Coen brothers to adapt 'True Grit'
New version will stay faithful to Portis' novel
Source: Variety
As their next film, Joel and Ethan Coen will put their spin on "True Grit," the iconic Western that won John Wayne 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 Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall 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 Adam Goodman, 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.
Hmmmmmm.
The Dude in True Grit Talks
By: Mike Fleming; Variety
In what is shaping up as a potential "Big Lebowski" reunion, Jeff Bridges is in discussions with Paramount to star for Joel and Ethan Coen in "True Grit," playing the role that won John Wayne an Oscar in the 1969 film.
Bridges, who last worked with the Coens when he turned in a heralded performance as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, is in talks to play the lead role in the iconic Western that the Coens are mounting as their next project.
The picture, which also reunited the Coens with their "No Country for Old Men" producing partner Scott Rudin, has been redrafted by the Coens to be more faithful to the Charles Portis novel that the original film was based on.
In it, a 14 year old girl tags along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman to track the outlaw who killed her father. The trail leads them into hostile Indian territory. The original told the story from Cogburn's vantage point, but the new version will work from the viewpoint of the young girl. Kim Darby played the young girl in the original, and Glen Campbell played the other lawman.
The Coens premiere "A Serious Man" at the Toronto Film Festival. Bridges most recently starred in "The Men Who Stare At Goats" and reprised in "Tron Legacy."
Jeff Bridges is the fucking man.
this sounds promising, and the casting of that 14yo girl is key, as long as they don't change the age by casting punchable face...
no more remakes!
Ladykillers was one of the worst movies ever made. EVER,
The Coens Talk True Grit
Source: Edward Douglas, ComingSoon
The Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan, have gained an entirely new level of respect and appreciation as filmmakers over the last few years thanks to their Oscar-winning adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men and last year's box office hit Burn After Reading. Having their names attached to a movie called True Grit has gotten a lot of interest because the 1969 John Wayne movie of the same name is a popular Western. In fact, the Coens have decided to go back to the Charles Portis novel of the same name to create their own movie based on it.
ComingSoon.net had a chance to interview the Coens with a small group of journalists for their new movie A Serious Man and eventually, they were asked about the Western.
"We did see it as kids. I don't know if Joel's seen it since," Ethan said once the movie was mentioned. "It made very little impression on me, the movie. We subsequently both read the book and the book made a huge impression and I guess that's kind of why we're interested in doing the movie."
"It's not a great movie but it is a great book actually," his brother continued.
"It's not really a remake, it's an adaptation," Ethan admitted to which Joel added, "Yeah, we were trying to figure out what it was the other day, too. What do you call it?"
They're hoping that this project will be next although they're not sure and are hoping that it will get done in the spring.
Despite there having been word out of Toronto that Jeff Bridges aka "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski was the frontrunner for the John Wayne role in the new movie, the brothers remained coy about confirming that, merely saying, "We're talking to somebody."
Look for our full interview with the Coens plus an exclusive interview with the stars of their new movie A Serious Man closer to the film's limited release on October 2.
Damon, Brolin Have "True Grit" for Coens
Source: Variety
Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are in discussions with Joel and Ethan Coen to join Jeff Bridges in "True Grit," the re-imagining of the iconic 1969 Western that Paramount Pictures will put into production next March for late 2010 release.
The Coens, who previously attached their "Big Lebowski" star Bridges to play U.S. marshal Rooster Cogburn, are in talks with Damon to play the lawman (played by Glen Campbell in the original) who teams with Cogburn and a 14-year old girl to track her father's killer into hostile Indian territory.
In a turnabout, Brolin is in talks to play the killer. The actor's recent rise was greatly helped playing the good guy in the Coens' Oscar-winning contemporary Western "No Country for Old Men." Jeff Corey played the killer in the original, and Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper also played outlaws.
They haven't yet cast the young girl.
The Coens are producing with Scott Rudin and Steven Spielberg. The Coens wrote a script which is more faithful to the Charles Portis novel that inspired the original.
Though their current pic "A Serious Man" isn't chock full of stars, the Coens continue to draw top actors who want to work in their films.
