TheCoenBros Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Jeff Bridges May Have 'True Grit' For the Coen Bros
Filed under: Action », Classics », Drama », Casting », Paramount », RumorMonger », Scripts », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », Western »
Rooster Cogburn will abide, if the Coen Bros, Jeff Bridges, and Paramount come to terms. Variety reports that Bridges and the Coens are in talks for Bridges to play the iconic Rooster Cogburn in the Coen Bros' remake of True Grit. It would be their first collaboration since The Big Lebowski. When the True Grit remake was first announced, the Coens were said to be making a more faithful adaptation of Charles Portis' novel, and it seemed like it might head into darker No Country for Old Men territory. But the book features a lot of deadpan humor mixed with Old Testament lessons, and if they stick to it for the script, it'll play to their talents extremely well.
At first glance, Bridges seems a pretty offbeat choice for Rooster Cogburn. But having just rewatched the John Wayne original last week, I think it might just be casting heaven. Rooster is a killer, but he's also a fall down drunk, full of sarcastic quips, and surprisingly tender-hearted. He's far from the typical stoic John Wayne character, and it was a bigger departure for Wayne than I had remembered. Bridges would be a perfect choice for blending the rugged charm, the humor, and the "true grit" of Rooster, and he's talented enough to not just play it as an imitation, but make it iconic on its own. If this comes together, it's one remake that could actually equal or outdo the original.
Discuss: Underrated Raimi
Filed under: Action », Classics », Comedy », Horror », Romance », Sports », Thrillers », New Releases », Mystery & Suspense », Paramount », Universal », Fandom », Lists », Western »
The old-school Sam Raimi fans are having a ball this weekend (I hope) with the director's long-awaited return to horror, the very cool Drag Me to Hell. And of course all of you know Mr. Raimi as the director of the Evil Dead trilogy and / or the Spider-Man trilogy, but it's easy to forget that this filmmaker has one rather impressive batting average. Doubly so if you're into good-time matinee-style genre flicks! So here's a chance to look back over some of the man's other films, mostly ones you've heard of (and probably seen by now), but flicks that are certainly worth a fresh look every now and again. I'll start with one of my true favorites ...
The Quick and the Dead (1995) -- Raimi's ode to the old-school western is an addictively entertaining mixture of A) a great ensemble, B) tons of nifty visuals, and C) tongue-in-cheek affection for the old-fashioned western tales. Plus it's not every day you see Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio shoot it out amongst themselves. And if you're a fan of character actors, this movie is an all-you-can-eat buffet of colorful performances: Keith David, Kevin Conway, Lance Henriksen, Tobin Bell, Pat Hingle, Gary Sinise, and on and on it goes. Great fun, especially if you love westerns.
Darkman (1990) -- Long before he was handed the keys to Spidey's cinematic web, Sam Raimi was already thinking about superhero movies. And he didn't even bother going with an established character! He and his brother just created one called Darkman! Just about everything that works so well in the Spider-Man series is included here, from the playful tone and stylish action to the crafty compositions and strong performances. Liam Neeson as a faceless vigilante! How can you not love that?
Are You a Woman Who Hates 'The Big Lebowski'? Then I Want to Hear From You!
Filed under: Classics », Comedy », Fandom »
Let me begin by saying that eventually my friends are no longer going to speak to me about anything movie related, because I inevitably post about it. Sorry, friend -- but thanks for the idea, and I'll buy you a beer the next time we meet.
Months ago, I was talking about the Coen Bros with a guy, and he asked me what I thought of The Big Lebowski. "It's funny," I said. "Why?" I can't remember his exact reply, but it was something along the lines of "All women seem to really hate it / every woman I talk to says its their least favorite."
When I watched it last night his words came back to me, so I tried to watch it from an overly sensitive and critical feminine standpoint, but nothing jumped out as troubling or offensive. Sure, there's some boobs and looking up skirts, but overall it's a movie that I would label "a crowd pleaser." Of course, I have the radical belief that men and women (gasp) largely enjoy the same films. (I should mention that nowhere in our Coen Bros discussion did my friend imply otherwise -- he's not that type of man.)
Just for the heck of it, I googled "women and the Big Lebowski" and found ... nothing. In fact, googling "Big Lebowski sweater pattern" (I'm still trying to find one -- if you've got a pattern, please share it with me) actually turned up a lot of women who were seeking out the sweater for themselves or a loved one. In fact, a lot of women seem to have a very unique relationship with the Dude -- crushing on him while coveting his jelly shoes.
Naturally, I have to put these types of lingering questions to Cinematical readers -- who I fully expect love The Big Lebowski regardless of gender, but I'd like to know if any guy or girl has encountered a gender bias for this film.
Months ago, I was talking about the Coen Bros with a guy, and he asked me what I thought of The Big Lebowski. "It's funny," I said. "Why?" I can't remember his exact reply, but it was something along the lines of "All women seem to really hate it / every woman I talk to says its their least favorite."
When I watched it last night his words came back to me, so I tried to watch it from an overly sensitive and critical feminine standpoint, but nothing jumped out as troubling or offensive. Sure, there's some boobs and looking up skirts, but overall it's a movie that I would label "a crowd pleaser." Of course, I have the radical belief that men and women (gasp) largely enjoy the same films. (I should mention that nowhere in our Coen Bros discussion did my friend imply otherwise -- he's not that type of man.)
Just for the heck of it, I googled "women and the Big Lebowski" and found ... nothing. In fact, googling "Big Lebowski sweater pattern" (I'm still trying to find one -- if you've got a pattern, please share it with me) actually turned up a lot of women who were seeking out the sweater for themselves or a loved one. In fact, a lot of women seem to have a very unique relationship with the Dude -- crushing on him while coveting his jelly shoes.
Naturally, I have to put these types of lingering questions to Cinematical readers -- who I fully expect love The Big Lebowski regardless of gender, but I'd like to know if any guy or girl has encountered a gender bias for this film.
The Coen Bros Remaking 'True Grit'
Filed under: Classics », Deals », Paramount », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Steven Spielberg », Remakes and Sequels », Western »
Fill your hands you ... well, you know the line. You probably know this movie line by line, and your heart still leaps to see Rooster Cogburn flip that Winchester. So the news that True Grit is getting remade by Joel and Ethan Coen will either fill you with rage, excitement, or put you squarely into Swiss territory. According to Variety, the Coen Bros aren't aiming for a traditional remake -- they want to return to the original Charles Portis novel, and make a more faithful adaptation. Their version will be told from Mattie's point of view, as the original novel is, and keep Cogburn as a side player. The Coens will undoubtedly amp up the Biblical tone and include the darker elements ... like what really happens to her after the snakebite.
Plans to remake True Grit have apparently been in the works for some time -- it originally begun at DreamWorks, but was left behind when Steven Spielberg and his shingle split with Paramount. Undaunted by the task, the Coens are tackling it before their adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union.
So, what else can you say? It's the Coen Bros, who will undoubtedly tackle a period Western as ably as they did a modern, revisionist one. On the other hand, it's John Wayne. It's the movie he won his only Oscar for. Do you dare touch it? I'm veering somewhere between neutral and excited myself, while simultaneously praying I don't live long enough to see anyone remake The Outlaw Josey Wales.
*By the way, did you know True Grit's screenwriter, Marguerite Roberts, was from Colorado -- my home state. It was also filmed here. I honestly never knew this. I feel something akin to civic pride now.
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