# The Coen Brothers' next movie: True Grit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155 "2009-12-31T05:17:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/141 "2010-09-28T01:57:38Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Watch the trailer [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uco41pOKeJg&feature=player_embedded), if you haven’t yet seen it. Seems like it could be okay. It looks great. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/142 "2010-09-28T02:08:42Z")
A block of wood tied to a horse would be better than Glen Campbell. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/143 "2010-09-28T02:19:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > A block of wood tied to a horse would be better than Glen Campbell. A block of wood tied to a dog would be better. Even a very small, barking dog. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/144 "2010-09-28T02:21:28Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > The dialogue is so arch, not a contraction in sight… Ok, in case anybody catches that, watching the trailer again, there are a lot of contractions. Strother Martin is so great! And it really is John Wayne’s greatest role, IMO. He’s just fantastic. He deserved the Oscar, dammit! I need to pull the book out again and re-read it. It’s been decades since I read it, but when I was young, I used to read it a few times a year. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/145 "2010-09-28T02:21:35Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > > [@Spoke](#): > > > > …Jeff Bridges’s acting skills (which for my money seem to consist almost entirely of bemused smiles). 😉 > > Wait, you’re faulting Bridges for using a style that’s recognizable, and saying that _Wayne_ is a better actor? Look, I like them both for different reasons, but while Bridges can play Rooster Cogburn, Wayne could and would never have played characters like [The Big Lebowski’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/) The Dude, [Fearless’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106881/) Max Klein, [The Fisher King’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101889/) Jack, [Stay Hungry’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075268/) Craig Blake, [The Last Picture Show’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067328/) Duane Jackson, [The Men Who Stare at Goats’](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234548/) Bill Django, [American Heart’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103670/) Jack Kelson, [Surf’s Up’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423294/) Zeke ‘Big Z’ Topanga, [Iron Man’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/) Obadiah Stane, [Arlington Road’s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137363/) Michael Faraday, [Jack Baker](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097322/), [Preston Tucker](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096316/), [Matt Scudder](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090568/), [Lewis Tater](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073096/) (and Neddy Wales), [Barney Cousins](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108473/), [Jack Forrester](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089360/) (he sure has played a lot of Jacks), and on and on. > > [STARMAN!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088172/) Frickin’ Starman! I reFUSE to accept that you listed all those and NOT Kevin Flynn. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/146 "2010-09-28T02:25:07Z")
Oh, sorry about that. I had to look up Kevin Flynn. Ah. I’ve never seen **Tron** so it didn’t occur to me. I hope a theater runs the original **Tron** before the sequel comes out. I’ve always wanted to see it but I only want to see it in the theater. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/147 "2010-09-28T02:35:43Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Strother Martin is so great! And it really is John Wayne’s greatest role, IMO. He’s just fantastic. He deserved the Oscar, dammit! Yeah, there are many actors who do well in their roles in that film. 🙂 “I wish to kill Ned Cheney.” “Well, this will get the job done, if you can find a fence post to rest it on while you aim!” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/148 "2010-09-28T04:26:53Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > This is what movie makers do when they run out of ideas. Very disappointing. > > What? They adapt books? Or they adapt books that were once adapted into movies? Or they do projects that you aren’t excited about? No, they remake a great movie and invest lots of energy in the spin that that’s not really what they’re doing. But it is. I agree that Sam Elliott would be a better choice for the lead. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/149 "2010-09-28T04:46:11Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Oh, sorry about that. I had to look up Kevin Flynn. Ah. I’ve never seen **Tron** so it didn’t occur to me. I hope a theater runs the original **Tron** before the sequel comes out. I’ve always wanted to see it but I only want to see it in the theater. You forgot Bad Blake as well. