New Grit

[jaybet]

Wfey and I went out and saw the new True Grit yesterday, and I LIKED it.  We watched the original two weeks ago and while the two are similar they are quite different.

The new movie spends time in spots that the original skimmed over, and vice versa. Some of the best lines are still in there, and there are story twists that make it interesting.
I'm no Matt Damon fan, but he is a thousand times better than Glen Campbell, and actually brings something to the characfter The little girl is good, but all in all a wash.

Jeff Bridges wasn't John Wayne, but he was amazing in the Rooster he created. Salty, dirty, drunk, and old...he was entertaining as hell. He was funny as hell inthe courthouse and in the back room at the chinese store. No one will ever replace Duke, but Bridges is a big bad man in his own right.

Big guns, big booms, and some big acting. And the BGs were dirty, ugly and bad, and for some reason the "Ned" character reminded me of Robert Duvall, who played the part in the original. In the original the guy who they were after seemed more like an old man. Brolin plays a much better bad news character.

Plus I like the feel...John Wayne movies look a little more like tv shows. This movie looked more like Lonesome Dove and some of the Wyatt Earp movies...dusty, dirty, old, and violent.

I'd like to have both on video and watch both one after the other. Go ahead and see it- I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[kilopaparomeo]

FANTASTIC to hear!  I was really concerned that they would screw this up but sounds like they got it right.

[Ulmus]

I went ove and checked the reviews from the toughest bunch of people I know.  CAS City members and Levergun members.  On both sites the majority loved it.  That's saying something.

[PegLeg45]

I gotta agree with Jay's assessment.
As much as I really didn't want to like the very idea of this movie even being made, I couldn't resist seeing it "just because". The clothing and speech is probably more period-correct and that is a big difference in the telling.

Rules to follow when seeing this movie:

Go with an open mind.
Don't try to compare it to the original.
Remember it is not a remake of a John Wayne movie, so treat it as an all-new telling of a great western story.


I believe you will like it in the end.......I didn't want to.....but I did.



"The only thing free in life is the grace of God."~~Mattie Ross

[fightingquaker13]

I intend to see it. I wish it had been out when I visited my dad. There's this neat little theatre (as in an old school shopping mall type three screen special) that serves beer and food on Marco Island. There are tables like in the bar at a Chile's. $10 bucks buys a half pitcher of Sam Adams and $9 bucks gets you a pretty darn good 1/2 pound cheese burger. Not too shabby for a movie joint. After all, what better way to watch a Western? The Duke would have approved.
FQ13 

[Sponsor]

[gunman42782]

I agree that the guy that played Glen Campbells part was a whole lot better, but I had a hard time understanding what the heck Jeff Bridges was saying.  All in all, the only difference between this movie and the original that I seen where LeBeef did not die in this one, and they show the little girl grown up, and she lost her arm from the snake bite.  I much prefer the Dukes version of the movie.

[Dakotaranger]

I'm going to buy the video when it comes out.  Matt Damon was a much better La Beef.  I've always been a Barry Pepper fan since *61 (Ned Peppers).  I was concerned when I heard they were remaking a Duke film, but the Cohan brothers did a great job with the film.   I'll admit I was hooked when the film started and I heard 'Leaning on Jesus' playing all the way through the film to tie it together (one of my favorite songs).

Like Pegleg said keep an open mind.

[PegLeg45]

On another note, I really hope the movie does well at the box office. If a western can pull in good numbers at the box (and box office numbers drive Hollyweird), then maybe we western film lovers will get more quality-made theatrical releases. Think about how many westerns get made for the big screen these days. How many westerns have hit the big screen in the last 10-20 years? Most go straight to DVD.

Also, the new movie is nominated for multiple Academy Awards. That might spur more quality top-budget westerns to be made. It might be kinda cool if Bridges won best actor for playing Roster. How many other movies have had best actor winners for playing the same role in two different versions of the same story?

[kilopaparomeo]

PegLeg -- I love westerns as well...my wife makes fun of them because of the bad sets, bad costume and (often) bad acting.  But I've always liked them even though they are usually formulaic.  The best ones teach life lessons and address the classic good/evil conflict.  And that there is often a fuzzy line between the two.

While you are right, only a few westerns have come out, there have been some decent ones:

Quigley (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
Tombstone (1993)
CrossFire Trail (2001...but ok, it was a TNT movie)
Open Range (2003)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)

[shooter32]

I seen the movie with my wife on Saturday, and agree it was done very well. Not enough GOOD westerns are made anymore, as Peg said, hope it does well so more will be made!!