Damon just wrapped the Clint Eastwood-directed "Invictus" and is shooting the George Nolfi-directed "The Adjustment Bureau." He's also set to re-team with Eastwood in "Hereafter." Brolin is shooting the Oliver Stone-directed "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps," and then will star in the Asger Leth-directed drama "Cartel."
OK, that news makes even a Coens cynic like me excited.
Coens' 'True Grit' to bow Christmas Day
But Par takes 'Footloose' off release calendar
Source: Variety
Paramount Pictures will release Joel and Ethan Coen's remake "True Grit" on Christmas Day.
At the same time, Par has taken "Footloose," which was to open June 18, off the release calendar. Remake hit a major roadblock when Kenny Ortega dropped out as director, reportedly over creative differences. True Grit's" high-profile release date positions the film for an awards run and allows the pic to capitalize on the holiday frame.
Remake stars Jeff Bridges as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, the character made famous by John Wayne. Matt Damon also stars, playing the lawman who teams with Cogburn.
They're shooting this in and around Austin. Extra casting is going on right now. They're asking for real looking people (no implants or plastic surgery) with facial hair and long hair (ladies and fellas).
grit yerself over there. truly.
Quote from: RegularKarate on February 05, 2010, 12:19:55 PM
They're shooting this in and around Austin. Extra casting is going on right now. They're asking for real looking people (no implants or plastic surgery) with facial hair and long hair (ladies and fellas).
That sounds like you, RK (except for the "ladies" part)
Bet your regretting those breast implants now, aren't you?
Pepper joins cast of Coen Bro's 'True Grit'
Thep inks deal with Par to play 'Lucky' Ned Pepper
Source: Variety
Barry Pepper won't even have to use a fictional surname as he joins the cast of the Coen brothers' "True Grit."
Thesp has inked a deal with Paramount to play the role of "Lucky" Ned Pepper, the notorious outlaw played by Robert Duvall in Henry Hathaway's 1969 classic Western.
Pepper will star opposite Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Hailee Steinfeld.
Ethan and Joel Coen will lens from their adapted script. Scott Rudin is producing; Steven Spielberg is exec producer. The Coens also are producers.
Pepper will next been seen opposite Kevin Spacey in "Casino Jack," George Hickenlooper's pic about disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Pepper's previous credits include "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Green Mile."
Barry Pepper is the fucking man. One of the most underrated actors of the last 10 yeas.
awesome. i saw them casting the lead girls at work... or at least i saw the actresses that came in and peeked lovingly at the coen bros whenever i got a chance. none of the girls seemed punchable.
joel coen did make my life, though, when he accidentally saw me sitting at an Avid.
No offense but since a couple months you remind me of the photocopier-tech-guy at the TV station where I work who's always talking about the various celebrities he sees in the hallway.
I mean, it's cool if you can provide any insight (sp?) of the casting because of your job or whatever, but that ''none of the lead girls looked punchable'' is not information.
Also, Joel Cohen ''accidently'' saw you and made your life/day? Jeez... America and celebrities... I'm glad to be canadian.
Your point seems valid, except I didn't know being Canadian automatically exempts you from fawning over celebrity.... figured that was just self-restraint. I watched one of those Kevin Smith Q&As filmed in Canada and it was pretty much 90 minutes of audience members riding his dick.
Quote from: Pas Rap on March 12, 2010, 10:11:30 AM
No offense but since a couple months you remind me of the photocopier-tech-guy at the TV station where I work who's always talking about the various celebrities he sees in the hallway.
I mean, it's cool if you can provide any insight (sp?) of the casting because of your job or whatever, but that ''none of the lead girls looked punchable'' is not information.
