True Grit

[dovetail]

Am a fan of the original and Coen brothers but slightly felt let down by this effort. The film seem to lack the energy, humour and pace of the original. And how strange that it turned into a homage to Night of the Hunter! I found it difficult to understand Jeff Bridges and longed for subtitles during the courtroom scene. It appears that I am not the only one scratching my head at the dialogue see http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1945368

A little less grit and a bit more true to the original would have suited me better.

Anyway, 6.5 out of 10.

[pcRock]

I didn't realise there was an FMUK "party" going on at the back of the screening room.

oh, sorry I forgot to mention that it was lovely to bump into you on my way to the loos before the screening. You are looking really lovely and brown. Where have you been?

It was nice seeing you too. Maybe it's the radiation from my laptop that's making me tanned?

[valda]

Am a fan of the original and Coen brothers but slightly felt let down by this effort. The film seem to lack the energy, humour and pace of the original. And how strange that it turned into a homage to Night of the Hunter! I found it difficult to understand Jeff Bridges and longed for subtitles during the courtroom scene. It appears that I am not the only one scratching my head at the dialogue see http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1945368

A little less grit and a bit more true to the original would have suited me better.

Anyway, 6.5 out of 10.

Apparently it was true to the book which the original wasn't vx

[TheDude]

I wasn’t all that blown away by this film, don’t know why. Last great western for me was Unforgiven and that was nearly 20 years ago now. I think generally I like my westerns OLD. And I’m not keen on remakes.

I watched the original 1969 film last week, but don't know how either film compares to the novel. I’ve noticed several differences, e.g. in the original La Boeuf puts the coat on the chimney, not the girl, etc. Also the original film is less graphic with various injuries, somehow has more charm and ends on a more positive note with Rooster riding off on his horse. Yes, lovely scenery in the new film but nothing we haven't seen before in many westerns.

Jeff Bridges is excellent, if a little difficult to understand in places, and plays a meaner Rooster than John Wayne. Not better, just different. I also like that he moved the eye patch to the right eye (Wayne had it on his left).

Hailee Steinfeld was really good too, very confident, but I’m not sure this is quite Oscar worthy. Matt Damon is certainly a huge improvement on Glen Campbell, and can’t fault the rest of the cast, apart from maybe the kid “Moon” (played by a young Dennis Hopper in the ’69 version!).

So it’s an "ok" film, will watch it again and maybe it will grow on me but given the choice, on a Sunday afternoon, think I’d prefer the original.

[prettyxcool]

I didn't realise there was an FMUK "party" going on at the back of the screening room.

oh, sorry I forgot to mention that it was lovely to bump into you on my way to the loos before the screening. You are looking really lovely and brown. Where have you been?

It was nice seeing you too. Maybe it's the radiation from my laptop that's making me tanned?

you were glowing!

[midian]

the original is being repeated by film4 at 4.20pm on monday 7 feb. set your recorders if you haven't seen it recently.

[funthing29]

Saw this earlier at packed Hatfield (so full that cinema attendants were directing people towards available seats!)

Hmmm normally this is not my type of film (don't like cowboy/western/wild west type films) but I thought this was OK. It was slow to start, but pacing improved throughout and came to a satisfactory conclusion. I did find the accents too strong at times and struggled to understand some of the dialogue, but that didn't damper the overall experience. Bridges is an old hand at playing the grumpy old father figure types, and I thought Hailee Steinfeld did very well, what a young talent! Brolin was underused and Damon didn't get enough screen time IMO. But I enjoyed it overall - 7/10.

[tilly]

Just seen this at a packed odeon in streatham.

After reviews online, I was expecting a good film. However I was slightly disappointed. I couldn't understand the actors at times due to their accent and found Josh brolin and Matt Damon underused. Jeff bridges and the young girl were great though. It was nice to have some light humour though some people were laughing at things that weren't even funny. The ending was bizarre as not sure why she returned 25 years later.
6/10 from me

[Diane65]

Saw this earlier at packed Hatfield (so full that cinema attendants were directing people towards available seats!)

Hmmm normally this is not my type of film (don't like cowboy/western/wild west type films) but I thought this was OK. It was slow to start, but pacing improved throughout and came to a satisfactory conclusion. I did find the accents too strong at times and struggled to understand some of the dialogue, but that didn't damper the overall experience. Bridges is an old hand at playing the grumpy old father figure types, and the I thought Hailee Steinfeld did very well, what a young talent! Brolin was underused and Damon didn't get enough screen time IMO. But I enjoyed it overall - 7/10.

I agree with everything you've said, I too don't normally enjoy cowboy films. OH loved it.
Watched this at a packed Manchester screening with once again an older audience (never experienced so many people having to go to the toilet during the film must be an age thing ) 6/10

[Spanner]

here's what I think of westerns as a genre... "I'm gonna git you" "no you ain't" "a sure am" bang bang peeyong "uhh" etc etc repeat to fade. So maybe I'm not the best judge but that said despite being regaled by the charms of the preston and jmbblue, I nearly fell asleep. Too much dialogue that was poorly spoken made it difficult to follow at times. Only 5/10 for me though no doubt preston will disagree, etc etc repeat to fade. Now onto my most favourite subject... Fellow cinema goers. Well me and jmbblue couldn't fathom out where the #ahem# slightly more mature crowd had come from, til we saw em all waving around their proper times membership cards. Oh and the film was marred somewhat by the two corpses next to me who seemed to have forgot they weren't at home and proceeded to discuss the film throughout the duration, then got over excited and ooh'd, ah'd and shrieked during the showdown scene.