Western movie star John Wayne frequently rode a horse to complete his cowboy image. However, he grew an affinity for one animal in particular. Wayne went out of his way to ensure that he could ride the same horse named Dollar across seven of his movies.
‘True Grit’ (1969) L-r: John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn and Glen Campbell as La Boeuf | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
The first time that Wayne worked with Dollar the horse on the silver screen was in 1969’s True Grit, directed by Henry Hathaway.
A 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn (Wayne), a man of “true grit.” He’ll need every ounce of it on a mission to track down a hired hand named Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) after he killed Mattie’s father.
Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them on the hunt, looking to bring Tom...
‘True Grit’ (1969) L-r: John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn and Glen Campbell as La Boeuf | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
The first time that Wayne worked with Dollar the horse on the silver screen was in 1969’s True Grit, directed by Henry Hathaway.
A 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn (Wayne), a man of “true grit.” He’ll need every ounce of it on a mission to track down a hired hand named Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) after he killed Mattie’s father.
Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them on the hunt, looking to bring Tom...
- 3/23/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Movie star John Wayne found one of the most recognizable characters in his career with True Grit‘s Rooster Cogburn, who has plenty of iconic quotes. A 14-year-old girl named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out Rooster to get revenge on Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) after he murdered her father. Rooster has plenty of sharp, witty quotes, but here are the six most iconic ones.
‘True Grit’ lead Rooster Cogburn confronts four outlaws on the field John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | John Springer Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
The first of the Rooster quotes involves him finally confronting Robert Duvall’s Ned Pepper. He asks, “What’s your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?”
Cogburn responds, “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?”
Ned then says, “I...
‘True Grit’ lead Rooster Cogburn confronts four outlaws on the field John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | John Springer Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
The first of the Rooster quotes involves him finally confronting Robert Duvall’s Ned Pepper. He asks, “What’s your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?”
Cogburn responds, “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?”
Ned then says, “I...
- 3/11/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
True Grit actor John Wayne refused to accept roles that didn’t fit into the character that he took so long to establish with moviegoing audiences. Additionally, he wouldn’t star in any movies that insulted his morals and values. Wayne played a tough marshal in True Grit with Rooster Cogburn, but he once explained why his sense of justice made sense.
‘True Grit’ actor John Wayne served harsh justice L-r: Kim Darby as Mattie Ross and John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Henry Hathaway’s 1969 Western True Grit starred Wayne in the lead role of Rooster, based on Charles Portis’ novel. The character crosses paths with 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) after Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) murdered her father. She turns to Rooster to help her track him down to bring him to justice. However, Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them on their...
‘True Grit’ actor John Wayne served harsh justice L-r: Kim Darby as Mattie Ross and John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Henry Hathaway’s 1969 Western True Grit starred Wayne in the lead role of Rooster, based on Charles Portis’ novel. The character crosses paths with 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) after Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) murdered her father. She turns to Rooster to help her track him down to bring him to justice. However, Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them on their...
- 3/5/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Movie star John Wayne created an iconic character in True Grit‘s Rooster Cogburn. The eyepatch-wearing U.S. marshal became a legendary figure of cinema, continuing to influence contemporary feature films and their characters. However, Wayne doesn’t typically cuss a whole lot in his movies, yet he had a specific reason for why he allowed it while starring as Cogburn in True Grit.
John Wayne was passionate about playing Rooster Cogburn in ‘True Grit’ John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Kocian/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Henry Hathaway directed True Grit from Marguerite Roberts’ screenplay based on Charles Portis’ novel. It’s a story of revenge after Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) murders the father of an independent 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby). She’s young, but she refuses to allow him to continue surviving after taking her father’s life.
Mattie seeks out Cogburn (Wayne) to help her track him down.
John Wayne was passionate about playing Rooster Cogburn in ‘True Grit’ John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Kocian/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Henry Hathaway directed True Grit from Marguerite Roberts’ screenplay based on Charles Portis’ novel. It’s a story of revenge after Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) murders the father of an independent 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby). She’s young, but she refuses to allow him to continue surviving after taking her father’s life.
Mattie seeks out Cogburn (Wayne) to help her track him down.
- 3/3/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
True Grit actor John Wayne became the face of the Western genre thanks to iconic classics, such as Stagecoach and Red River. He always had a firm understanding of characterization, but he always wanted to keep it family-friendly. Wayne once said that he actually preferred the changes made to the True Grit ending compared to the one in the original book, which wasn’t so “uplifting.”
‘True Grit’ actor John Wayne played Rooster Cogburn John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Screen Archives/Getty Images
True Grit saw Wayne play the legendary Rooster Cogburn, a frequently inebriated and stern U.S. marshal, who 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out after her father’s murder. Together, they hunt down Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) to give him the death that he deserves. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them to bring him to a more civilized sense of justice.
Henry Hathaway...
‘True Grit’ actor John Wayne played Rooster Cogburn John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Screen Archives/Getty Images
True Grit saw Wayne play the legendary Rooster Cogburn, a frequently inebriated and stern U.S. marshal, who 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out after her father’s murder. Together, they hunt down Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) to give him the death that he deserves. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them to bring him to a more civilized sense of justice.