Also, Joel Cohen ''accidently'' saw you and made your life/day? Jeez... America and celebrities... I'm glad to be canadian.
i can understand what you're saying... i don't mean to be annoying about it and please understand i don't say this stuff thinking that it makes me sound cool or something like that. if i had a real job i wouldn't care, just like everybody else here. i have no illusions about being some kind of insider or anything like that... i'm just amused regularly that my entry level Post PA job happens to be around awesome people and projects that i read about in the news/variety. also, i don't know if this makes it better or worse but i don't post about every little thing that happens with regard to somebody with a name to drop-- i try to just say stuff that i find interesting (please review the last six years of me posting here for evidence that my sense of what is interesting and/or funny to you guys is usually pretty far off base).
as far as true grit goes, i guess what i should have said is "i didn't see any young actresses i recognized, so i'm willing to bet that the lead is going to go to a nonprofessional. judging from what i saw in the lobby none of the young ladies really exuded any grit. they seemed like very normal little girls... whatever performance they get out of her should be one to watch"
i also saw other people, known actors who have been in other coen brothers movies, and i didn't think that it'd be surprising or relevant to say that they'll probably be in this one too.
and i was exaggerating about that making my life... but thanks for calling me out just the same.
pas pas, he's happy, can't you just let the man be happy?
Yeah I like living vicariously through Reinhold's little brushes with our Xixax Approved filmmakers. Plus, we'd all flip our shit if he came within a few yards of PTA.
I mention the paul haggis story to most people i meet. Don't let those cool canadians bring you down man.
Yeah, and the headline when i met Spike Jonze said that i had met the moon, or landed on the moon, something along the lines of that...
anyway, i love already knowing what my Christmas movie is going to be this year... i had to wait til summer before i got excited for ben buttons. i call him ben buttons cause i know him.
Quote from: Reinhold on March 12, 2010, 02:10:38 PMas far as true grit goes, i guess what i should have said is "i didn't see any young actresses i recognized, so i'm willing to bet that the lead is going to go to a nonprofessional. judging from what i saw in the lobby none of the young ladies really exuded any grit. they seemed like very normal little girls... whatever performance they get out of her should be one to watch"
Hailee Steinfeld to star in 'True Grit'Coen brothers cast newcomer in Western dramaSource: Variety
Hailee Steinfeld has won the role of 14-year-old Mattie Ross in Paramount's redo of Western classic "True Grit," which Ethan and Joel Coen begin lensing next month in New Mexico.
She'll star alongside Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.
The Coen brothers, who penned the script, are producing "True Grit" with Scott Rudin. Pic is set to open Christmas Day.
In "True Grit," Mattie Ross teams with Rooster Cogburn (Bridges), a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. marshal, in the hunt to find her father's killer (Brolin), who has fled into Indian territory. A Texas Ranger (Damon) is searching for the same criminal, but for a different murder.
Steven Spielberg is exec producing
She seems punchable.
Quote from: Reinhold on March 12, 2010, 02:10:38 PM
Quote from: Pas Rap on March 12, 2010, 10:11:30 AM
No offense but since a couple months you remind me of the photocopier-tech-guy at the TV station where I work who's always talking about the various celebrities he sees in the hallway.
I mean, it's cool if you can provide any insight (sp?) of the casting because of your job or whatever, but that ''none of the lead girls looked punchable'' is not information.
Also, Joel Cohen ''accidently'' saw you and made your life/day? Jeez... America and celebrities... I'm glad to be canadian.
i can understand what you're saying... i don't mean to be annoying about it and please understand i don't say this stuff thinking that it makes me sound cool or something like that. if i had a real job i wouldn't care, just like everybody else here. i have no illusions about being some kind of insider or anything like that... i'm just amused regularly that my entry level Post PA job happens to be around awesome people and projects that i read about in the news/variety. also, i don't know if this makes it better or worse but i don't post about every little thing that happens with regard to somebody with a name to drop-- i try to just say stuff that i find interesting (please review the last six years of me posting here for evidence that my sense of what is interesting and/or funny to you guys is usually pretty far off base).
as far as true grit goes, i guess what i should have said is "i didn't see any young actresses i recognized, so i'm willing to bet that the lead is going to go to a nonprofessional. judging from what i saw in the lobby none of the young ladies really exuded any grit. they seemed like very normal little girls... whatever performance they get out of her should be one to watch"
i also saw other people, known actors who have been in other coen brothers movies, and i didn't think that it'd be surprising or relevant to say that they'll probably be in this one too.
and i was exaggerating about that making my life... but thanks for calling me out just the same.
