True Grit remake

[A beaker full of death]

I find this a little shocking.
Love him or hate him, John Wayne is inarguably the greatest Western star of all time.
True Grit is the movie in which he garnered his one and only Oscar.

What the fuck are they thinking trying to remake this film??

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Jeff Bridges in the John Wayne role?

This is my cue to kick the DVD of the original to the top of my Netflix list.

 

[Kirkman1987]

I'm a huge John Wayne fan, but the truth is that True Grit is overrated. Wayne made several films that are not only better, but contain far better performances. These include The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Red River, and the criminally underrated The Shootist.

I still agree a remake isn't needed, but whatever, I'm just happy a damn western is being made.

We must also remember we are talking about Wayne, who made THREE versions of the Rio Bravo story with Howard Hawks.

 

[J.T.B.]

True Grit is an excellent novel told in a unique female voice (Mattie) with a sly sense of humor that was hinted at in the movie but comes through much more strongly in print. Almost Mark Twain worthy. How many Huckleberry Finn movies have there been? How many Treasure Islands? How many Ben Hurs? I love the movie and the Duke, but if the Coen brothers want to take a shot at the material, I say have at it and best wishes.

Thinking of Dennis Hopper today, I recall reading that Wayne used to come on the True Grit set and holler for Hopper to show himself so he could yell at him for being a pinko leftie. Hopper would try to hide out, but retelling the story he seemed to like Wayne anyway.

I would recommend the '69 True Grit to anyone. TOS fans will know Kim Darby, of course, but also John Fiedler and Jeff Corey. The weakest performance is then-red-hot singer Glen Campbell as Ranger LeBoeuf, but even his non-acting and dull presence can't knock back this classic western. I agree it's not Wayne's best, though.

--Justin

 

[Kirkman1987]

True Grit is an excellent novel told in a unique female voice (Mattie) with a sly sense of humor that was hinted at in the movie but comes through much more strongly in print. Almost Mark Twain worthy. How many Huckleberry Finn movies have there been? How many Treasure Islands? How many Ben Hurs? I love the movie and the Duke, but if the Coen brothers want to take a shot at the material, I say have at it and best wishes.

Thinking of Dennis Hopper today, I recall reading that Wayne used to come on the True Grit set and holler for Hopper to show himself so he could yell at him for being a pinko leftie. Hopper would try to hide out, but retelling the story he seemed to like Wayne anyway.

I would recommend the '69 True Grit to anyone. TOS fans will know Kim Darby, of course, but also John Fiedler and Jeff Corey. The weakest performance is then-red-hot singer Glen Campbell as Ranger LeBoeuf, but even his non-acting and dull presence can't knock back this classic western. I agree it's not Wayne's best, though.

--Justin

I could see Hopper having an appreciation for bigger than life personalities like himself.

 

[A beaker full of death]

I'm a huge John Wayne fan, but the truth is that True Grit is overrated. Wayne made several films that are not only better, but contain far better performances. These include The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Red River, and the criminally underrated The Shootist.

Wayne did really let it all hang out in True Grit. It was the one performance where he came off as... seedy.

I don't think The Shootist is underrated, just strangely unknown. It is, of course, impossible for anyone who knows anything about John Wayne to watch this film and separate the dying Books character from the dying Wayne.

I still agree a remake isn't needed, but whatever, I'm just happy a damn western is being made.

But why always a remake? I got through 5 minutes of the new 3:10 to Yuma before someone used the cliche "here comes the cavalry" (a cliche about Western movies, not about the west, which made it anachronistic) and I just had to turn it off.

We must also remember we are talking about Wayne, who made THREE versions of the Rio Bravo story with Howard Hawks.

Three? Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and...? if you mean Rio Lobo, I think it's substantially different.

 

[od0_ital]

They're filmin' the remake here in & around Austin...there's a pic in the paper, they were in downtown, at 9th & Congress, yesterday.

I may have to stalk Jeff Bridges...

