Posts from chester7777 in thread „True Grit (2010)“

  • True Grit (2010)

    I would be curious to know how many people who originally answered the above poll, "Not yet, but I intend to" have actually since seen the movie, and what their opinion is, having now seen it.


    I know I most definitely had negative feelings towards it originally, but it turned out to be a pretty good movie, and most definitely raised awareness among a younger generation of John "Duke" Wayne! There was not a single article about the remake that did not reference the original.


    Carl, I think you should relent and take the time to watch it. It's NOT Duke, but it's not bad, either!

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from may2

    Most art movies fail miserably. True Grit made $249,250,624 worldwide.


    Quote from yomper

    For me, the remake of True Grit kinda went against the 'grain' !


    Very hyped, in fact, I was not overly impressed by the statement ... better than the original.


    However, I was intrigued by it so I decided to 'bite the bullet' and go and see it.


    In hindsight, this movie did make an incredible amount of money, and I suspect that the Coen brothers were clever enough to realize how many John Wayne fans were out there who would be 'motivated' by remarks such as "better than the original" and would be compelled to go see it.


    As this thread would indicate, some sort of interest was there. Almost 250 people have viewed it, and there are over 450 posts in this thread. Who wouldn't have at least a little bit of interest? Did you read a single article ANYWHERE about this movie, that did not have at least one mention of John Wayne? Clever, indeed!


    By the same token, so much interest was generated that the original has certainly seen more attention, and probably an increase in sales. I know my kids had opportunity to share the original with many friends, who previously had not seen a John Wayne movie (and many of whom have since had a greater interest in his movies!).


    While we may agree many of us prefer 'the original', the newer version has not been a bad thing for John Wayne.


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    may2,


    I hope you don't mind that I used my 'moderator powers' to bold all the True Grit entries in your post, it just makes them easier to find.


    Now . . . does anybody know what things are considered in the categories of Sound editing and Sound mixing? Those are two nominations right there.


    Also, I noticed one category for which it was nominated is "Writing (Adapted screenplay)". Might that be why the screenplay is so darned close to the original?


    I'm very pleased to see Hailee Steinfeld get nominated. I think she did an outstanding job!


    Certainly, the film has done VERY well as far as nominations go! I think only one other film garnered more.


    Looking forward to everyone's thoughts,


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from DukePilgrim

    True Grit has taken Number 1 position this week and it has taken $110 million plus at box office so far.


    Great news for this movie and hopefully it will start a westerns revival with Hollywood.


    Quote from may2

    True Grit" seized the reins at the weekend box office with $15 million, taking the No. 1 spot and becoming the first Western to top the $100 million mark since the 1990s, according to studio estimates released Sunday.


    That IS good news! Long live the Western!

  • True Grit (2010)

    For the fun of it, when we went to see True Grit on Christmas Day, I wore my cowboy hat (which required me to sit on the back row of the section where we sat). My friend, who was in a different section, told me I was causing a bit of a sensation from other movie goers in her section ("Wow, look at that guy in the cowboy hat!" and "He looks like John Wayne!").


    That made our little trip to the theater even more pleasurable! :wink_smile:


    We don't go to the theater very often, either, probably just a couple of times a year. The last film we saw before TG was Toy Story 3, which we saw as a family on Father's Day. We usually go during matinee times (cheaper tickets), the people are generally not too rude, and it seems our theater does a pretty good job of keeping the place clean.


    We definitely appreciate hearing everybody's thoughts on the film, it's interesting to see the variety of opinions. We suspect not all forums are so open-minded :wink_smile:.


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Hey, y'all!


    I've added a poll to this thread, just for fun (and just for a week, so we can see what folks are thinking/doing in this small window of time).


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from chester7777

    Kim Darby's portrayal was so annoying!


    Quote from Stumpy

    Several other folks have expressed this or a similar opinion, which I just can't understand. I've always thought Kim did an excellent job as Mattie.


    Actually, you're quite right - Kim did do an excellent job. The fact of the matter is that the character Mattie in the book (and in both movies) was a very strong-willed but smug, self-satisfied, "always right" person, and probably annoying to almost anyone whose path she crossed. Somehow, Hailee was easier to watch. She also came off as appropriately annoying, just not as much as Kim Darby. She also was more believable as a fourteen-year old (I believe the actress is 13).


