see what they say from that perspective.
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