I’ve go to go against the current here. As much as I am a fan of the Duke’s, I’m also a fan of the Dude’s.
On almost every level I have to go with the Coen Brothers. Cinematography, acting, score, pacing all go to the Coen Brothers.
Cinematography: This may be tightest contest between the two films, but Roger Deaken’s use of the camera in the Coen Brother’s film is masterful and honest. Of course, one will always marvel at the absolutely stunning landscapes of the original (Lucien Ballard) , but it’s kind of hard to screw up spectacular scenes of the Colorado Rockies. One just has to wonder how the crew managed to wander so far from Arkansas and Oklahoma in the first place. Were they totally lost, or were they going for a cheap thrill?
Acting: Hailee Steinfeld’s Mattie Ross is deeper, more nuanced, and more engaging than Kim Darby’s. It’s kind of hard for a 22 year old to come off as a believable 14 year-old, and in Kim Darby’s case she didn’t manage to pull it off. Steinfeld is heading directly to the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
And whatever you want to say about Matt Damon’s LeBoeuf, nothing could be worse than the acting butchery of Glen Campbell.
I don’t think it’s useful to make comparisons between John Wayne and Jeff Bridges in the Rooster Cogburn role. One’s an actor and the other is, well, he’s John Wayne. You either buy into the deal or you don’t.
Score: Elmer Berstein may your cup of tea, and his overproduced, blowsey score may just light your fire. Not mine. I found Carter Burwell’s score, based around the haunting melody of “Leaning of the Everlasting Arms” always appropriate, always adding to and never detracting from the development of the story.
Pacing: The original unquestionably drags in places as the director struggled to get Wayne more time onscreen by having him ride his horse hither and yon. The Coen brothers didn’t need to cater to Wyane’s ego and hence could keep the film moving nicely along its story arc.