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Showing posts with label western. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western. Show all posts

Monday, January 17, 2011

True Grit (1969)

I can’t remember for sure now, but I think I saw the 1969 version of True Grit years ago.  After seeing and enjoying the new version of the movie, I ended up watching the 1969 version again.

The plot for True Grit is fairly simple even though a few complications pop up.  There is a tiny bit of mystery tied to what is going on.  Some suspense does turn up in a few scenes without making the movie suspenseful overall.  Action is in a couple of scenes, mostly from some shootings that happen.  Those parts do add a bit of violence to what is going on.  The violence is slightly more extreme in one scene, though it isn’t that graphic overall.  I could have done without the snake that turns up later in the movie.

True Grit (1969) is based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis.  The 2010 version of the movie is based on the same book.  Both movies tell the same main story, though there are a few minor changes here and there.  Mattie, while still important to what is going on, ends up having a slightly smaller part in this version. 

The characters are still very entertaining, though they are slightly different.  Rooster is still more likely to shoot someone than arrest them and he likes to drink a lot.  His drunken antics do add some humor to a few scenes.  Those humorous moments do help to lighten the mood a bit.  I do like John Wayne in the part.  Mattie is still very determined to get things done, though I like her better in the 2010 version of the movie.  La Boeuf and Rooster still have issues and conflicts.   The cast is very good in their parts. 

True Grit (1969) has been released on DVD a few times and was recently released on Blu-ray.  I know there are some new special features on the Blu-ray since I looked at it in the store, but I can’t remember what those features are.  The DVD that I watched doesn’t have any extras.

True Grit (1969) is an entertaining movie that has held up well.  Fans of westerns or who enjoyed the new version of the movie should check it out.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.

True Grit (1969)


Sunday, January 2, 2011

True Grit

I haven’t liked that many westerns, though I haven’t watched many in recent years.  I will still give them a chance if I think they look interesting, which is what I did with True Grit.  I really liked the movie. 

I probably saw the John Wayne version of True Grit at some point, but I honestly couldn’t remember anything about it before seeing the new version.  Once I saw this one, I ended up watching the older version.  The main plot is the same, though a few little things have been changed here and there.  Both movies are based on the book by Charles Portis.  I haven’t read the book, though I’ve heard that this version stays closer to the book.

True Grit begins by setting up the situation and explaining how Mattie Ross decides to deal with her father’s killer herself.  The pace is a little slower while that is going on and the characters are introduced, but it doesn’t take that long for more to start happening.  The plot is very interesting and I was surprised by several things.  I’m thinking that I wouldn’t have been as surprised by a few things if I had seen the previous movie.  The plot is very entertaining and it is definitely worth watching. 

Most of what happens in True Grit is more serious.  Mattie’s father has been murdered and Mattie decides to track him down herself since the authorities don’t seem to be doing much.  She hires Marshal Cogburn because she hears he is the most ruthless.  He isn’t interested at first, but she keeps after him and gets her way.  There is violence in the movie, though it isn’t too graphic.  There are just one or two scenes that are a bit disturbing.  There is a decent amount of humor in the movie, mostly from things that Cogburn says at times.

A lot of True Grit takes place when Cogburn and Mattie are on the trail, searching for her father’s killer.  The landscape is a bit bleak and colorless, but that fits in well with the movie.  Things look wonderful.  There are a few gorgeous, and even powerful, shots in the movie. 

Mattie is a wonderful character.  She is a very determined young woman.  She takes on something that many adults wouldn’t in deciding to go after her father’s killer.  She is very intelligent, and she is frequently able to get her way.  I love how she deals with a merchant early in the movie.  Rooster Cogburn is a complicated character.  He isn’t fully a hero type character, though he isn’t really a bad guy either.  He does use questionable methods at times, and he tends to get drunk.  Jeff Bridges is wonderful in the part.  Le Boeuf is a Texas Ranger also looking for the same man.  He teams up with Cogburn, though the men don’t get along that well.  Matt Damon does really well with the part.

True Grit is a wonderful movie.  I do think it is one of the best of the year and it is definitely the better than many of the other movies currently in theaters now.  Fans of the cast or of westerns should give it a chance. 

I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.

True Grit