Just Watched True Grit

[MicktheGreat 1]

So...I just got back from the new Coen Brothers flick, True Grit (which is a re-make of an old John Wayne movie, based on an even older Charles Portis novel). Surprisingly, a bunch of movie theaters in my area were having midnight showings of it. And since I'm a fan of most of their work and since I didn't really have anything better to do, I decided to check it out.

 

I don't want to ruin the movie with anything too specific. But it's a somewhat stereotypical Western/Revenge type plot. Basically, a young girl (Hailee Steinfeld) teams up with a couple of bounty-hunter-type lawmen (Jeff Bridges & Matt Damon) to track-down and capture her father's murderer (Josh Brolin).

 

The acting is pretty great all-around. Jeff Bridges is sure to be nominated again for Best Actor for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn. But, really, it's Hailee Steinfeld as the young Mattie Ross who shines the most in this movie. She's a stone-cold lock for a Best Actress nomination in my opinion -- even though she's sure to lose out to someone slightly more established like Natalie Portman (for Black Swan), Annette Bening / Julianne Moore (for The Kids are All Right), or Noomi Rapace (for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).

 

As far as the style of the film, a lot of the reviews are touting this as being an atypical film for the Coens. After seeing the film, I find this really surprising. While True Grit does look a bit different than their other films, it features the same type of characterization, the same type of odd/quirky humor, the same type of strange dialogue, the same type of slightly eccentric (but effective) music selections, etc. Really, despite some of the reviews to the contrary, this ultimately felt very much like a Coen Brothers movie, at least to me.

 

Overall, while True Grit wasn't my favorite film from this year (I think both Inception and The Social Network are better overall), it's probably in my top 5-6 films of the year and the best Coen film since No Country for Old Men.

 

[shotsup 832]

So...I just got back from the new Coen Brothers flick, True Grit (which is a re-make of an old John Wayne movie, based on an even older Charles Portis novel). Surprisingly, a bunch of movie theaters in my area were having midnight showings of it. And since I'm a fan of most of their work and since I didn't really have anything better to do, I decided to check it out.

 

I don't want to ruin the movie with anything too specific. But it's a somewhat stereotypical Western/Revenge type plot. Basically, a young girl (Hailee Steinfeld) teams up with a couple of bounty-hunter-type lawmen (Jeff Bridges & Matt Damon) to track-down and capture her father's murderer (Josh Brolin).

 

The acting is pretty great all-around. Jeff Bridges is sure to be nominated again for Best Actor for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn. But, really, it's Hailee Steinfeld as the young Mattie Ross who shines the most in this movie. She's a stone-cold lock for a Best Actress nomination in my opinion -- even though she's sure to lose out to someone slightly more established like Natalie Portman (for Black Swan), Annette Bening / Julianne Moore (for The Kids are All Right), or Noomi Rapace (for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).

 

As far as the style of the film, a lot of the reviews are touting this as being an atypical film for the Coens. After seeing the film, I find this really surprising. While True Grit does look a bit different than their other films, it features the same type of characterization, the same type of odd/quirky humor, the same type of strange dialogue, the same type of slightly eccentric (but effective) music selections, etc. Really, despite some of the reviews to the contrary, this ultimately felt very much like a Coen Brothers movie, at least to me.

 

Overall, while True Grit wasn't my favorite film from this year (I think both Inception and The Social Network are better overall), it's probably in my top 5-6 films of the year and the best Coen film since No Country for Old Men.

 

 

Too many werds for me but I am renaming you MickTheMovieCritic

[kutulu 1,659]

 

Overall, while True Grit wasn't my favorite film from this year (I think both Inception and The Social Network are better overall), it's probably in my top 5-6 films of the year and the best Coen film since No Country for Old Men.

 

 

Just watch Inception last night for the first time. Pretty good.

[GettnHuge 2]

 

 

I don't want to ruin the movie with anything too specific.

 

That's greta cause we don't know wha thappens.

[ArnieBragg 1]

Well said Mick.

 

It had the "feel" of a Coen Bros movie. And yes the acting was great throughout.

[Saint Elistan 106]

I keep hearing "meh". I'll catch a viewing one of these days and decide for myself though.

[Chronic Husker 85]

Well said Mick.

 

It had the "feel" of a Coen Bros movie. And yes the acting was great throughout.

Feeling of a Coen movie, agreed. Bridges and the girl carried it, IMO. A lot of laughs but maybe not too many real plot twists. The trailers don't really show the girl at all and it's mostly her story.

 

Not my favorite Coen film but it was well worth going to. Like a lot of Coen films, I will need to have another viewing or three to pick up stuff I missed. In this case, a lot of it was the dialogue.

[GettnHuge 2]

I just watched the REAL True Grit.

It's pretty greta

[shotsup 832]

I just watched the REAL True Grit.

 

Good for you

[DanXIII 8]

Any truth to the rumors that zombie John Wayne makes a cameo?

 

[CAMJAY77 1]

Any truth to the rumors that zombie John Wayne makes a cameo?

 

 

Yes.

Elvis too

[lambert58 71]

I am one of the biggest "classic" movie fans on here... and I have to say that I liked the new True Grit better than the original... and I am a die-hard John Wayne fan.

[GettnHuge 2]

I am one of the biggest "classic" movie fans on here... and I have to say that I liked the new True Grit better than the original... and I am a die-hard John Wayne fan.

 

you mean former fan

traitor

[lambert58 71]

you mean former fan

traitor

 

 

 

Go see this movie if you haven't. There is room to love both...

 

(edited this to point out that I actually watched the movie in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Pretty cool knowing that I was very familiar with most of the towns and locations they were discussing.)

