Coen brothers to adapt 'True Grit'

[Aesop Rocks]

So, I went to see what the showings were for this movie were today. They were all sold out.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I finally saw it this afternoon and WOW. One of the best I've seen all year. The ending wasn't as great as the entirety of the journey, but it was a damn good film. Bridges was phenomenal and the lead actress (don't know her name) that played Maddie was cool too. Just a great film, I would see it again for sure!!!

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I think the success of of Red dead redemption has made Westerns cool again with the young kids again.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm just disappointed this film debuted in 3rd, behind BOTH Little Fockers and Gulliver's Travels. I wonder about the average moviegoer sometimes. Actually, all the time.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I don't think it's doing too bad. The showing I went to was sold out.
Anywho, I'm watching the original right now and as legendary as John Wayne is and as great as he is as Cogburn, I have to say I much prefer Bridges as the character. He did a fantastic job

 

[Assassin32]

Now, that is how you do violence in a PG-13 movie. Not like The Dark Knight's wimpy cutaways.

 

[Matt Mortem]

the violence in True Grit was great. It wasn't over the top, it wasn't toned down for ratings sake. It was just right.

 

[Assassin32]

Yup. Nolan needs to watch this movie and take notes for The Dark Knight Rises. Quickly cutting to a goon's face and adding a scary sound effect when The Joker slashes Gambol's face was lame.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I agree. There's a lot that can be done with a PG-13.

 

[Secret Fawful]

The Dark Knight has become the new Godwin's law.

 

[Tony Stark]

The girl in this movie deserves an oscar nod. I think she did a better job that the original girl who often came off as annoying IMO. John Wayne owned the original, and in this version the girl owns the show.

Jeff Bridges did a great job of doing his own thing with Cogburn while giving a tip of the hat to John Wayne.

The funny thing about the Coen Brothers saying how they stayed away from the film, and going for the book, that's true in some sense, but alot of the scenes are directly taken from the original movie. The raid on the shack with the two Pepper gang memebers in it, cinematically is the same sequence as what was in the Wayne version, only it's shot at night. I'm not saying that bad by the way, in fact if you've seen the original it will bring back a bit of nostalgia. It's a bit like how Peter Jackson shot some of the scenes from Lord of the Rings in the same way that the animated Ralph Bashki version did. It's just a not to the other film makers.

I've heard people say the original is not like the book and this one is closer to the book. If you've seen the original and seen this, they are pretty much identical story wise, except for the ending. The Wayne version has a bit more of a happy ending (other than LeBoeuf dying in that version), but the studio went on to make a sequel with Wayne in it, that was not related to any book, so that might be why.

In anycase I think both versions are faithful to the book, they are just different interpretations, but all the good stuff is there. This version is actually a little shorter than the John Wayne film, but in that it's faster paced and IMO it puts more of a sense of urgency on the film. The film is entirely focused from Mattie Ross' perspective, and she is the main character here, not Cogburn.

This is easily one of the top films of the year, and should get an oscar nod as such. Just an incredible thrill to watch, and I'm not that big of a fan of the Coen brothers films, but they hit the ball out of the park with this one.

I rarely do this but 10/10. There's really nothing I can complain about.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I like the Coen brothers films (I don't think I like their films quite as much as some people do) and know that they are great filmmakers but "True Grit" is honestly my favorite film of theirs. I'm not really saying best but it's my favorite...out of the ones I've seen and there are quite a few I haven't seen yet.

 

[Jack Napier]

I think the success of of Red dead redemption has made Westerns cool again with the young kids again.

You know what pisses me off about that game? Anytime Marsden speaks to Ms. McFarland, they KEEP ON saying each others' names! "Come on in, Mr. Marsden." "Mighty obliged, Ms. McFarland!"

It's like Rockstar is whispering "See kids, these are their names and we're going to repeat them 400 times, don't you go forgettin' em now!"

 

[kit1982]

Just watched it wow, just wow, the whole riding back scene in the end had me nearly in tears, the music in that scene was just beautiful. It wasn't what I was expecting and I honestly think the Coens outdid themselves this time.

 

[kit1982]

Just watched it wow, just wow, the whole riding back scene in the end had me nearly in tears, the music in that scene was just beautiful. It wasn't what I was expecting and I honestly think the Coens outdid themselves this time.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Saw it last night. Hell yes! t:

 

[JeetKuneDo]

The girl in this movie deserves an oscar nod. I think she did a better job that the original girl who often came off as annoying IMO. John Wayne owned the original, and in this version the girl owns the show.

In anycase I think both versions are faithful to the book, they are just different interpretations, but all the good stuff is there. This version is actually a little shorter than the John Wayne film, but in that it's faster paced and IMO it puts more of a sense of urgency on the film. The film is entirely focused from Mattie Ross' perspective, and she is the main character here, not Cogburn.

This is easily one of the top films of the year, and should get an oscar nod as such. Just an incredible thrill to watch, and I'm not that big of a fan of the Coen brothers films, but they hit the ball out of the park with this one.

I rarely do this but 10/10. There's really nothing I can complain about.

Agree with the way you describe the two versions. The first was about Rooster, this one is about Mattie. How Hailee Steinfeld is being touted as a "supporting actress" is beyond me. Everyone else in the movie supports her.

The whole cast is stellar. The pacing is crisp...you're never allowed to be bored. There is humor. There is violence. There is beautiful photography. and wonderful dialog. The score is also top notch.