 

[Kirkman1987]

I'm a huge John Wayne fan, but the truth is that True Grit is overrated. Wayne made several films that are not only better, but contain far better performances. These include The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Red River, and the criminally underrated The Shootist.

Wayne did really let it all hang out in True Grit. It was the one performance where he came off as... seedy.

I don't think The Shootist is underrated, just strangely unknown. It is, of course, impossible for anyone who knows anything about John Wayne to watch this film and separate the dying Books character from the dying Wayne.

I still agree a remake isn't needed, but whatever, I'm just happy a damn western is being made.

But why always a remake? I got through 5 minutes of the new 3:10 to Yuma before someone used the cliche "here comes the cavalry" (a cliche about Western movies, not about the west, which made it anachronistic) and I just had to turn it off.

We must also remember we are talking about Wayne, who made THREE versions of the Rio Bravo story with Howard Hawks.

Three? Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and...? if you mean Rio Lobo, I think it's substantially different.

I think Wayne came off as very seedy in The Searchers and Red River. I may have come off too hard on True Grit. I like it a lot, I just never understand it's placement as Wayne's greatest film.

True about the shootist. You would think a film with Such an amazing cast (Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Scatman Crothers, Hugh O'Brien, Potter fom MASH.), with Wayne playing a character dying of cancer, would get more notice.

We get so few westerns now, that I'm excited. To be fair, there is great talent behind this project as well.

I like Ford much more than Hawks (1 1/2 remakes btw )

 

[Lt. Brannigan]

I'm a huge John Wayne fan, but the truth is that True Grit is overrated. Wayne made several films that are not only better, but contain far better performances. These include The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Red River, and the criminally underrated The Shootist.

I agree wholeheartedly John Wayne certainly did make far superior films than True Grit, many before and a few afterward. John Wayne almost seems to be parodying himself in True Grit. It's a shame that they awarded him for this and not for The Shootist.

I still agree a remake isn't needed, but whatever, I'm just happy a damn western is being made.

I would love to see an original western featuring some of today's stars instead of lame remakes.

We must also remember we are talking about Wayne, who made THREE versions of the Rio Bravo story with Howard Hawks.

One thing I should point out is that John Wayne agreed to do these films sight unseen just on the basis of the trust that he had with Hawks.

 

[A beaker full of death]

I like Ford much more than Hawks (1 1/2 remakes btw )

Ford could tell a grand story, but Hawks had a real feel for dialogue. Note how people are always talking over each other in his films, as in life. That's why I have to laugh when people suggest Hawks didn't direct The Thing From Another World; this tell-tale sign is abundantly clear there.

 

[KB24]

I agree True Grit may be overrated. It is not my favorite John Wayne film, but it is the one he won an Oscar for. Some films should just be left well enough alone.

There are so many other obscure western films, books, and series that deserve attention, or you know, God forbid someone make something new and original that revitalizes and subsequently over kills the genre. Hell, just put some of the unvailable stuff on DVD for goodness sake. Starz owns Encore networks, right? How about their next historical original series be a dang western for Encore Westerns? Goodness someone rerun Deadwood and make a continuing TV movie.

Anything but remaking John Wayne. Hello, how did Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob's Alamo due. For better or worse you can't remake John Wayne. They tried a few Stagecoach tv movies, and they didn't work, either. Is there a Wayne biopic out there, that might be something somewhat new if not.

 

[propita]

I coulda sworn I saw a remake on tv years ago--or rather, one announced but I never watched it. A move-of-the-week or something.

I'll have to ask Hubby. He remember everything. Annoyingly so.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I coulda sworn I saw a remake on tv years ago--or rather, one announced but I never watched it. A move-of-the-week or something.

I'll have to ask Hubby. He remember everything. Annoyingly so.

Here ya go!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Grit:_A_Further_Adventure

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078422/

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

The remake will be followed by the direct-to-video release of True Clit with Jeff Stryker as Rooster Cockburn

 

[Goliath]

Speaking for myself, I've never seen True Grit. I feel no great attachment to John Wayne as an actor. And with a few exceptions, I find most old Westerns uninteresting and even unwatchable.