Haha I didn't even want to come back to this thread because I knew I was a douche and didn't want to see your reply.
So yeah pete was right:
Quote from: pete on March 12, 2010, 02:25:28 PM
pas pas, he's happy, can't you just let the man be happy?
I'd be pretty excited to see the Cohens too :doh:
Quote from: john on March 12, 2010, 01:59:15 PM
Your point seems valid, except I didn't know being Canadian automatically exempts you from fawning over celebrity.... figured that was just self-restraint. I watched one of those Kevin Smith Q&As filmed in Canada and it was pretty much 90 minutes of audience members riding his dick.
Good point. What I meant by that you would understand by experiencing french canada, we have huge TV and movie stars that everybody knows here in the country. But they're not rich and they drive Hondas. We meet them at the supermarket and just smile and say hi.
Despite all that: True Grit will be awesome.
Carter Burwell Talks About The Score For Coen Brothers' 'True Grit' (http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2010/04/carter-burwell-talks-about-score-for.html)
via: The Playlist
Carter Burwell recently took to discussing his latest in a long line of collaborations with the Coen Brothers on their upcoming Western revenge film "True Grit," which stars Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Hailee Steinfeld.
Burwell has scored every film of the Coens beginning with "Blood Simple" and found that when it came to their latest work, things came together quicker than expected. The musician explained to The Film Experience that "we don't always see eye to eye [but for "True Grit"] we both had the same idea at the same time: Protestant hymns."
The concept was reportedly chosen as a thematic fit for the righteous journey of the film's lead, Mattie Ross (Steinfeld), though Burwell noted that he was still only in "research mode" and that everything he'd heard so far "all sound too sweet" for his liking.
One idea he had given thought to was "a sort of call and response feel to the theme, a solo instrument echoing back since Mattie is marching off alone, determined into dangerous territory to find her father's killer and recruiting others to join her." The musician did warn that early conceptualizing often differed significant to the final product but hopefully he's only taking precautions — we're already growing attached to the idea of absorbing hymns driving Ross' journey.
As for any connections to 1969's "True Grit," Burwell concluded that "we're trying to go back to the book as much as possible and ignore that film."
The film is currently shooting in Sante Fe from a script we felt has great potential to be another Coens classic and tonally is somewhere in between "No Country For Old Men" and "A Serious Man." It'll hit theaters Christmas Day.
First Look: Jeff Bridges & Hailee Steinfeld In The Coen Brothers' 'True Grit' (http://theplaylistnation.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-look-jeff-bridges-hailee.html)
via: The Playlist Nation
Photos* from the set of the Coen Brothers' "True Grit" have unveiled the first looks at Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges as their respective characters, Mattie Ross and her accomplice Rooster Cogburn.
Filming is currently taking place in Granger, Texas after work in Sante Fe, New Mexico took place earlier in the year. The film is, of course, an adaptation of Charles Portis novel of the same name that also saw a famous 1969 adaptation starring John Wayne (in an Oscar-winning performance), Glen Campbell and Kim Darby. Musician Carter Burwell recently noted though that he and the Coens were avoiding that film adaptation and were drawing directly from the book for their input.
Reports from the Texas set have also interestingly noted a distinct lack of an eyepatch on Bridges throughout early days shooting.
"The first since was a scene of the hanging of 3 men," one witness wrote. "The second scene was with Jeff Bridges who had just arrived to the set, but I never saw him with the an eyepatch. No Matt [Damon], but I hear that he will be there tomorrow."
Could the Coens being differentiating their take with an eyepatch-less Rooster? At the rate of leaking set photos though, we'll probably find out sooner rather than later. For a more indepth look at the Granger set, one Facebook user has uploaded plenty of images for your viewing pleasure as well as the ones seen with Steinfeld.
"True Grit" hits theaters Christmas Day and also stars Matt Damon as LaBouef, Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney and Barry Pepper as "Lucky" Ned Pepper.