My only complaint was the ending. But it's a very small complaint. I was just disappointed in a perceived sad future for the wonderful character of Mattie. (Partially due to the actress they picked to play the adult Mattie not having the charisma of Steinfeld)

9/10 The Coens deliver again.

 

[Bruce Malone]

^^^

I think it was obvious from her epilogue that her lust for life probably peaked during that adventure she had as a 14 year old and from that point on and with her losing her arm she probably lost her lust for life.

So seeing her as a listless adult is a depiction of that.

 

[Pittman4Two]

^^^

I think it was obvious from her epilogue that her lust for life probably peaked during that adventure she had as a 14 year old and from that point on and with her losing her arm she probably lost her lust for life.

So seeing her as a listless adult is a depiction of that.

AHHH My Eyes!!! I see spoilers! Thanks for blinding me man!

 

[Tron Bonne]

Watched it last night. I'm not all that much into westerns, so when I kept hearing that this was much more of a 'traditional' western than people were expecting, I lowered my expectations, but I don't know, it seemed much more laced with humor than the majority of the westerns I've seen in the past (maybe I'm just watching the wrong ones, I don't know), and it definitely had a very Coen-esque feel to the whole thing, at least I thought.

Probably the only negative was some of the dialogue. It in itself wasn't bad, but it seemed like almost everyone talked without contractions. Sometimes it worked comedically (like when Rooster was saying stuff all deadpan like 'I do not know this man'), but it seemed really weird and somewhat awkward to me that almost everyone talked like that.

That's pretty minor, though. I enjoyed it a lot.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Watched it last night. I'm not all that much into westerns, so when I kept hearing that this was much more of a 'traditional' western than people were expecting, I lowered my expectations, but I don't know, it seemed much more laced with humor than the majority of the westerns I've seen in the past (maybe I'm just watching the wrong ones, I don't know), and it definitely had a very Coen-esque feel to the whole thing, at least I thought.

Probably the only negative was some of the dialogue. It in itself wasn't bad, but it seemed like almost everyone talked without contractions. Sometimes it worked comedically (like when Rooster was saying stuff all deadpan like 'I do not know this man'), but it seemed really weird and somewhat awkward to me that almost everyone talked like that.

That's pretty minor, though. I enjoyed it a lot.

Whew I thought it was just me that noticed that. At first it was no biggie, but a few of the instances without contractions sounded a little awkward.

 

[DACrowe]

I got a chance to see this yesterday. This is a great, superbly made, excellent film. In most ways it is an improvement upon the original and a great western. However, having seen the original film several times...I couldn't get incredibly excited about this movie or start raving. I have seen most of it done before. It was a unique experience of it being a great movie that was already a great movie. So while the direction, cinematography, musical score, Matt Damon, etc. all improve the tale...I still knew the tale.

But it was a great movie nonetheless. Visually it was exciting and the relationship of Le Boeuf and Rooster Cogburn was hilariously well developed and catchy here. The dialogue had a sing-songy folksy-ness to it that gives it a semi-Mark Twain feel. I like how the Coens make it more Americana and less Hollywood, but kept it light and fun. It is an adventure tale in the end and I'm glad they didn't turn it into NCFOM, like I worried they would.

I was blown away by Haliee Steinfeld. She gave a great performance and the image of a 14-year-old girl in the dangers of the west (and unlike the original, this west felt very dangerous) was startling. I wouldn't say it was better than Kim Darby (who was a highlight of the original), but equalled it. And given the age of Stienfeld, it deepened the tone of the story.

As for Jeff Bridges as Rooster...I love the Dude, but this is one thing the original film excelled over. The Duke beats the Dude in this particular role. Bridges is the better actor, but Wayne owned Rooster. Rooster didn't need to be so drunk and mumbly the whole movie. He slurs his best line ("Fill your hands, you son of a *****!") and didn't develop the rapport with Mattie that I felt needed to be there. While Damon was a huge improvement over Glenn Campbell, and he develops a touching (semi-romantic?) connection with Mattie, this Rooster is too drunk to ever be really close to her. In the original film he kind of becomes like a surrogate father to her. In this one, I feel their relationship was never very tight.

The other thing was that while this movie was much closer to the book, I preferred the ending of the 1969 film. More Hollywood? Maybe...albeit Le Bouef dies in the 1969 version so that part was not as light. But overall, the ending just felt more satisfying. This is a story of such cheeky and subversive adventuring, to end on such a downbeat, bitter note may be more realistic, but did not fit with the story as a whole.

In my opinion they were both great movies that are about even. Each does things better than the other. But for people who have never seen the original, the 2010 version of course will become the instant favorite.

9/10

One of the best movies of the year.

 

[Matt Mortem]

In my opinion they were both great movies that are about even. Each does things better than the other. But for people who have never seen the original, the 2010 version of course will become the instant favorite.

This. I couldn't agree more!

 

[Boom]

Oscar watcher David Poland as True Grit as the new frontrunner for Best Picture.

His arguments are in the Comments Section.

http://moviecitynews.com/2010/12/true-grit-watch/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Doctor Jones]

Saw it, liked it, but I didn't love it. It didn't connect with me as much as the other Coen Bros. films. Maybe it was hard for me because I kept hearing bags being opened and coughing all throughout the movie or something.

There were times where I didn't know what the hell Bridges was saying.