Posts by grumpy

Quote from Gorch

How would you have liked to be dating Laura Dern and having dear old dad open the door on the first date? It's a wonder that she didn't just enter a convent.

Ha ha ha... Hey there, Don't be skeered young man. I won't hurt-cha. Datin' my fine daughter, huh ? Well, I'll just be over here at the kitchen table, busyin myself re-loading a few shells while you jest settle in over there on that comfy sofa...where I can see ya.

I was up on Owl Creek Pass yesterday. The road was pretty badly wash-boarded in places. Folks were camping at the turnout by the meadow. I strolled around and took some photos. Stunning scenery in person, even if you haven't seen the film you'd be impressed by the view and the mountains in the background. Lots of skunk cabbage in the field, a little damp around the edge by the fence. Fittingly enough, cow patties littered the grasses. I envied the campers that had secured this place to camp...

Visited the rocks at the top of the pass and then descended back to town to eat at the Outlaw restaurant in Ouray.

Life is good.

Edit:

By the end of our trip I also spent time in Ridgway Co, visiting the True Grit Cafe ( Painted wall from the Paddy Wagon scene) , the town Park
( hanging) and Chen's ( Roosters nest), as well as the courthouse in Ouray ( courtroom stairs scene).

The Paddy Wagon is on display at the intersection of Rte 550 and Rte 62 in Ridgway Co.

As many people have pointed out, a fair number of locations for this movie are pretty accessible, the only reason I didnt head to the Ross Ranch and McAlesters store locations was simply a lack of time. Really a great experience being there and I thank all who have contributed directions/ locations used for the film.

Quote from ZS_Maverick

Yep! You got that right!

I might need to change my review because it sounds like I didn't like it much (I would never make a very good critic). I really did enjoy the movie. I thought they got the sci-fi/horror part of the story right. My problem was with the cowboys! I just don't think modern Hollywood writers understand what makes a good Western character. They're not bad characters, they're just modern dark comic book characters that lacked that cowboy sense of humor and "let's go kick their butt" type attitude that would have worked better (IMHO) in this type of story. But besides that, as far as "Weird Western" movies go, this is probably the best one in a few years.

<some spoiler alerts here>

I just watched this movie and agree with you. It was full of character stereotypes ( stranger in town, cowardly shopkeeper, big man in town, big man in town's dull-witted son, comely female, stoic native american, timeworn sheriff, bad guy aliens, coming of age boy , etc. )
but they all seemed rather muted. Harrison Ford was probably the most believable character. Daniel Craig was too wooden throughout- I never felt the anger that I thought would come...I guess its hard to punch an alien in the jaw or kick one in the groin when you've got a ray gun.

And I couldn't figure out why aliens were smart enough to get to Earth and have all that magical stuff to vacuum gold out of the earth but weren't smart enough to figure out what our weaknesses were after only checking out a couple humans, they needed a whole fleet of townspeople to study ?

As an aside I feel sorry for the guys that have to design scary aliens these days. I mean, I probably wasn't the only one in the theater thinking:
" I've seen these aliens before, they look similar to the ones in the movie 'Alien' only the claw count is different. I guess all the lobster/dust mite/ tazmanian devil type aliens come from the same galaxy.

I liked the movie but had to suspend disbelief more than I would have liked for a western. Your movie enjoyment may vary...

Quote from ZS_Maverick

Yep! You got that right!

I might need to change my review because it sounds like I didn't like it much (I would never make a very good critic). I really did enjoy the movie. I thought they got the sci-fi/horror part of the story right. My problem was with the cowboys! I just don't think modern Hollywood writers understand what makes a good Western character. They're not bad characters, they're just modern dark comic book characters that lacked that cowboy sense of humor and "let's go kick their butt" type attitude that would have worked better (IMHO) in this type of story. But besides that, as far as "Weird Western" movies go, this is probably the best one in a few years.

<some spoiler alerts here>

I just watched this movie and agree with you. It was full of character stereotypes ( stranger in town, cowardly shopkeeper, big man in town, big man in town's dull-witted son, comely female, stoic native american, timeworn sheriff, bad guy aliens, coming of age boy , etc. )
but they all seemed rather muted. Harrison Ford was probably the most believable character. Daniel Craig was too wooden throughout- I never felt the anger that I thought would come...I guess its hard to punch an alien in the jaw or kick one in the groin when you've got a ray gun.

And I couldn't figure out why aliens were smart enough to get to Earth and have all that magical stuff to vacuum gold out of the earth but weren't smart enough to figure out what our weaknesses were after only checking out a couple humans, they needed a whole fleet of townspeople to study ?

As an aside I feel sorry for the guys that have to design scary aliens these days. I mean, I probably wasn't the only one in the theater thinking:
" I've seen these aliens before, they look similar to the ones in the movie 'Alien' only the claw count is different. I guess all the lobster/dust mite/ tazmanian devil type aliens come from the same galaxy.

I liked the movie but had to suspend disbelief more than I would have liked for a western. Your movie enjoyment may vary...

Quote from MartyB2

...why can't Hollywood just tell a good honest non-fiction (history) or fictional (novel) story without mucking around with the facts or actual story in the book...