Henry Hathaway...
- 3/2/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Stop motion. Full body make-ups. Puppets. Matte paintings. Miniatures. Opticals. These gloriously retro effects and more can be found in the regional B-movie jam, Tom Chaney’s Frostbiter: The Wrath of the Wendigo.
Shot over a handful of years in Michigan in the mid-to-late 80s, Frostbiter is another DIY charmer that sees its lineage traced back to Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Whereas most of the prominent Evil Dead riffs largely reference and pay homage to the original film, Frostbiter takes its cues from Evil Dead 2 (the films even share an editor – Kaye Davis). It’s a zany, comedic little film that wears its influences on its sleeve and wants nothing more than to deliver a good time.
A good time, I’m happy to report, that it very much manages to deliver.
If the title doesn’t give it away, the film is about the legendary Wendigo...
Shot over a handful of years in Michigan in the mid-to-late 80s, Frostbiter is another DIY charmer that sees its lineage traced back to Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Whereas most of the prominent Evil Dead riffs largely reference and pay homage to the original film, Frostbiter takes its cues from Evil Dead 2 (the films even share an editor – Kaye Davis). It’s a zany, comedic little film that wears its influences on its sleeve and wants nothing more than to deliver a good time.
A good time, I’m happy to report, that it very much manages to deliver.
If the title doesn’t give it away, the film is about the legendary Wendigo...
- 2/23/2023
- by Tyler Eschberger
- bloody-disgusting.com
John Wayne, known as “The Duke” to his fans, starred in upwards of 150 movies throughout his 50-year career. While he had hits in a wide range of genres, he is best known as the macho hero at the heart of some classic westerns. Wayne made a slew of low-grade oaters throughout the 1930s. It wasn’t until John Ford‘s “Stagecoach” (1939), an Oscar-winning adventure epic that took the genre to new artistic heights, that he finally achieved stardom.
In all, the Duke and “Pappy” Ford, as his crew called the famously cantankerous director, made 14 films together. Among these are such other spurs and saddles classics as “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949), “The Searchers” (1956) and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962). All of these feature on our list of John Wayne’s best westerns ranked.
Despite being a top box office draw for decades, Wayne was only nominated for two acting...
In all, the Duke and “Pappy” Ford, as his crew called the famously cantankerous director, made 14 films together. Among these are such other spurs and saddles classics as “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949), “The Searchers” (1956) and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962). All of these feature on our list of John Wayne’s best westerns ranked.
Despite being a top box office draw for decades, Wayne was only nominated for two acting...
- 9/4/2020
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Attack of the killer... pumpkins?! The Dead Peasant team have launched a campaign to help make Blood & Gourd #2 a reality. Also in this round-up: a teaser video for The Visitors and Mosquito Blu-ray / DVD release details.
Blood & Gourd #2: "It’s Devil’s Night in Olympia, Wa – and out at Henderson Farms, the festivities are reaching a crescendo. Young and old have gathered to pick their own pumpkin, drink hot apple cider, and partake in the usual pumpkin farm fare. However, something has awakened from deep within the fertile soil. After years of abuse and humiliation, the pumpkins are ready to pick us. You can Beg! You can plead! You can scream! But these hell’s lanterns are lit only with the burning desire to watch. You. Die!"
To learn more about issue #2 of Blood & Gourd, visit:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bloodandgourd/blood-and-gourd-issue-2-escape-from-henderson-farm
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The Visitors: "After settling...
Blood & Gourd #2: "It’s Devil’s Night in Olympia, Wa – and out at Henderson Farms, the festivities are reaching a crescendo. Young and old have gathered to pick their own pumpkin, drink hot apple cider, and partake in the usual pumpkin farm fare. However, something has awakened from deep within the fertile soil. After years of abuse and humiliation, the pumpkins are ready to pick us. You can Beg! You can plead! You can scream! But these hell’s lanterns are lit only with the burning desire to watch. You. Die!"
To learn more about issue #2 of Blood & Gourd, visit:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bloodandgourd/blood-and-gourd-issue-2-escape-from-henderson-farm
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The Visitors: "After settling...
- 7/24/2015
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Sometimes hitting the multiplex just isn’t in the cards. That’s when cable, the web and streaming step in to provide an instant movie fix. But how to separate the wheat from the chaff? I’m happy to help; every week I’ll pick a flick and see if it’s worth your time. This week? The Cohen brother’s remake of “True Grit”
The Story: 14-year-old Mattie Ross heads to a small town in Arkansas to collect the body of her father, who had been killed by a no-account drunk Tom Chaney. Chaney also took Mattie’s father’s horse and “two California gold pieces”. She decides to hire not the “best” U.S. Marshall to track Chaney down, but the most violent; Rooster Cogburn. Tagging along for reasons of his own is Texas Marshall Laboef (“La-Beef”). And so they ride out into the great Arkansas nothingness, looking...
The Story: 14-year-old Mattie Ross heads to a small town in Arkansas to collect the body of her father, who had been killed by a no-account drunk Tom Chaney. Chaney also took Mattie’s father’s horse and “two California gold pieces”. She decides to hire not the “best” U.S. Marshall to track Chaney down, but the most violent; Rooster Cogburn. Tagging along for reasons of his own is Texas Marshall Laboef (“La-Beef”). And so they ride out into the great Arkansas nothingness, looking...
- 8/10/2011
- by Denise Kitashima Dutton
- Atomic Popcorn
"Cowboys & Aliens" rode to the top of the box office this past weekend (tying with "The Smurfs"), so "Extra" is highlighting those sexy men of the West - be they old or new! Yee haw!
30 Sexy CowboysDaniel Craig in 'Cowboys & Aliens'
As Jake Lonergan, Craig is the latest Hollywood star to play a ruggedly handsome cowboy from the Old West.
Kurt Russell in 'Tombstone'
Role: The famed lawman Wyatt Earp Best line: "I...
30 Sexy CowboysDaniel Craig in 'Cowboys & Aliens'
As Jake Lonergan, Craig is the latest Hollywood star to play a ruggedly handsome cowboy from the Old West.
Kurt Russell in 'Tombstone'
Role: The famed lawman Wyatt Earp Best line: "I...
- 8/1/2011
- Extra
I didn't review True Grit when it opened in theaters late last year because I did something film critics should never, ever do: I watched the movie and then I read the book before writing my review. Details from the book jumbled with the movie and I couldn't always remember which was which. Fortunately, Mike was happy to write a review for Slackerwood instead.
So I'm pleased to have the chance to see True Grit again, now on DVD and Blu-ray, and start over with a clean slate. Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen have brought us an excellent movie that plays very well on home video, although the visuals aren't quite as breathtaking as they might be on a theater screen. It's a movie I not only like but could watch with a mature adolescent or with my parents, and how often can you say that?
I enjoyed the Charles Portis...
So I'm pleased to have the chance to see True Grit again, now on DVD and Blu-ray, and start over with a clean slate. Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen have brought us an excellent movie that plays very well on home video, although the visuals aren't quite as breathtaking as they might be on a theater screen. It's a movie I not only like but could watch with a mature adolescent or with my parents, and how often can you say that?
I enjoyed the Charles Portis...
- 6/23/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Chicago – With the highest domestic gross of the entire career of the beloved Coen brothers (over $170 million domestically, ranking #13 for 2010 releases) and an amazing ten Oscar nominations, “True Grit” was easily one of the most popular films of the last year. I had some issues with the piece overall but I’m ecstatic that a piece like this one outgrossed so many of the more obviously commercial entries from the holiday season. It serves as proof that quality can still be profitable and the excellent Blu-ray release from Paramount treats the film’s many fans with appropriate respect.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
Synopsis: “Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn (Academy Award Winner Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, trigger-happy U.S.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
Synopsis: “Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn (Academy Award Winner Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, trigger-happy U.S.
- 6/21/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
It’s another jam-packed week of DVD and Blu-ray releases, here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, June 13th 2011.
Paul (DVD/Blu-ray)
For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town-a rented Rv containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes… Review.
True Grit (DVD/Blu-ray)
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valour...
Paul (DVD/Blu-ray)
For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town-a rented Rv containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes… Review.
True Grit (DVD/Blu-ray)
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valour...
- 6/13/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
This week: The Coen brothers muster the cast of the best Western in years, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler go with that rom-com thing, a James Cameron-produced underwater thriller in 3D and the story of a tire that comes to life. True Grit: This remake by the Coen brothers of the 1969 film that won John Wayne his only Oscar is superior to the original in almost every way. This time Jeff Bridges dons the eye patch and plays crusty U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, whom 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires to track down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin)—the man who killed her father for two pieces of gold. Matt Damon is also onboard as a hardened Texas Ranger also after Chaney, and all the actors—especially Oscar-nominated Bridges and Steinfeld—give outstanding...
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- 6/7/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com - Celebrity Gossip
This week: The Coen brothers muster the cast of the best Western in years, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler go with that rom-com thing, a James Cameron-produced underwater thriller in 3D and the story of a tire that comes to life. True Grit: This remake by the Coen brothers of the 1969 film that won John Wayne his only Oscar is superior to the original in almost every way. This time Jeff Bridges dons the eye patch and plays crusty U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, whom 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires to track down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin)—the man who killed her father for two pieces of gold. Matt Damon is also onboard as a hardened Texas Ranger also after Chaney, and all the actors—especially Oscar-nominated Bridges and Steinfeld—give outstanding...
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Read More...
- 6/7/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com
If the Western is a dying art form, then the 2010 version of "True Grit" is a solid argument for immediate resurrection.
This is the second film adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name, and both movie versions received their share of awards and nominations. John Wayne won his first and only Academy Award in 1969 playing crusty U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, and now Jeff Bridges ably dons the eye patch and speaks in the marble-mouthed manner of the unforgettable Western character.
