New Grit

It really was a prize-winner, Esther. We shall see.

Last night, we saw another good one, almost a polar opposite: the remake of True Grit. Of special interest to me, because I taught the novel last semester, and we saw the John Wayne movie after class. The contrasts are fascinating, both cinematic and American-cultural, in the sense of our perception of our own history.

The 1969 version was definitely a product of star-system Hollywood; the new one far from it. The new one also reflects the postmodern revisionism (or re-vision) of what the West was really like, and what might be the psychological makeup of a Western hero. John Wayne had an element of anti-hero in his Brewster McCloud, but he was at heart a grouchy old decent fellow. The Jeff Bridges McCloud is an alcoholic psychopath who happens to be on the right side of the law. But he kills bad guys – and not so bad -- like shooting tin cans down at the dump.

It's interesting that almost all of the scenes and dialogue are the same! But the Coen brothers had an edgier take on the story, which made a lot of difference. I liked it better. But mine is a minority opinion, I think from a cursory Google. A lot of people see it as "the Duke versus the Dude," and think the Duke owns the territory.

The other actors are also standouts. The girl who plays Mattie, Hailee Steinfield, does a hell of a job for a 14-year-old (it was 22-year-old in teenage drag before); Josh Brolin is a bad guy you love to hate.

There's a lot more grit in this version, and gore. A lot better acting. John Wayne just had to be himself. Bridges read the book, evidently, and came out with a much more interesting anti-hero.

Good "business," too; recreation of the actual pre-turn-of-the-century West. The sets and scenery are understated and fine. Two pistols up! Worth seeing.

Joe