Coen Brothers

Reading Charles Portis's "True Grit" at the moment.

The Opening paragraph of old woman reminiscing: "People do not give it credence that a 14-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood but it did not seem so strange then, although I will say it did not happen every day. I was just 14 years of age when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shot my father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas and robbed him of his life and horse and $150 in cash money plus two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band. "

Opening paragraph of Cormac Mccarthy's NCFOM starts with old Sheriff musing,
"I SENT ONE BOY to the gaschamber at Huntsville. One and only one. My arrest and my testimony. I went up there and visited with him two or three times. Three times. The last time was the day of his execution. I didnt have to go but I did. I sure didnt want to. He'd killed a fourteen year old girl and I can tell you right now I never did have no great desire to visit with him let alone go to his execution but I done it."

From unseen (insignificant) 14 year old teen victim of their previous 1980's "Western" (that had an elegiac tone, serving to mind the death of Old Wild West), they jump right into the peak of Wilderness, 1800's (voice narrated from tail-end of the bloody West, 1928) through POV of a revenge-seeking 14 year old girl protagonist. :D

Trailer of "True Grit":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8QLMWN0yNs

"The wicked flee when none pursueth." I'd be damned if Coens don't open the film with this quote. #TrueGrit #CharlesPortis #BookofProverbs

Book adaptation is always a tricky matter. As films are of far shorter length, much of the original book will be left on the cutting room floor, which could be flasfemous to those who loved the original form. However, there are some books that benefit from ellipsis.

As I'm reading "True Grit", a fairly short book, I don't think much will be left out (and learning more & more how the earlier adaptation with Wayne didn't get the essence of it. Perhaps why Coen wanted to do a proper adaptation and not remake of that film.)

The opening chapter of Mattie's monologue will be retained as it is (with V-O). And it'll (must) be in her POV. Not in the periphery (like the earlier film, again a missed opportunity that Coens will rectify)

This proverb (half-quoted without the subsequent part on righteous man being the bold lion) closes the opening chapter.

The film, however, should begin with this. (or at least is my prediction)

Meteor (1973) - Revisit.

When folks here applaud to great effort, I am reminded of this film. Great effort, yes, but really screwed up execution. Half-baked effects (surprising for a post Star Wars film) and meandering scripts. But is watchable for its awesome cast. That's why I hold on to the theory, no matter how bad a film is, the movie can be watched again if you got the right folks on screen. Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Karl Malden, Martin Landau, Brian Keith and the gorgeous Natalie Wood. Clash of acting styles keep you on your toe. Daddy to Armageddon and Deep Impact.


My favourite quote.

Connery (after a really annoying meeting):Why don't you stick a broom up my a**, I can sweep the carpet on my way out. :lol:

Bro.

http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewt...291935#2291935

Blood Simple

Good. oru thadavai pAkkalaam.

True grit receives good review......

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403865/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/true-grit-2010/

Feddy,
Have you seen TG? Might go tomorrow...

Illainga, Naan paakala. Went to Little Fockers Instead. Should go in some time.

Just back from True Grit. If I had gone to the film without knowing who had made it, I would have refused to believe it was by the Coens. As a Coen brothers fan I was disappointed. But the film is good. Very witty one-liners (they were not Coen-quirky though) for Jeff Bridges. Drags a little in the middle. A very straight film.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kid-glove

"The wicked flee when none pursueth." I'd be damned if Coens don't open the film with this quote. #TrueGrit #CharlesPortis #BookofProverbs

Book adaptation is always a tricky matter. As films are of far shorter length, much of the original book will be left on the cutting room floor, which could be flasfemous to those who loved the original form. However, there are some books that benefit from ellipsis.

As I'm reading "True Grit", a fairly short book, I don't think much will be left out (and learning more & more how the earlier adaptation with Wayne didn't get the essence of it. Perhaps why Coen wanted to do a proper adaptation and not remake of that film.)

The opening chapter of Mattie's monologue will be retained as it is (with V-O). And it'll (must) be in her POV. Not in the periphery (like the earlier film, again a missed opportunity that Coens will rectify)

This proverb (half-quoted without the subsequent part on righteous man being the bold lion) closes the opening chapter.

The film, however, should begin with this. (or at least is my prediction)

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You are right about the quote and the POV.

Ah! Thanks Bro. Yes, I'm hearing it's a very un-Coen film. For it feeling predominantly as 'Charlie Portis film' might be because the book does a pretty neat job of explaining visually and staying true to the girl's POV. It's good to note that even "No Country for Old Men" as a book also feels like a film script, but there you have a challenge with different POVs! I could see why Coens would have fell in love with Portis book, even if it's not that big a challenge to adapt. I don't remember POV of the decidedly weaker gender of the wild Wild West. Coens are (deceptively) feminist filmmakers. That aside, the story also unfolds like a coming of age tale in unlikely backdrop.

Waiting for DVDSCR. :(

Watched True Grit yesterday. I have no idea what to say. For most of the time, I couldn't make out what Jeff Bridges was talking but still i could follow what was happening. The girl acted very well. Josh Brolin has a very very brief role. As Nerd said quite a straight film and I have to watch it in TV some time later again.

P.S: As with NCFOM, The coens do a great job of recreating the time and its effect on screen :clap:.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ajithfederer

For most of the time, I couldn't make out what Jeff Bridges was talking

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They need to embed subtitles with the films. I found the audience LOLing at many dialogues which I missed. :oops:

Don't worry they did.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kid-glove

"The wicked flee when none pursueth." I'd be damned if Coens don't open the film with this quote. #TrueGrit #CharlesPortis #BookofProverbs

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Yes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kid-glove

The opening chapter of Mattie's monologue will be retained as it is (with V-O). And it'll (must) be in her POV.

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+1. :lol:.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nerd

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ajithfederer

For most of the time, I couldn't make out what Jeff Bridges was talking

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They need to embed subtitles with the films. I found the audience LOLing at many dialogues which I missed. :oops:

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nerd

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ajithfederer

For most of the time, I couldn't make out what Jeff Bridges was talking

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They need to embed subtitles with the films. I found the audience LOLing at many dialogues which I missed. :oops:

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I too felt the same... I know the southerner accent his different and often ridiculed by others... but this one I had hard time to follow his dialogues.... After watching several time "no country for old men", I was expecting this movie something on those line.... but it was completely different....being a great fan of western movies especially Sergio and Clint Eastwood, I was expecting more from Coen brothers....As I thought they are one among the current generation directors who can make good westerns.... I am deeply disappointed though the movie was not bad.....In future, looking forward to see Quentin Tarantino’s version of western....

True Grit - Pretty ordinary for Coens, but as predicted extremely faithful (not just the Mattie Ross POV) to Charlie Portis.

http://www.entertainmentwallpaper.co.../movie/737.jpg

:clap:. Have seen this long time back. But had the opportunity to watch until Zeta Jone's divorce hearing on Movies now channel this month. Pretty funny stuff.