Young Hailee Steinfeld beat out a reported 15,000 other actresses for the lead role of Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl hell-bent on avenging the death of her father, who was killed by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) for two pieces of gold and a horse. She seeks out and hires Rooster because she hears he has "true grit," and that he does... along with an unconventional approach to just about everything.
This is the second film adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name, and both movie versions received their share of awards and nominations. John Wayne won his first and only Academy Award in 1969 playing crusty U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, and now Jeff Bridges ably dons the eye patch and speaks in the marble-mouthed manner of the unforgettable Western character.
Young Hailee Steinfeld beat out a reported 15,000 other actresses for the lead role of Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl hell-bent on avenging the death of her father, who was killed by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) for two pieces of gold and a horse. She seeks out and hires Rooster because she hears he has "true grit," and that he does... along with an unconventional approach to just about everything.
- 6/7/2011
- by Robert DeSalvo
- NextMovie
To celebrate the release of True Grit on DVD & Blu-ray June 13th, Paramount Home Entertainment have given us five copies of the movie to give away on DVD as well as the official soundtrack and the paperback book to accompany the film. You can pre-order your copy of the film here or scroll down to win a copy.
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valour set in an unforgiving and unpredictable frontier where justice is simple and mercy is rare. Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn (Academy Award® Winner Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, trigger-happy U.S. Marshall with an affinity for drinking and hardened Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Academy Award Winner Matt Damon) to track the fleeing Chaney.
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valour set in an unforgiving and unpredictable frontier where justice is simple and mercy is rare. Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn (Academy Award® Winner Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, trigger-happy U.S. Marshall with an affinity for drinking and hardened Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Academy Award Winner Matt Damon) to track the fleeing Chaney.
- 5/28/2011
- by Competitons
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
True Grit (2010) Film Review, a movie directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen and starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Barry Pepper.
Dialogue is the centrifuge around which this western and its characters find themselves willful ensnared, traps of their own verbal rendering. The materials for these contraptions were constructed by directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen and the book of the same name on which True Grit is based.
The matriarchal Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) carries herself like an old soul but is an apparition encased in a fourteen year old’s body, much to the vexation of the actual adults she encounters. Steinfeld’s performance, in the way she composes Mattie and the minutiae of her characteristics, give off what her acting pedigree and stature contradict.
Most if not all of characters pause and stare when Mattie speaks verbosely with determination, force, and eloquence.
Dialogue is the centrifuge around which this western and its characters find themselves willful ensnared, traps of their own verbal rendering. The materials for these contraptions were constructed by directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen and the book of the same name on which True Grit is based.
The matriarchal Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) carries herself like an old soul but is an apparition encased in a fourteen year old’s body, much to the vexation of the actual adults she encounters. Steinfeld’s performance, in the way she composes Mattie and the minutiae of her characteristics, give off what her acting pedigree and stature contradict.
Most if not all of characters pause and stare when Mattie speaks verbosely with determination, force, and eloquence.
- 4/13/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
The last time the Coen Brothers remade a movie, it didn't go so well. After making the great modern western in No Country for Old Men, the brothers return to do the same with the historical counterpart...
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Something stands out immediately. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie, the young girl who's father has been killed by outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). She is required to play a 14-year-old who is mature beyond her years. She must organise a bounty hunter to track her father's killer and not get screwed out of money in the meantime.
Young actors when asked to play older can sometimes hit sour notes of cockiness and overconfidence during conflict. Steinfeld is remarkable in convincing us of her smarts. She rides the horse and talks the talk without looking unsure for a moment. She deserves the praise.
The bounty hunter she hires is veteran U.S Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), the drunken,...
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Something stands out immediately. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie, the young girl who's father has been killed by outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). She is required to play a 14-year-old who is mature beyond her years. She must organise a bounty hunter to track her father's killer and not get screwed out of money in the meantime.
Young actors when asked to play older can sometimes hit sour notes of cockiness and overconfidence during conflict. Steinfeld is remarkable in convincing us of her smarts. She rides the horse and talks the talk without looking unsure for a moment. She deserves the praise.
The bounty hunter she hires is veteran U.S Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), the drunken,...
- 3/22/2011
- by FanboyCrew
My introduction to writer/director Ben Rock came when I interviewed him for his 2009 highly-underrated flick Alien Raiders, which took themes from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Thing and combined them with a little bit of “24” for good measure (hard not to when the film’s star is Carlos Bernard). Last year I had the opportunity to experience Rock’s work in the realm of live theatre with his twisted play Ba’al and quickly realized he’s someone who has an interesting perspective when it comes to genre-related projects.
I recently caught up with Rock, who's been busy working on content for a recent big-name video game release, to find out what his top five independent horror films are. Check out his favorites below!
1. Midnight Son
Scott Leberecht's debut feature about a young man turning into something he doesn't want to understand brings me back to...
I recently caught up with Rock, who's been busy working on content for a recent big-name video game release, to find out what his top five independent horror films are. Check out his favorites below!