*pics + videos at link's links
http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2010/07/first-look-at-jeff-bridges-in-coen-bros-true-grit
2nd first look.
Earlier today I was just thinking "Is this still coming out this year?"
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http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/truegrit/
HATE the song. Really hoping it's not going to be wall-to-wall gospel/bluegrass/O Brother music. Was kinda expecting more humor in this too but maybe it's just not evident in the trailer.
I'm actually hoping it's devoid of humor. The teaser makes it look badass.
Love the song, hate the rest of the trailer. The movie looks good, but the trailer's just so choppy. Maybe it's the song's fault after all, but I like it anyway.
i get super duper boners for westerns. the same goes for the coens. I'm in. Totally.
inevitable cmbb reference: guy falling down the hole towards the camera.
the song is fine, seeing as o brother was their last great film i don't mind if they allow it to influence them a little. also don't expect much humour in this.. nor would i want the coens to try to be purely funny again, based on Burn After Reading i hope they ONLY do serious films from now on, at least then the worst they can get is boring (no country) and not downright embarrassing to the point of sullying their reputation.
I think it's obvious the song is there to draw in people like my parents. They know and love the Coens, for the most part. They love a classic like True Grit. And the music is moody and evocative of O' Brother. It's intentionally pointing to more mainstream elements of the Coens' oeuvre, like their bestselling soundtrack and their biggest grossing movie, for a reason = $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and I'm ok with that.
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new WHOLE MOVIE trailer http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810153253/video/22265614 (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810153253/video/22265614)
Saw that in front of The Social Network, and now I'm really looking forward to the movie. Also: I'm glad that there's going to be some humor in this film, not that I ever really doubted it. The Coens excel at creating a tension between comedy and tragedy, and to create an overly serious film would just make me wonder why John Hillcoat didn't make it instead.
Shortest period ever between teaser and trailer?
It looks great. I love movies where a character has to save someone they never expected to feel the need to save. My only beef is I have a hard time seeing Matt Damon as anything gritty. Love the dude, but that's just something I can't see him working with.
Quote from: modage on October 04, 2010, 01:26:35 PM
Shortest period ever between teaser and trailer?
truly a momentous occasion i will never forget.
old man lawyer in opening of that trailer has voice identical to abs McConaughey amirite?
It might just be Matt Damon doing a McConaughey impression (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4hH3Lwun8).
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Saw this tonight. Keep it short, it was very funny, as good as you would expect as far as performances, photography, music, etc.. It moves at a pretty good clip too, no wasted moments or lingering too long in one space.(Possible minor spoiler) Brolin is played for more comedic effect and less menace than I had expected.
I was surpised how much Bridge's Cogburn sounded like Billy Bob in Sling Blade and Brolin seemed to channel Jame Gumb.
I'm watching the original on TCM and am so looking forward to this. It just has to better in every single way.
I haven't seen the original but the new one was kinda tepid. Minor Coens. Full review shortly.
If this is "minor", it's a gloriously shot and constantly engaging film that can trump most director's "major" efforts.
Their films have always had a streak of formalism to them, adhering to a traditionalist approach to story and character that wouldn't be out of place in within the studio system eighty years ago. And, in that regard, this might be their best success. I certainly don't mean it's their finest effort yet, but it does prove that - as storytellers - they become more masterful with every film.
It's a wholly admirable testament to their ability to filter everything unnecessary from a story. Nothing in this film is superfluous or distracting.
There are certainly some faults, but it's strengths are far more prevalent.
Quote from: Derek on December 13, 2010, 11:11:43 PM
(Possible minor spoiler) Brolin is played for more comedic effect and less menace than I had expected.