[GettnHuge 2]

 

 

Go see this movie if you haven't. There is room to love both...

 

You didn't say both, you said better. as in this true grit >>>>>> the original.

as in jeff bridges >>>>>>>>>> the Duke

as in barry pepper >>>>>>>>>>> Robert Duvall

I feel queasy

[lambert58 71]

You didn't say both, you said better. as in this true grit >>>>>> the original.

as in jeff bridges >>>>>>>>>> the Duke

as in barry pepper >>>>>>>>>>> Robert Duvall

I feel queasy

 

 

Didn't say they were better... this movie though is told from a different perspective. Hathaway's film had The Duke as the central character. The film was told through his eyes. The Coen Film is told through the eyes of Mattie.

 

I will say this:

 

Hailey Steinfeld >>>>>>>>>>>>> Kim Darby and it isn't even close.

 

 

There is a more realistic tone to this picture as well.

 

Edited to add: I do think Barry Pepper was >>>>>>>> than Duvall.

[GettnHuge 2]

The Duke as the central character.

 

Edited to add: I do think Barry Pepper was >>>>>>>> than Duvall.

yea, of course, bob duvall just sucks huh

 

The Duke is always the central character.

[lambert58 71]

yea, of course, bob duvall just sucks huh

 

The Duke is always the central character.

 

Like I said... two different movies.

 

Duvall is one of the best Western Actors out there.. Open Range, Broken Trail, Lonesome Dove, True Grit.. Fantastic.

 

Let me put it this way.. I like The Coen Brothers version better than Henry Hathaways...

 

Now I am going to go watch 3 Godfathers AND Fort Apache back-to-back as contrition.

[GettnHuge 2]

I can't wait until they remake The Good the Bad and the Ugly with johnny depp, robert downey jr and george lopez so you can all rush in here

to say that was better too.

[lambert58 71]

I can't wait until they remake The Good the Bad and the Ugly with johnny depp, robert downey jr Zac Efron and george lopez so you can all rush in here

to say that was better too.

 

Fixored.

[SUXBNME 1,454]

Good for you

I don't know why, but your response made me chuckle a bit.

Oh yea...I remember why.....

[shotsup 832]

 

[Super Cubs 153]

I saw the new True Grit last night and as a western fan I have to say it was pretty good. Was it better than the origional? No. To me the origional told a more complete story.

[kilroy69 1,214]

I am impressed with Josh Brolin.

[Super Cubs 153]

I am impressed with Josh Brolin.

I expected more.

[cbfalcon 825]

I give it 2 thumbs up.

 

Much better than the original cuz old stuff generally sucks.

[Voice_Of_Reason 0]

The new True Grit honored the Duke in my opinion. They didn't change much of the orginal movie. They didn't take it into a whole new direction. It was pretty much the same movie with different characters. I really enjoyed it. It brought back a lot of memories of the original.

 

Of course the original had a bunch of big named actors too. Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper.

[IndyTom 0]

I can't wait until they remake The Good the Bad and the Ugly with johnny depp, robert downey jr and george lopez so you can all rush in here

to say that was better too.

 

[DanXIII 8]

If you read and liked the novel, you will see that the remake follows the book much more closely than the original.

 

And Marion's only acting chops were getting himself out of the service.

 

 

[IGotWorms 4,057]

I saw True Grit the other day. It was pretty good. I'd put it behind Inception, Black Swan, The Town, and The Social Network for top movies I saw this year, but it deserves to be a part of the conversation. I liked it much more than No Country For Old Men.

[Mike Honcho 5,065]

I can't wait until they remake The Good the Bad and the Ugly with johnny depp, robert downey jr and george lopez so you can all rush in here

to say that was better too.

 

 

What a shock, Douche of the Year candidate criticizing something else he hasn't seen.

[crackattack 520]

I watched it the other day....meh. . It was just o.k. The original was and is much better.

[shovelheadt 68]

I watched it the other day....meh. . It was just o.k. The original was and is much better.

 

Agreed. One of the bigger wastes of money in my movie going history. The Fighter, on the other hand, was great.

[cbfalcon 825]

Agreed. One of the bigger wastes of money in my movie going history. The Fighter, on the other hand, was great.

 

I understand not being too impressed, but it was also one of the worst movies you've seen in your movie going history?

 

Not sure I've heard that opinion.

[crackattack 520]

I understand not being too impressed, but it was also one of the worst movies you've seen in your movie going history?

 

Not sure I've heard that opinion.

 

That might be a little harsh on the "history" statement. It was o.k., Bridges I thought was over the top as Rooster. There were times I couldnt understand what he was saying due to the voice being way to scruffy. The girl was very good, and Damon was, well Damon. I'm not a huge Damon fan.

[crackattack 520]

Best exchange in the movie:

 

Ned Pepper: What's your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?

Rooster Cogburn: I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?

Ned Pepper: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.

Rooster Cogburn: Fill your hands, you son of a ######!

[edjr 6,578]

And yes the acting was great throughout.

 

Unlike the real true grit or any movie including John Wayne

[cbfalcon 825]

I saw the original True Grit on AMC this weekend. Gotta say, pretty lame.

[edjr 6,578]

I saw the original True Grit on AMC this weekend. Gotta say, pretty lame.

 

 

You'd think they could have found a little girl that looked like a little girl and not Gimli from LOTR

[cbfalcon 825]

 

You'd think they could have found a little girl that looked like a little girl and not Gimli from LOTR

 

My wife commented "So in the original it was a little boy instead of a girl"?

 

It's not that the original True Grit sucked per say. It's that most movies from that era sucked when compared to current day fare.