1. Midnight Son
Scott Leberecht's debut feature about a young man turning into something he doesn't want to understand brings me back to...
- 3/18/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest directorial effort, True Grit, had quite a nice run at the box office when it released in December. A remake of the John Wayne movie of the same name, Grit also racked up ten Academy Awards nominations early this year. All of this said, the film is a worthy candidate for anyone’s home video collection. You can own the Jeff Bridges starring film when it releases on DVD and Blu-ray on June 7, 2011.
DVD:
Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy:
About True Grit
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valor set in an unforgiving and unpredictable frontier where justice is simple and mercy is rare. Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of...
DVD:
Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy:
About True Grit
True Grit is a powerful story of vengeance and valor set in an unforgiving and unpredictable frontier where justice is simple and mercy is rare. Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), is determined to avenge her father’s blood by capturing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who shot and killed him for two pieces of gold. Just fourteen, she enlists the help of...
- 3/14/2011
- by Buzzfocus Staff
- BuzzFocus.com
Here’s some news which may take a particularly large leap of imagination for some to fathom. Josh Brolin is developing a new version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Warner Bros. which he intends to both produce and star in.
Husband and wife team, Kieran and Michele Mulroney (they penned the upcoming Sherlock Holmes sequel) are on script duties here, and Tim Burton is being mentioned as a possible director for the project.
Wonder if Brolin’s recent turn as loathsome killer Tom Chaney in True Grit has instilled in the actor that another attempt at “going ugly” could result in an equally favourable outcome again?
News courtesy of Variety...
Husband and wife team, Kieran and Michele Mulroney (they penned the upcoming Sherlock Holmes sequel) are on script duties here, and Tim Burton is being mentioned as a possible director for the project.
Wonder if Brolin’s recent turn as loathsome killer Tom Chaney in True Grit has instilled in the actor that another attempt at “going ugly” could result in an equally favourable outcome again?
News courtesy of Variety...
- 3/1/2011
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Robert here, with my series Distant Relatives, where we look at two films, (one classic, one modern) related through theme and ask what their similarities/differences can tell us about the evolution of cinema. Please note that hereafter be Spoilers Ahead.
Three characters in search of a killer
If there’s one notable difference between the original 1969 True Grit and the Coens’ version, it’s the sense of nihilism and meaninglessness in the world the Coens create. Of course the Coens have long been the kings of nihilistic worlds, and it says something that True Grit provides one of their most meaning filled realities. Still when all is done, in the Coen version, we’re left wondering what it was all worth. The John Wayne version, which suffers in no small part from being surrounded by a sea of bleak late 60’s cinematic masterpieces, feels more like a tale of good guys an bad guys.
Three characters in search of a killer
If there’s one notable difference between the original 1969 True Grit and the Coens’ version, it’s the sense of nihilism and meaninglessness in the world the Coens create. Of course the Coens have long been the kings of nihilistic worlds, and it says something that True Grit provides one of their most meaning filled realities. Still when all is done, in the Coen version, we’re left wondering what it was all worth. The John Wayne version, which suffers in no small part from being surrounded by a sea of bleak late 60’s cinematic masterpieces, feels more like a tale of good guys an bad guys.
- 2/25/2011
- by Robert
- FilmExperience
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
True GritGenre: DramaDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenStars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: Following the murder of her father by one of the hired hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross ( Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. Chaney made off with her father’s horses and two of his California gold pieces and Ross wants to avenge her fathers’ death. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit” - Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Cogburn is often described as the most merciless ...
- 2/24/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
To celebrate the release of True Grit, at cinemas now [we loved it], we are offering 15 lucky readers the chance to win a Pair of tickets to a special post-release screening in London on Wednesday 23rd February.
Based on the novel by Charles Portis, True Grit, tells the story of fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), whose father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian Territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBouef (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.
For more information visit www.truegritmovie.co.uk
All you...
Based on the novel by Charles Portis, True Grit, tells the story of fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), whose father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian Territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBouef (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.
For more information visit www.truegritmovie.co.uk
All you...
- 2/14/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Have you seen these downloadable e-mags from the British Academy? They have beautiful illustrated covers by Adam Simpson, one for each of the Best Picture nominees. I've included three of them here representing... well you can tell, can't you?
Black Swan continues to inspire graphic artists. I think The King's Speech design might be the best of the five designs. It has great composition, cleverly utilizes the memorable Eve Stewart production design, and that blimp heading towards / pointing at the King tells you the thrust of the story. The True Grit illustration is my least favorite of the five but I include it because it made me chuckle trying to reimagine the Coen Bros western as a Disney musical. You know how they do; the heroes/heroines are always standing on those jutting triangular pointed cliffs, singing their hearts out.
Hailee arrives at a pre BAFTA eventWhat would Mattie Ross's...
Black Swan continues to inspire graphic artists. I think The King's Speech design might be the best of the five designs. It has great composition, cleverly utilizes the memorable Eve Stewart production design, and that blimp heading towards / pointing at the King tells you the thrust of the story. The True Grit illustration is my least favorite of the five but I include it because it made me chuckle trying to reimagine the Coen Bros western as a Disney musical. You know how they do; the heroes/heroines are always standing on those jutting triangular pointed cliffs, singing their hearts out.