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/150 "2010-09-28T04:52:37Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Watch the trailer [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uco41pOKeJg&feature=player_embedded), if you haven’t yet seen it. Seems like it could be okay. The visuals look great. But it doesn’t look like their Matty Ross can hold a candle to Kim Darby. Not much spark. (Incidentally, it looks like she is from the Clark Gable school of southern accents: She’d rather not do one at all than to do one badly. Works for me. You can always imagine a backstory for the character that doesn’t require her to have a Southern accent. Maybe the family had only recently moved to Arkansas.) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/151 "2010-09-28T06:40:38Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > > > …nor “Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!” > > That wasn’t in the [original trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN-j4GDqjv4&feature=related) either. > > Watching that original trailer made me remember how much I love that movie. I am looking forward to the remake, but the original will always have a special place in my heart. The dialogue is so arch, not a contraction in sight, and boy do they all pull it off. “And I think I will not go!” > > Forget Jeff Bridges filling John Wayne’s shoes. He’ll be alright and make the role his own. > Forget Matt Damon filling Glen Campbell’s shoes. He’ll be much better. > Forget Josh Brolin filling Robert Duvall’s shoes. He’ll be alright and make the role his own. > > I need to see if Hailee Steinfeld will be anywhere near as wonderful as Kim Darby. That’ll make or break the movie for me. I agree with your assessments, except perhaps, for Miss Darby. As I’ve grown older, I’ve taken a strong dislike to her character. Just grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. If that’s how she was in the book, then she did a great job. I’m hoping Mattie will be somewhat less grating in this one. I love the original movie, and when I was younger, I didn’t mind Mattie. Maybe I’m getting to be grouchy in my old age. I like Kim Darby well enough - Mrs Meyers in Better Off Dead, Miri in the Star Trek TOS episode of the same name - just to make clear I’m not hating on her. Jeez, she’s 63 this year. Think about that! ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/152 "2010-09-28T19:33:15Z")
I was able to google up a trailer for this picture on youtube. My interest went up a little bit. I don’t think anybody will disgrace themselves. I don’t think Bridges will bomb in this role. He won’t be the Duke, but he doesn’t have to be. He just needs to be a grizzled wornout cowboy. Which I have confidence he can do. The trailer shows the confrontation at the end (the “fill your hands” line was not heard, but it was a very brief shot anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/153 "2010-09-28T19:41:36Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I agree with your assessments, except perhaps, for Miss Darby. As I’ve grown older, I’ve taken a strong dislike to her character. Just grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. If that’s how she was in the book, then she did a great job. That’s _exactly_ how she was in the book. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/154 "2010-09-28T20:58:02Z")
Never quite understood that, “It’s not a remake, they are just making another adaptation of the book.” They made it before, and they are making it again? It’s a remake. Following the original source more closely doesn’t make it less of a remake. There’s nothing wrong with remakes, of course, just as there is nothing wrong with covers of songs or revivals of plays. Plus, they’ve done remakes since they have been making movies. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/155 "2010-09-28T21:06:57Z")
Is every version of _Dracula_ a remake of whatever the last Dracula movie was? There is a difference between remaking a movie and doing an independent adaptation of the same book. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/156 "2010-09-28T21:15:44Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Is every version of _Dracula_ a remake of whatever the last Dracula movie was?.. Actually, yes. 😉 I HATE fucking vampire movies. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/157 "2010-09-28T21:34:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Is every version of _Dracula_ a remake of whatever the last Dracula movie was? > > There is a difference between remaking a movie and doing an independent adaptation of the same book. If it is an adaptation of Bram Stoker, then it is a remake. If it is Dracula vs Billy the Kid or something, it isn’t. But that is my point. They aren’t remaking any movie, they are remaking the story. As far as I know, there are very few movies that have ever been literally remade, like The Exorcist Prequel a few years ago. You don’t consider The Thing (1982) or Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) remakes? Both are more faithful adaptations of their respective sources. A film doesn’t have to be another version of an original film production to be a remake. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155/158 "2010-11-07T22:48:43Z")
I’m just finishing the book and loving it. It’s clear that Kim Darby did a great job of acting Mattie Ross like the book. My only complaint, really, is that I wish I’d read the book first…I’m having trouble picturing Cogburn as anyone but John Wayne. On a side note, there was a 1970 film of another Portis book,\* Norwood\*…with Kim Darby and Glen Campbell. Go figure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coen-brothers-next-movie-true-grit/523155.md?page=7)