    Quote from BILL OF PA

    I don't think Duke would have a problem with this film. As he had no ego.


    Bill, glad to see you chime in on this! I couldn't agree more with your assessment of how John Wayne would have seen this movie.

  • True Grit (2010)

    Well, we took the whole family (a group of 12) to see the movie today (and met another family there).


    We all enjoyed it. Our kids watched JW's True Grit last night with friends, in anticipation of going to the theater today.


    While I may not be a particular fan of the Coen brothers, I have to say they really did a good job with this movie. Hailee Steinfeld did an outstanding job as the never-say-a-contraction Mattie Ross (as much as I love the OTG, Kim Darby's portrayal was so annoying!). Matt Damon's portrayal of LeBoeuf was understated, and very different from Glen Campbell's. Jeff Bridges did a credible job of playing Rooster Cogburn - different than JW's, but well done. The cinematography is excellent.


    Yes, it is definitely gorier than the original. Yes, the endings are quite different, and the new TG's ending is more closely aligned with the original novel. Some of the minor characters (Col. Stonehill and Ned Pepper, for example) who also appear in the OTG, are excellent (especially if you are familiar with the original). It's difficult to believe the Coens have NOT seen JW's version, when you see those characters in particular. Their voices and mannerisms seem almost identical to the original movie's characters.


    The bottom line here is - we liked the movie! It doesn't cause JW's True Grit to diminish in our estimation one tiny bit, it just means the Coens did a good job with their version of the story.


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    may2, thanks for your many interesting contributions (links) in this thread - some real good reading.


    We noticed that True Grit is on the marquee at the local movie theater, and we expect we'll go see it fairly soon.


    As others have mentioned, seeing this doesn't take away from the OTG's place in our heart (thanks, ZSMaverick, for the OTG in place of Original True Grit :wink_smile:).


    We look forward to seeing what everybody thinks. I haven't read the book, but Mrs. C has, and she echoed a previous post, in that many lines in OTG came directly from the Charles Portis novel, not sure how much closer the Coen brothers can come.


    I guess we'll find out!


    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    I agree, curiosity might get the best of some of us (myself included :wink_smile: ).


    And maybe . . . just MAYbe . . . for some folks, watching this might rekindle interest in the original, which might lead to watching of other John Wayne movies . . . you never know.


    The cast is pretty decent so far, and having an Oscar winner in the main role can't hurt (though as I understand it, the role of Mattie will be greater, as the story is being told from her point of view).


    Mrs. C :angel1:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from ZS_Maverick

    Except for the fate of La Boeuf, and some post story follow-up, the classic movie sticks to the novel pretty well. And in some cases I think the screenwriter even made some improvements. So the "sticking to the novel" part of the new movie just sounds like Hollywood hype.


    I couldn't agree with you more. I was quite impressed with how closely the original stuck to the book with, as you indicate, a few instances of poetic license. It sounds like the big deal will supposedly be telling the story from Mattie's point of view, which of course the book did. But I thought the original did a decent job of that as well. Of course, with John Wayne playing Rooster Cogburn, more attention was given to that character.


    I don't know that I will rush to the theater to see the remake. I would consider a matinee (I'm too darn cheap to pay full price!), or most likely will wait for the DVD.


    Mrs. C :angel1:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from Gorch

    Thank you for your time and trouble posting that thread.
    I'm sort of getting a handle on this site and feel quite at home here already amongst all you friendly people.


    Hey, Bill, it was no trouble! We're glad you feel at home! :biggrin:
    Chester :newyear:

  • True Grit (2010)

    Quote from Gorch

    Anyone care to add or to cast the newly announced Mel Brooks remake of The Alamo?


    Quote from chester7777

    I do hope this an attempt at humor. :fear2:


    Quote from Gorch

    I regret that my humor attempt wasn't more transparent, but I'm new here and I'll learn.


    Actually there is a Mel Brooks/John Wayne connection that is probably posted on a thread I haven't read yet. Brooks had sent Wayne a copy of the Blazing Saddles script wanting him to play the Waco Kid. Wayne turned Brooks down but said it was the funniest script he's ever read.


    Hey, Gorch, it's good to know you were, indeed, kidding!!


    We have discussed that story about the Duke/Mel Brooks connection, but it's always fun to hear a good story again. (I did a quick search so I could provide the link :teeth_smile:.)


    Chester :newyear: