Watched the remake of True Grit again on DVD a few weeks ago.

Whilst it is not the JW classic it is not a bad movie. The central emphasis like the book is placed on the Mattie character not Rooster. The Mattie character is much better than Kim Darby and Matt Damon improves on Glen Campbell. Jeff Bridges like any other actor was on a hiding to nowhere compared to the Duke interpretation but he still makes a reasonable effort. The Rooster role is a strong character and it would have been interesting if Jeff Bridges had not won an Oscar the year before. It could have been a case of history repeating itself.

The other biggest loss is the Bernstein score. Whilst the Coen Brothers soundtrack sounds authentic much like the Ken Burns western documentaries it does weigh down the feel of the movie. The remake is a much darker movie as the end of the film shows but is definitely woth a viewing.

I watched the remake yesterday. I agree with many who say Jeff Bridges' Rooster is a darker, moodier character. Wayne gave Rooster a joy of life that Bridges' character just doesn't have. I enjoyed the gospel oriented soundtrack of the remake but it does seem to add to the overall somber mood of the film. The original was a more fun movie to watch--brighter and with a sense of humor to counter the violence. That said, I enjoyed the remake and will watch it again. It stands on its own as a good western.