Hailee arrives at a pre BAFTA eventWhat would Mattie Ross's...
- 2/13/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
True Grit hit UK cinemas yesterday and here we have an interview with the legend himself, Jeff Bridges! On Friday, we placed the interview with Hailee Steinfeld which you can see here. Both interviews are conducted by our fabulous friends at Upbeat.
True Grit stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Hailee Steinfeld and have a read of the synopsis below for more info.
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings...
True Grit stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Hailee Steinfeld and have a read of the synopsis below for more info.
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings...
- 2/13/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Way back in the day, Westerns were everywhere. You couldn’t walk down the street without falling over one. My dad still recounts tales of all the old school western’s and while the Eastwood’s of the world certainly have done a great service to the genre, there is nothing like the John Wayne (and others of his ilk) driven movies…as my Dad would no doubt agree. And speaking of John Wayne, he starred in the original True Grit in 1569 (or something). But before somebody start’s brandishing the remake stick, Joel & Ethan Coen have not gone down the remake path here. Nope, they’ve come up with their own version of the Charles Portis book. The story here, isn’t going to melt your mind, nor will it have you scratching your chin attempting to figure out what’s going on. Basically, True Grit is a revenge story.
- 2/13/2011
- by vicbarry@gmail.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
American writer Charles Portis’ 1968 revisionist Western novel True Grit is an incredibly tight, well paced and highly cinematic thriller, so it came as little surprise when the text was originally adapted for the silver screen by director Henry Hathaway in 1969, just a year after the book was first published.
Featuring John Wayne in the pivotal role of drunken, trigger happy U.S. Marshall Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (which secured for Wayne the ‘Best Actor’ award at the 1970 Academy Awards), Hathaway’s True Grit (1969) is now seen as one of the key texts of the period and of the dwindling Western genre as a whole.
Hoping to reignite audience interest in the Western (and succeeding if impressive U.S. box office takings are anything to go by) comes the second adaptation of Portis’ beloved novel, this time courtesy of indie filmmakers-come-Hollywood darlings Joel and Ethan Coen. What we get is a more faithful,...
Featuring John Wayne in the pivotal role of drunken, trigger happy U.S. Marshall Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (which secured for Wayne the ‘Best Actor’ award at the 1970 Academy Awards), Hathaway’s True Grit (1969) is now seen as one of the key texts of the period and of the dwindling Western genre as a whole.
Hoping to reignite audience interest in the Western (and succeeding if impressive U.S. box office takings are anything to go by) comes the second adaptation of Portis’ beloved novel, this time courtesy of indie filmmakers-come-Hollywood darlings Joel and Ethan Coen. What we get is a more faithful,...
- 2/13/2011
- by Cine-Vue
- CineVue
It's harsher and more sombre than the John Wayne version, but the Coen brothers' True Grit is every bit as good
The Coen brothers' excellent western True Grit is a second and rather different version of Charles Portis's novel, rather than a remake of the 1969 film that brought John Wayne an Oscar as the one-eyed bounty hunter Marshal Rooster Cogburn. Portis's novel, a demotic classic in the tradition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is narrated by Mattie Ross, a prim, Presbyterian spinster looking back from the 1920s to the great adventure of her life. In 1878, just 13 years after the civil war, she set out at the age of 14 to bring to justice the crooked hired hand Tom Chaney, who murdered her father in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Although she was well played by the 21-year-old Kim Darby as a perky modern miss in the first film, the picture was dominated by Wayne.
The Coen brothers' excellent western True Grit is a second and rather different version of Charles Portis's novel, rather than a remake of the 1969 film that brought John Wayne an Oscar as the one-eyed bounty hunter Marshal Rooster Cogburn. Portis's novel, a demotic classic in the tradition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is narrated by Mattie Ross, a prim, Presbyterian spinster looking back from the 1920s to the great adventure of her life. In 1878, just 13 years after the civil war, she set out at the age of 14 to bring to justice the crooked hired hand Tom Chaney, who murdered her father in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Although she was well played by the 21-year-old Kim Darby as a perky modern miss in the first film, the picture was dominated by Wayne.
- 2/13/2011
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
True Grit, the Coen Brothers’ latest feature, opened the 61st Berlin Film Festival this evening. Based on a novel of the same name by Charles Portis, the Coen Brothers’ film is the second film adaptation of this Wild West tale: the first was in 1969 by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne. The Coen Brothers’ adaptation is more true to the original in that it tells the tale from the point of view of Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl whose quest drives the narrative. Her father was murdered by a man named Tom Chaney, and fearing that the law will never track him down, Mattie hires Rooster Cogburn, the meanest mercenary marshal in town. They reluctantly join forces with Laboeuf, a straight-laced ranger who has been chasing Chaney for some time: Chaney is also wanted for a murder in Texas, and a substantial reward has been offered to bring him in.
