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To say I’m a fan of the Coen Brothers would be an immense understatement. I love those guys, simply LOVE their work. Just about every one of their films is masterfully put together – masterfully written, masterfully shot, and masterfully acted. With BLOOD SIMPLE they took crime noir into a small town, and redefined the genre in a way that his been often imitated but never fully duplicated in the years that followed – though they would revisit the ideals behind that film in future dramas like FARGO and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, both of which became critically-acclaimed movies. RAISING ARIZONA showed their strength with comedy, and has become a cherished classic – their comedic roots were explored once again with films like THE BIG LEBOWSKI and O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? Period films like MILLER’S CROSSING, BARTON FINK and THE HUDSUCKER PROXY showed different elements of their respective eras, and delivered fascinating characters and stories in unforgettable ways. But while they’ve explored gangster themes in the 1930’s, early days of Hollywood in the 1940’s, and big industry of the 1950’s, one thing we’ve yet to see them do is a western… until now. In this age of remakes and sequels, the Coens have set their sights on a true classic, redefining the John Wayne classic TRUE GRIT. The new film finds the always engaging Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, the Wayne role. It co-stars Matt Damon as La Boeuf (originally played by Glen Campbell), Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney (original played by Jeff Corey), the ever-so-appropriately named Barry Pepper as Ned Pepper (originally played by Robert Duvall), and introducing Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross (originally played by Kim Darby). Joel and Ethan Coen wrote the screenplay and co-directed, based on the novel by Charles Portis. The trailer, which is rather short, looks mean and gritty. I simply can’t wait to see Bridges as Cogburn. Check it out below and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
TRUE GRIT opens December 25, 2010
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And in case you’ve never seen it, here’s the trailer for the original 1969 version of TRUE GRIT, which starred John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Robert Duvall, Strother Martin, and Dennis Hopper.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