I agree. I'm pleased that I didn't read this comment before seeing the film. Brolin's demeanor was so unguarded and unexpectedly light that it made the inevitable inclusion of his character so much more interesting and more surprising than I had anticipated. In fact, everyone in his gang was played with beautifully unexpected details... all of which were delivered pretty commendably by the consistently solid motherfucker Barry Pepper.
it was alright. not a strikeout, nuttin to overwrite home about. i kinda wish they made an original western.
full review never.
edit: you know what i hate being a de-hyper. it was better than just alright. listen more to john, tho i kinda disagree about their unfiltering abilities a little bit. that's what i mean about wishing they'd done an original, a lot of times it feels like they try to stick TOO true in their adaptings. but they certainly have nice touches with stuff they add, dog chase in NCFOM for example.
winner: True Grit on blu-ray
This is not the western I would have expected from The Coen Bros. Who would have predicted such an earnest film from filmmakers known for their arch irony? Most of this is due to 2 factors: they've adapted the story from a book and the lead character is a precocious headstrong 14 year old girl in search of her fathers killer. The cast includes Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon as a US Marhshall and Texas Ranger, respectively, both on the hunt for the girl's fathers killer. Bridges accent is thick, bordering on Sling Blade slurries and seems to be in competition with Damon and Josh Brolin for most indecipherable speech. The heart of the film, and standout performance, is Hailey Steinfeld, as 14 year old Mattie Ross who seems every bit as smart as her character.
I'm not sure what's happened to the Coens in recent years, after a 20 year career of writing original material they've started to turn increasingly toward adaptations. Anyone expecting the dark ambiguity of No Country For Old Men will be disappointed here. With the exception of a few particularly sharp lines of dialogue (and 1 bit of physical comedy), it's hard to see much of the Coens in this film. It's clear they were attracted to the dialogue, but the formalism of the storytelling, (down to some Old West-y piano score), wouldn't have been out place coming out 4 decades ago. It's certainly an entertaining film but feels slight compared to the Coen's best work.
Quote from: Derek on December 13, 2010, 11:11:43 PM
(Possible minor spoiler) Brolin is played for more comedic effect and less menace than I had expected.
This reminds me. Do you know what I hated? I watched that trailer with the O Brothery gospel score and that was fine but when I went to see Black Swan or something they showed a different trailer that gave away the whole fucking movie! Including a serious bit of plot from the last 30 min. That. Was. The. Worst. I tried to turn away and actually did so when I saw the trailer again before some other movie but the damage was done.
Loved it! Bridges made John Wayne's Rooster look like a Nancy boy in comparison. It was so funny too, I'll have to see it again though, at times I didn't know what anyone was talking about, plus I dozed off a bit towards the end.
loved it too. the coens at their best are compulsively watchable with thematic weight to boot and this certainly is the former. the latter may come more from the source material and while not as "ambiguous" as they've been lately and at times in the past, it's deeply felt and as classic as it gets. that this film feels like it could've come from decades prior is a testament to its quality. rooted in the tradition of the most american of genres, rife with coen-isms (namely the scene with the trader in bearskin and the comedic timing in general), acting is uniformly excellent even by their standards, and it flaunts the night of the hunter as its main reference/influence. what's slight about any of this?
I enjoyed it, but I wonder if I should compliment the original author more than the Coens. Their finest moment in the film was the first shot and then they didn't even try a shot afterward to contend with the beauty or interest of that shot. It's a showmanship movie for exaggerated dialogue. Peckinpah used to say the biggest hindrance against Westerns was their dialogue and inability to align itself with how people talked. Generally, Westerns were too stiff. Here they are too expressive. I'm a fan of Westerns in good films and literature, but nobody has talked as vividly about everything in such a consistent manner as they do in this film. It's mainly due to the lead girl in this film, but it reminds me of a Tarantino approach to have characters constantly be able to talk around any situation. It can be enjoyable, but it can also be intrusive. The intrusion here is that the top heavy focus on dialogue keeps the movie from developing a pedigree for themes or other elements of story which allude to more than what's on the surface.
When I started to watch the movie, I was reminded of one of my favorite Westerns, Hombre, with the tone and simplicity of the story. I was very happy, but the film never extended itself out to be revelatory about anything interesting as it developed. Hombre managed to keep a naturalistic tone and also be reflective. True Grit managed to stay interesting for dialogue but make me feel that I enjoyed the movie without finding it to be very memorable. The dialogue is good for style sake, but it acts as if it's catering to a full realistic evaluation of a situation. It's not.