I wish I knew- But it does seem to be a Hollywood tradition. Perhaps the temptation is too great to put one's personal "stamp" on an artistic work, as if to say "There, I improved that lame book in my film". Then notice that very few Hollywood types have ever actually written a decent book themselves.

Quote from MartyB2

.also, (and this irritated the crap outa me)...why, in the new version, did they have the hanged man...mountain man...dentist thing or why they had LaBoeuf ride off...show up at the cabin...get roped, shot and bite his tongue...what the devil was all that about?

The producers brother in law came up with the ideas over too many drinks one night and since they owed him a lot of money, they agreed to add those sequences to the film. (Its as good an explanation as any...)

See above...Duke made a picture. The Coens made Art. cough cough.

Quote from Stumpy

I agree with a lot of what you've said except I thought Bridges' performance was A+ material, just in a more serious mien than the Duke's.

As for the other main characters, I liked the originals better, especially Mattie and Lucky Ned. I thought Robert Duvall's performance was Oscar worthy.

As one "..Umpy" to another, I respect your opinion. I too prefer the original, and certainly Duvall's performance got passed over.

After I read your post I was trying to imagine which of the performers in the 2010 film could hold their weight if they were in the 1969 film, now that's an interesting proposition !

I'm new to this board so feel free to take what I say with a grain of salt. I have thick skin, so should you...

Couple thoughts...

It's freaking fabulous that anyone even made a Western at all in the past 10 years. The fact that its a re-make is even more astounding. These days a movie with the title "What my Facebook page did last summer" would be of more interest to the studio money-men.

I didn't see the new movie till a month or two ago on cable. I grew up in a household where a John Wayne movie on TV trumped *everything*. If my father wanted to watch the Duke and it overlapped something else, there was no doubt what would win out. So I saw my share of his films. When the original True Grit came out it made a big impression on me, but I hadnt seen the movie in 10 or 15 years when I watched the re-make- so the initial impressions of the new film were entirely based on memory, not a frame by frame analysis. So, my opinion is:

• The fact that it got made at all: HOORAH
• The fact that the Coen brothers make polarizing films and dared to mess with a classic: Well. I would bet you the Duke would have been pleased that someone took the risk to make a Western, would have been happy that they chose decent material rather than something hashed together by some Hollywood "suits", and would have made comments to that effect in the press. I feel that Wayne felt strongly about his image and craft, but never believed his films were "Art"...as long as someone sought him out and explained the plan to make the film, I think he would have been OK with it.
• Jeff Bridges as Rooster: Solid B+ performance. Struggled at times to maintain the gravitas required for the role, but even attempting it would have had most actors crapping their pants. There was only one John Wayne, but Kudos to Bridges for taking the risk.
• Matt Damon as Laboeuf: I'd say B- performance. Better in the part than Glen Campbell, which is understandable. I would have liked to have seen more friction between Rooster and Laboeuf.
• Hailee Steinfield as Mattie: An A- performance. I think someone here called Kim Darby's original performance "like something out of a 1960's Disney movie, like That Darned Cat or something..." Very true, but it seemed a more appropriate portrayal at the time True Grit came out than it does now, and I bet that is as much a directorial influence as the actress herself. Hailee's Mattie is likewise a combination of acting and what was asked of her by the Coens.
• Josh Brolin as Chaney: A C performance in my opinion. Not "skeery" enough for a murderous lout.
• Barry Pepper as Ned Pepper: I'd have to say A+. Of all of the actors in the re-make, I believe this guy could have held his ground in the original film.

Final thoughts ( if you've read this far you should be relieved by those two words ) are that I found that I was able to watch and enjoy the re-make because of some of the key differences in the two films. I had no expectations, so I was pleasantly suprised. More than anything I credit the re-make with making me want to see the 1969 version again, and having done that it that re-kindled my John Wayne interest. So much so that I am visiting the True Grit filming locations in Ridgway, Ouray etc. next month.

Thanks for the welcomes.

Quote from jgp1843

If you happen to stop in on a Wednesday, chances are that I will be the volunteer on duty at the visitor center.

Ugh. I have been through Ridgway a couple times and never had a chance to stop there at the museum, coming in from Moab over Paradox, Telluride, etc.

I have to see what days I will be in the area, when I figure that out I will let you know in case we can chat for a few mins, even if just to say Hey ! I helped restore a steam locomotive once and would find that museum interesting in any case.

Wow that was really well done. I have some clues from that and GPS info from Jeepster Girls own website that should put me on the trail.

I'm actually going to be in the Silverton/ Ouray Colorado area in August 2011 and would like to see some of these locations. After seeing the True Grit re-make it sparked an interest in the original movie shooting locations- nostalgia I guess.

Are there detailed directions to these anywhere ? ( respecting private property of course)

Hi folks, I'm a Cheechako newbie here checking in. Long time John Wayne fan, as was my father. Looks like a great resource- I dont have a lot to add right away and probably will ask a few questions now and then but appreciate all that people have done to put this board together and assemble all this great information.

I'm a December 1956 baby.