But I'm a fan of the Coen brothers, I like Jeff Bridges, and I have seen some contemporary Westerns that I've liked. So I'm interested to see this.

 

[Zachary Smith]

My personal opinion is that John Wayne's best film BY FAR was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Other than some cheap production values on some of the interior sets, there was NOTHING wrong with that movie. Lee Marvin vs John Wayne with James Stewart caught in the middle--it was BRILLIANT all the way around.

"True Grit" was a very good movie. As for remaking it? "I call that BOLD TALK for a one-eyed fat man".

 

[A beaker full of death]

My personal opinion is that John Wayne's best film BY FAR was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance".

This is the film that first drew my attention to John Wayne. Prior to that, I thought he was just an old fogey - yesterday's movie star. Not a badass western star like Clint Eastwood.
Then he kicked Strother Martin in the face (or was it Lee van Cleef?) and seriously got my attention.
I'm a lot older and slightly wiser now and can appreciate this (and many older films) for more than their badass quotient. BUT that factor is not to be discounted, either.

 

[J.T.B.]

But I'm a fan of the Coen brothers, I like Jeff Bridges, and I have seen some contemporary Westerns that I've liked. So I'm interested to see this.

The Coens have also shown a real affinity for sparse landscapes. No Country For Old Men Texas-type scenery will be more faithful to the book than the pretty Colorado mountains in the '69 movie.

My personal opinion is that John Wayne's best film BY FAR was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Other than some cheap production values on some of the interior sets, there was NOTHING wrong with that movie. Lee Marvin vs John Wayne with James Stewart caught in the middle--it was BRILLIANT all the way around.

One of my favorites, as well, a true masterpiece. I think the "cheap" soundstage sets are to remind the viewer that, in contrast to earlier Ford movies, the wide open spaces of the frontier are over and done; the West has been settled and the town is what matters now.

As for Wayne's performances, The Searchers, Red River, The Quiet Man and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon are probably my favorites. Best John Wayne movies over all? Hard to say but The Searchers, Fort Apache, They Were Expendable and "Liberty" are the short list.

"True Grit" was a very good movie. As for remaking it? "I call that BOLD TALK for a one-eyed fat man".

That line and the unforgettable response are verbatim from the book. I like Jeff Bridges, but it's hard for me to imagine him eclipsing Wayne's immortal presence in that scene.

A minor point aside: In the book Rooster charges with two revolvers instead of a revolver and a carbine. The Duke spin-cocking that Winchester is just so damn cool, it will be interesting to see how the Coen bros. do it.

--Justin

 

[Dusty Ayres]

I find this a little shocking.
Love him or hate him, John Wayne is unarguably the greatest Western star of all time.
True Grit is the movie in which he garnered his one and only Oscar.

What the fuck are they thinking trying to remake this film??

A new version of True Grit? Why not, it's a novel anyway, and it can be filmed as many times as one wants it to be. As I've said before, I have no problems with remakes; to me, they're just like the millions of production of plays put on worldwide anywhere in the world at any given moment. Some are successes, some are failures but all should be encouraged. At least Hollywood tries to come out with new movie based on original works-when does Broadway do that? Almost never.

As for John Wayne, what Lionel Stander had to say about him still stands.

 

[A beaker full of death]

"True Grit" was a very good movie. As for remaking it? "I call that BOLD TALK for a one-eyed fat man".

That line and the unforgettable response are verbatim from the book.

I love the use of language in this film - it's a bizarre, quasi-formal dialect of sorts that really gets one's attention. In the mouths of the weaker actors it really hurts them, but Wayne and Darby pull it off well.

The Duke spin-cocking that Winchester is just so damn cool

Sure is. A lot of his performance here is just plain cool.
I don't think ANYONE else could deliver lines like these with such aplomb:

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?

Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of the same. See, doesn't pay any attention.
BLAM!!!
Chen Lee: Outside is place for shooting!
Rooster Cogburn: I'm servin' papers!