“True Grit”: The Coen Brothers’ Remake May Be One Bullet Short of an Oscar
Not every grand campaign for Oscar glory pans out.
This year the plan from Paramount was to hold the Coen Brothers’ remake of the great western, “True Grit,” right ’til the end. The idea was that everyone would put it on presumptive lists of Oscar nominees without seeing it. It worked! It’s been every critic and blogger’s 10th slot choice.
Unfortunately, this may now all come to naught, ‘for “True Grit” has finally started screening. And while it’s fine, it’s not exceptional, and falls maybe a bullet short of an Oscar nomination.
The first half hour or so: brilliant and inventive. The rest of it: a little dull and drawn out. Josh Brolin keeps his word, too. He told me in September that he only appears in the last part of the movie. He was right. He’s on screen a short time, yet they’ve give him third billing. He should have been billed “and” or “with” or “guest starring.”
Jeff Bridges plays the John Wayne role of “Rooster Cogburn” as unimaginatively as possible. He’s also hard to hear because he mumbles through most of the film. Luckily, Bridges won an Oscar just nine months ago. I don’t think he’s going to be in this year’s mix. The five really Best Actors are Colin Firth, James Franco, Ryan Gosling (“Blue Valentine”), Mark Wahlberg, and Michael Douglas (from “Solitary Man”). Robert Duvall is the potential spoiler. Rapid talking Jesse Eisenberg, from “The Social Network,” is in there, too. And never count out Leonardo DiCaprio.
The studio is pushing 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, the role made famous in 1969 by Kim Darby. Like Eisenberg, she’s another fast talking monotone. Still, her performance is front loaded–in the first 30 minutes Mattie takes charge in the hunt for her father’s killer, and even rides a horse through a lake. But do we really want to repeat the Anna Paquin scenario from years ago? There are at least a half dozen adult actresses who did superior work this year and deserve Best Supporting acclaim.
Who I did really like: Matt Damon is exceptional as Texas Ranger LaBeouf, the part played by Glen Campbell in the original. He even gets to spank Mattie, which I approve of. Damon is just great with his Texas accent and demeanor. Wasn’t it just last year he was playing South African in “Invictus”? Damon gets added to a list that includes Geoffrey Rush, Andrew Garfield (and or Justin Timberlake), Christian Bale, and Michael Douglas (“Wall Street 2”).
“True Grit” looks beautiful (thanks to Roger Deakins), sounds great, and is clever enough for a while. But when it drifts off, it never really comes back. Top 5 for this year’s Oscars? Probably not when you’ve got this stellar group: “The Social Network,” “The King’s Speech,” “127 Hours,” “The Fighter,” and “Toy Story 3.” But if the film turns out to have true grit, maybe it will be in the second tier with “The Kids Are All Right,” “Black Swan,” “Blue Valentine,” “Shutter Island,” “Rabbit Hole,” “The Ghost Writer,” “Winter’s Bone,” and “Inception.”
[…] “True Grit”: The Coen Brothers’ Remake May Be One Bullet Short of …Dec 6, 2010 … Not every grand campaign for Oscar glory pans out. This year the plan from Paramount was to hold the Coen Brothers’ remake of the great … […]
I hope Justin Timberlake doesn’t receive an Oscar nomination. He just couldn’t keep up with the other great cast of actors. I wish Armie Hammer becomes a surprise nominee- he stole so many scenes and he portrayed the twins convincingly.
John Doe,
For you to suggest that Jeff Bridges, who just won an Osacr for Best Actor, is in a tight race with Colin Firth, leaves me wondering what you’ve been smoking…
Regardless of how good it is, it’s a remake. Has Hollywood ever rewarded a remake?
“Jeff Bridges plays the John Wayne role of “Rooster Cogburn” as unimaginatively as possible”.
Well, good thing Rooster Cogburn isn’t John Wayne’s character, its Charles Portis’. John Wayne is probably the most overrated actor in film of all time. Great presence, terrible execution, and no subtlety. Usually good for a quick adrenaline rush, nothing more.
“I don’t think he’s going to be in this year’s mix. The five really Best Actors are Colin Firth, James Franco, Ryan Gosling (“Blue Valentine”), Mark Wahlberg, and Michael Douglas (from “Solitary Man”). Robert Duvall is the potential spoiler. Rapid talking Jesse Eisenberg, from “The Social Network,” is in there, too. And never count out Leonardo DiCaprio”.
I think you’re going to be wrong on this one. From what I’ve read and heard so far, Bridges is extremely good in the role, and will most likely be in a tight race with Colin Firth. Some of the actors on your list don’t have a chance of even getting nominated, let alone winning. Michael Douglas gives respectable enough performances in both of his recent films, but probably won’t get a nomination. Let’s face the truth here: the Academy expanded the best picture race to include ten films in order to include box office heavyweights that otherwise wouldn’t have a chance at the Oscar, and give fans of some of those films something to tune in to watch, even if they have no chance. Toy Story 3 and Inception have little to no chance of winning the big prize. The Fighter and 127 Hours may be nominated, but they most likely don’t have a chance either. The Social Network is a brilliant film, but I don’t see the fuddy-duddy Academy types voting for it to win, especially since the British bloc will most likely vote in unison for The King’s Speech.
Can’t wait to see the film for myself though. I’m certainly intrigued.