I really liked this. Maybe not as much as, say "No Country", but I still really enjoyed it.
I disagree with Mod completely and feel this has a VERY Coen feel to it and would easily fit in with their older ventures. It's a great mix of humor and drama.
I also don't know if GT realizes that a large part of the dialog is lifted directly from the book/original movie. I know that's not the point of his argument, but I can't tell if he's aware.
I liked the entire thing, but the last 20 minutes were AWESOME.
Quote from: RegularKarate on December 28, 2010, 03:56:59 PM
I also don't know if GT realizes that a large part of the dialog is lifted directly from the book/original movie. I know that's not the point of his argument, but I can't tell if he's aware.
Yes. Look at my first sentence and notice how I don't reference the writing handiwork as being the Coens doing at all. I just talk about the writing in the film.
Quote from: Gold Trumpet on December 28, 2010, 05:02:49 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on December 28, 2010, 03:56:59 PM
I also don't know if GT realizes that a large part of the dialog is lifted directly from the book/original movie. I know that's not the point of his argument, but I can't tell if he's aware.
Yes. Look at my first sentence and notice how I don't reference the writing handiwork as being the Coens doing at all. I just talk about the writing in the film.
Ha... completely missed that first sentence. Sorry.
This was alright. It was pretty funny, which I wasn't prepared for and was kind of disappointed with. I wanted a badass western, but didn't get it. It was pretty badass, but the silliness of it made it less bad ass at times. Not really a big fan of the Coens, but I enjoyed this one.
Something that always bugs me about watching a Coens movie in the theater is how most of the time the audience can't tell when they're being funny and when they're being serious. They laugh at all the wrong parts. Some very serious parts in this one, the audience was just bawling with laughter. Audiences are idiots.
Quote from: Stefen on December 28, 2010, 05:47:01 PM
Some very serious parts in this one, the audience was just bawling with laughter. Audiences are idiots.
This is my biggest gripe against going to the theater for this kind of stuff, bunch of old fogies filling up the place "HA HA HA, I'm having a great time."
Weird. I normally agree with Stefen about that sort of thing, but I went to see True Grit in Oklahoma... where people don't get ANYTHING and everyone laughed exactly where they were supposed to laugh. They even stopped talking once the trailers were over and the movie started.
CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
The only thing I didn't really like about this was the score. It was really overdone. Every time the music would swell I was pulled out of the picture.
i grew up with all of the hymns the score uses/is based on so i really liked the music. gave it a strange edge that i can't explain too well. i've never been religious (even though i went to church for years when i was younger) but they are beautiful songs. sort of connected me to the characters because if they were asked whether or not they were christians they would've all agreed while at the same time be pursuing some heinous shit, like a lot of people i knew growing up (not on the same level of Heinous Shit obviously).
I liked in the credit there was a joke that said "mr. damon's abs double: Buster Coen." that was one of the coens' 15 year old son.
liked it. loved the dialogue in the beginning but then sometime past the midway point the chattiness became exhausting.
The Coens on the Creative Screenwriting podcast here (http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/2011/01/joel-ethan-coen-true-grit-q.html).
my god that's an awkward interviewer. probably the most awkward part is where he asks about the Mike Yanagita Fargo scene and is like "now don't get me wrong, i loved the scene, but why is it in the movie? because it doesn't seem to contribute to the structure of the story at all.." coens: "uhhhh..." interviewer: "i mean, thematically, it makes marge go in for the second interview, but can you remember anything else about why you wrote that scene?" WHAT
don't think it's as bad as you're making it out to be. i've read plenty about that scene maybe not being crucial, so i'm sure the coens have as well. also kep in mind that they're never all that forthcoming with their answers so most interviews seem awkward.
Did a double feature of this and 'The Fighter' today.
Really awesome and much more fun that I thought it was going to be... Officially my second fav. Jeff Bridges performance. I was surprised that this was more in an Anthony Mann vein than the previous westerns I'd seen lately.
yeah, it's pretty great. I was surprised at how funny it is. Bridges is awesome. Everything is awesome here.
glad is being a hit too.