True Grit

We normally avoid the theater during the holidays and this year was no exception - almost ridiculously so :( But thank you for the emails and Facebook pokes - yes I'm alive and yes we've been back to the movies and have a couple to share with you! :)

I heard they were remaking True Grit some time ago and was really unhappy about it. As a child I saw this movie and loved it - that's right - I saw myself in the role of Mattie Ross, of course, and it was one of the few westerns I truly enjoyed. The Duke was the star, it's a great story. Why mess with that success? I poo-pooed to anyone who would listen.

OH BOY am I eating those words. (not eating poo-poo, thankfully) What a great movie! Even without John Wayne, even without the original script, even even even. What a great remake.

The Coens (Ethan and Joel) did this (No Country for Old Men, O Brother Where Art Thou) and they did it right. First, they stuck to the original story without messing it up - good. They added much richer and more authentic dialogue from the book - very good. They cast with an amazing hand - Very very good. And they added that Coen magic touch - a bit more real, a bit more grisly, just a little truer and grittier.

I'm not a big Jeff Bridges fan and have not gotten on the bandwagon of his fairly recent success, but darn if he isn't really good as Rooster Cogburn. I didn't want to like him in this.... but I have no complaints of any kind. He did it right. He's more flawed and uglier and odder than John Wayne - and it really works.

The star of course is Hailee Steinfeld (there's a 't' in that one - not Seinfeld) who just runs away with the movie. She's superb as Mattie Ross.

Josh Brolin also stars in a hysterical half witted role that he plays to the tee :D

It's just a great movie. We gave it a "5".

Pueblo Tinseltown was the place. Our marvelous hot fresh popcorn was served up with a big smile and friendly words from Mariah. A nice day at the show!