This reminds me of the two Miracle on 34th Street movies. Why a remake when the original was just fine? Well, I like both; they are different enough (the new one even involves prayer and church—the old one seems more pc on that point, oddly enough) to enjoy. Neither one is perfect, but they each have their charm.
I’ll wait until True Grit comes on TV; it will be interesting to see the different approaches to the characters and the story.
Like good music, a good story is worth hearing more than once and even from different story-tellers.
Not knocking the Cohen brothers. They make well written, well directed, high quality productions but they tend to be quirky and off beat. If you like dark, dreary, graphically violent and bloody films, the Cohen brothers are for you. I suppose one day I'll catch the new True Grit. Just not right now.
When you take into account the inflation factor, John Wayne is the biggest box office draw of all time. Wayne is still one of America's most popular movie stars, 32 years after his death. The Duke has kept right up there with the likes of Harrison Ford, Will Smith and Tom Hanks.
While I wasn't impressed with the original True Grit or Wayne's performance, both have gotten better over time. I read that when True Grit author Charles Portis was writing the book, he had John Wayne in mind to play Rooster Cogburn. In fact, Portis was an unofficial adviser of sorts on the original True Grit, but declined to have any input on the Cohen brothers version.
Here's a picture of Charles Portis discussing things with the Duke on the film set of the original 1969 True Grit.
I am sorry I will skip this one. I don’t pay to watch a Matt Damon movie.
Any chance Kate Mulgrew might co star with Bridges on a Rooster Cogburn remake?
I was horrified when they announced the remake, and scoffed at the notion of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin being cast in their respective roles - three lefties in an American classic is worthy of derision.
I went in with the lowest of expectations, and wanted to dislike it, but I loved it. The actors were hidden by the characters, which is the point of acting.
I also know why leftist reviewers don’t like this version. Unlike conservatives who will love the original and scorn the new, the leftists don’t like the introduction of faith. The concept of flawed people having a moral obligation to bring justice to evildoers doesn’t sit right with them. Having faith in God and depending on the Scriptures is a completely foreign concept.
Check your local library to see if this book is available for borrowing from your county library system.