A Grittier True Grit

I like John Wayne movies as much as the next guy, but the only comparison between John Wayne’s Oscar winning 1969 portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit and the 2010 Coen Brothers version starring Jeff Bridges is that Bridges should also win an Oscar for his interpretation of Rooster Cogburn.  Has the Academy ever awarded an Oscar to two different actors for playing the same role four decades apart?  Did anyone else notice that Bridges and Wayne wore their eye patch on the opposite eye?

The truth is, John Wayne’s 1969 Oscar was not so much in recognition for his portrayal of the one-eyed U.S. Marshal as it was for his overall body of work in nearly half a century in the film business.

Fast-forwarding to 2010, Joel and Ethan Coen have a major hit on their hands with a more faithful rendering of the original Charles Portis novel than the 1969 movie version.  The spotlight is back on Mattie Ross, and actress Hailee Steinfeld left a much more lasting impression in the role than 1969’s Kim Darby. 

Whereas John Wayne’s 1969 Rooster Cogburn was simply an extension of John Wayne (and he’d be the first to tell you so), Jeff Bridges completely channeled a more rough-hewn lawman in his 2010 performance.  From the hand-rolled cigarettes and gravelly voice to the torn and dirty long johns, Bridges BECAME Rooster Cogburn, instead of the other way around. 

A few years ago, I wrote a screenplay with what I thought was a very unique introduction to one of my main characters.  Imagine my delight to see the Coen Brothers introduce Rooster Cogburn using the same device that I had come up with in my script, except now people will think I borrowed the idea from the Coen Brothers if my script goes into production. 

The third character upgrade in 2010 was Matt Damon taking on the Texas Ranger role that Glen Campbell played in 1969.  As an actor, Glen Campbell was a great singer.  In contrast, this was undoubtedly one of Damon’s best characterizations.  Damon had some great scenes, usually with Hailee Steinfeld.

While I haven’t seen the 1969 version of True Grit in a few years, the most memorable scene  for me (for all the wrong reasons) was John Wayne riding his horse, reins clenched between his teeth, guns blazing with both hands as he charged a gang of outlaws.  The reason the scene was memorable was because the Duke was obviously on a mechanical horse. 

This scene is still in the 2010 version, but I didn’t detect a mechanical horse this time around, although it’s possible my eyesight isn’t what it was forty years ago . . .