There...
There...
- 2/11/2011
- by Alison Frank
- The Moving Arts Journal
True Grit hits UK cinemas today and we’re rather excited about it! So excited in fact that we have an interview with both Hailee Steinfeld & Jeff Bridges from the movie. I’ve placed the Hailee Steinfeld interview below and the Jeff Bridges one should hit tomorrow at some point. Both interviews are conducted by our fabulous friends at Upbeat.
True Grit stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Hailee Steinfeld and have a read of the synopsis below for more info.
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal...
True Grit stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Hailee Steinfeld and have a read of the synopsis below for more info.
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross’s (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him — over his objections — to hunt down Chaney. Her father’s blood demands that she pursue the criminal...
- 2/11/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Source of Oscar-nominated movie that has opened Berlin film festival is original novel, Coen brothers reveal
To many, the words True Grit mean one thing: John Wayne's Oscar-winning performance in the classic western. But for Joel and Ethan Coen – whose film of the same name is out on Friday in the UK – Wayne is simply "an irrelevancy".
Speaking in Berlin, where the Coens' True Grit opened the city's film festival, Ethan Coen said neither of the brothers had seen Henry Hathaway's 1969 film since childhood, and they made their version with "a blithe disregard" for it.
He added: "John Wayne is more like Mount Rushmore than an actor for us. He was already an ageing actor – not part of my movie-going life – when we were growing up. We were the tail end of people for whom John Wayne meant something."
His brother and co-director Joel Coen added: "I'm not...
To many, the words True Grit mean one thing: John Wayne's Oscar-winning performance in the classic western. But for Joel and Ethan Coen – whose film of the same name is out on Friday in the UK – Wayne is simply "an irrelevancy".
Speaking in Berlin, where the Coens' True Grit opened the city's film festival, Ethan Coen said neither of the brothers had seen Henry Hathaway's 1969 film since childhood, and they made their version with "a blithe disregard" for it.
He added: "John Wayne is more like Mount Rushmore than an actor for us. He was already an ageing actor – not part of my movie-going life – when we were growing up. We were the tail end of people for whom John Wayne meant something."
His brother and co-director Joel Coen added: "I'm not...
- 2/11/2011
- by Charlotte Higgins
- The Guardian - Film News
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Joel and Ethan Coen are certainly no strangers to adapting literary works for the screen – their recent A Serious Man was a loose reinterpretation of The Book of Job, and prior to that they had mighty Oscar success with the widely acclaimed Cormac McCarthy adaptation No Country For Old Men – and so a betting man would certainly make the case that were they to make their next film another literary adaptation, it would follow as another agreeably quirky retooling of a classic text.
Charles Portis’ 1968 novel True Grit, hastily adapted into the star vehicle that finally won John Wayne his solitary Oscar, is brought back to the screen by the Coens with a keener regard for the source material, and while strangely bereft of their expected curiosities, it is also one of their warmest, most pleasantly straightforward pictures to date.
14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) has...
Joel and Ethan Coen are certainly no strangers to adapting literary works for the screen – their recent A Serious Man was a loose reinterpretation of The Book of Job, and prior to that they had mighty Oscar success with the widely acclaimed Cormac McCarthy adaptation No Country For Old Men – and so a betting man would certainly make the case that were they to make their next film another literary adaptation, it would follow as another agreeably quirky retooling of a classic text.
Charles Portis’ 1968 novel True Grit, hastily adapted into the star vehicle that finally won John Wayne his solitary Oscar, is brought back to the screen by the Coens with a keener regard for the source material, and while strangely bereft of their expected curiosities, it is also one of their warmest, most pleasantly straightforward pictures to date.
14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) has...
- 2/11/2011
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
True Grit, the Coen Brothers’ latest feature, opened the 61st Berlin Film Festival this evening. Based on a novel of the same name by Charles Portis, the Coen Brothers’ film is the second film adaptation of this Wild West tale: the first was in 1969 by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne. The Coen Brothers’ adaptation is more true to the original in that it tells the tale from the point of view of Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl whose quest drives the narrative. Her father was murdered by a man named Tom Chaney, and fearing that the law will never track him down, Mattie hires Rooster Cogburn, the meanest mercenary marshal in town. They reluctantly join forces with Laboeuf, a straight-laced ranger who has been chasing Chaney for some time: Chaney is also wanted for a murder in Texas, and a substantial reward has been offered to bring him in.
There...
There...
- 2/11/2011
- by Alison Frank
- The Moving Arts Journal
Jeff Bridges takes over John Wayne's eyepatch as the Coens go west for an impressive and Oscar-tipped remake
More grit – more truth? The Coen Brothers' latest film is presented not as a remake of the 1969 Henry Hathaway picture starring John Wayne, but a new adaptation of the Charles Portis novel. It's avowedly truer to the darker and more nuanced nature of that original story: this is a western in the contemporary style, with a 21st-century sense of artistry and Americana – and maybe generally closer in feel to, say, Altman's McCabe & Mrs Miller than the first True Grit. Although that appeared towards the end of the western's Hollywood pre-eminence, it still came out at a time when the genre ruled television and cowboy stories seemed bathed in California sunshine wherever they were set. Tellingly, this movie often takes place in the bitter cold: one of its best moments comes when...
