Hailee Steinfeld --- pretty, but she is a nice Jewish girl, so I am partial.
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.
Better than Unforgiven or The Outlaw JOSEY WALES??
Surely you jest. I am not going to hand my hard-earned dough to liberal actors like Damon who hate my conservative guts.
That may be the most cruel thing anyone's ever said about Matt Damon.
Don't forget the outstanding musical score of the original True Grit. Really captured the visual elements of the film.
“I got a fence post that can act better than Glen Campbell”
I gotta agree with ya there...but the Loss of General Sterling Price just may have me contacting my lawyer Dagget.
Still - I plan on giving it a look
Boy if you base all of your life soley on what the actor,actresss,the barber, theclerk the bank teller,teacher and such politics are that must get really tiring.
This is a great film on par with the best movie ever made ,Shane.
Geez the era of 1968-1978 is the best era of film making and all and I mean all of that era is dominated by leftists actors,directors all of them and I could care less.
Haven’t seen the film but are you referring to a scene in the book where Rooster cuts the horse with a knife and rubs salt in the wound to make it run faster - so that Mattie will not die of the rattlesnake bite? Painful scene in the book; I know John Wayne does ride “Little Blackie” at the end of the movie but don’t remember if the horse dies.
It’s not “disloyalty” to John Wayne, really. It’s more the assumption that John Wayne only “played himself,” etc, and all that bunk.
Glad you liked it; I’ll give it a try.
***Geez the era of 1968-1978 is the best era of film making and all and I mean all of that era is dominated by leftists actors,directors all of them and I could care less.***
Even Traitor Jane Fonda’s movies were being shown at military bases at that time!
“Better than Unforgiven or The Outlaw JOSEY WALES??”
Hard to believe, but I would opine “yes” -— and those are two of my favorite movies.
Best use of a Sharp’s Rifle in years.
A fence post would emote more than Kim Darby did.
“Lawyer Dagget - she pulls him like a gun.”
“Once Upon a Time in the West”...The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”??
True Grit is terrific!
I think that the poster that stated it’s more of an homage to the original said it best. It’s not really a remake; it’s too similar to the original to say they’ve re-made anything.
Ill give it a shot once it’s in DL form but Damon makes me want to puke for such an untalented hack.
Going to the 7:15 showing tonight.
Oh, come on. How bad can "Tchaikovsky meets Freddie Krueger meets Vince McMahon" be???
Seriously, I thought "The King's Speech" was good, mainly because of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush's Oscar-worthy performances. Otherwise, less than great. "The Town" was also good, but I'd have to give Mark Wahlberg the Boston-based movie nod with "The Fighter". A shame that Christian Bale is going to have to deal with the Firth/Rush buzzsaw. Any other year and he'd be picking up a gold statue for his performance.
I must be the only person that thought "The Social Network" was a overblown geek-fest with a main character who would give O-Bambi a run for his money in the "Biggest Narcissist" category. Add to it the script by drug-addled Sorkin and it's a candidate for this year's "Avatar".
"True Grit" is on next week's agenda. With all these weekend holidays this year, it screws up the movie weekends a bit...
She's also 14 years old. Prolly best to keep your partiality under control.
Very well written review. I’m going to have to see this movie now.
Paging Mr Jerry Lee Lewis. Please pick up a white courtesy phone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.