More grit – more truth? The Coen Brothers' latest film is presented not as a remake of the 1969 Henry Hathaway picture starring John Wayne, but a new adaptation of the Charles Portis novel. It's avowedly truer to the darker and more nuanced nature of that original story: this is a western in the contemporary style, with a 21st-century sense of artistry and Americana – and maybe generally closer in feel to, say, Altman's McCabe & Mrs Miller than the first True Grit. Although that appeared towards the end of the western's Hollywood pre-eminence, it still came out at a time when the genre ruled television and cowboy stories seemed bathed in California sunshine wherever they were set. Tellingly, this movie often takes place in the bitter cold: one of its best moments comes when...
- 2/11/2011
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The screen discloses a lamplit porch on which the snow is falling, and before which a dead man is lying on the ground. As the camera approaches, with reverential slowness, a voice begins: "People do not give it credence that a young girl would leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood, but it did happen." The camera steals closer as Mattie Ross explains how Tom Chaney shot her father and took off with his horse and two gold pieces. We hear the rumble of thunderous hooves in the distance and a desperate horseman gallops between us and the dead man. The girl ends her speech over a shot of Chaney riding onwards, silhouetted against a dark blue sky: "There is nothing free in this world," she concludes, "except for the love of God."...
- 2/11/2011
- The Independent - Film
If I’m being honest here, I’ll start this by saying that I went into True Grit with absolutely no bias to the original film. Full Disclosure: I’ve never read the book, I’ve never seen the original film, and really, I’m not a fan of the Coen Bros. films. I know, that last part can be seen as cinematic sacrilege but there you have it. I watched the trailers and thought it looked good, so I went. I like Westerns, although I’m not well versed in them but I like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. Those three names combined with that particular genre is what drew me in.
The story of True Grit is simple enough. It’s a tale that can pretty much be plugged into any genre, but sits comfortably in the embrace of the Western drama. Young Mattie Ross,...
The story of True Grit is simple enough. It’s a tale that can pretty much be plugged into any genre, but sits comfortably in the embrace of the Western drama. Young Mattie Ross,...
- 2/8/2011
- by Tracy Ladd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Nominated For 10 Oscars at the Academy Awards later this month, True Grit is to debut in UK cinemas this coming Friday, February 11.
It was recently given a new release date following the announcement that it would open the The 61st Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2011) on February 10.
Joel and Ethan Coen direct this reinterpretation of the 1969 Western classic True Grit (with John Wayne), which tells the story of 14-year-old farm girl Mattie (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) who sets out to find hired hand Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) after he murders her father.
When the authorities won't help, tenacious Mattie hires tough marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn on his trek and they are joined by Texas ranger Labeouf (Matt Damon) who is also on the trail of the killer.
With Jeff Bridges, the famous directing duo presented their comedy The Big Lebowski at the Berlinale Competition in...
It was recently given a new release date following the announcement that it would open the The 61st Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2011) on February 10.
Joel and Ethan Coen direct this reinterpretation of the 1969 Western classic True Grit (with John Wayne), which tells the story of 14-year-old farm girl Mattie (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) who sets out to find hired hand Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) after he murders her father.
When the authorities won't help, tenacious Mattie hires tough marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn on his trek and they are joined by Texas ranger Labeouf (Matt Damon) who is also on the trail of the killer.
With Jeff Bridges, the famous directing duo presented their comedy The Big Lebowski at the Berlinale Competition in...
- 2/7/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
The Coen Brothers latest is a western, a cowboy film, an oater (no, I hadn’t heard that last one before either). It’s also a remake, but fear not – this ain’t no lacklustre Ladykillers, this is a horse ridin’, steer brandin’, six shooter shootin’, spur jinglin’ masterpiece.
Slip of a thing, Mattie Ross, played by an astounding Hailee Steinfeld, hits town to sort out her recently murdered father’s affairs. After offing her dad, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) has high tailed it into injun country, so she recruits a hired gun, or two, to track him down and get retribution for the untimely death of her old man.
The intimidatingly intelligent fourteen year old first drafts in one-eyed, Us Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Rooster has shot and killed either twelve to fifteen or twenty three men and is a permanently half-cut hard ass, with no qualms when...
Slip of a thing, Mattie Ross, played by an astounding Hailee Steinfeld, hits town to sort out her recently murdered father’s affairs. After offing her dad, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) has high tailed it into injun country, so she recruits a hired gun, or two, to track him down and get retribution for the untimely death of her old man.
The intimidatingly intelligent fourteen year old first drafts in one-eyed, Us Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Rooster has shot and killed either twelve to fifteen or twenty three men and is a permanently half-cut hard ass, with no qualms when...
- 2/6/2011
- by Alan Simmons
- FilmShaft.com
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