We trundled off to see the Coen brothers’ remake of the Western classic True Grit this afternoon. I left the theatre both satisfied and puzzled. Several days ago I watched the original, so I was able to have that one fresh in my mind this afternoon when I sat down to watch the new version. I think the remake is a better film in many, perhaps in most ways, yet I don’t understand why the Coen brothers decided to make this film. I don’t see what they were trying to add to the conversation.
I’ve read reviews that suggested the remake is closer to the Charles Portis novel than it is to the first film, but really the remake isn’t all that different from the first movie, at least not enough that one might remark, “oh wow, this is a really different take on the story.” It is simply another version of the story, perhaps one that is more satisfying to our eyes today. Go see the Coen brothers version. I think you’ll really like it, and in particular, you’ll enjoy Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Mattie Ross and Jeff Bridges, who is always great fun to watch in action.
27th Street 
I watched it at the AMC in Ottawa the day before New Years eve. Thought that it was great even though I have not seen the original. Great landscape visuals and the story acting was satisfying. Remember the old guy in the bear suit? He trades for a dead body…ha,ha! What were those guys in the cabin cooking anyway?
I have been resisting seeing this film. Like you, I could see no compelling reason to remake it. In fact, I am getting mighty tired of the plethora of remakes in the film industry these days.
I went to see this yesterday afternoon as well. I hadn’t seen the original before although I came across it on AMC the other day (but didn’t watch). I had been so excited to see this version, I didn’t want to ruin the experience by having the story already in my brain. While I didn’t “LOVE” the Coen’s version, I did really enjoy it. The story is great and the acting impeccable. Loved Barry Pepper although I barely recognized him. Bridges was a fantastic choice for Cognburn (IMO) and the girl who played Maddie was amazing. I’d definately recommend it. Now? Have to grab me a copy of the original and see what I think.
The dialogue was fantastic…Cormac McCarthy and Shakespeare on the same stage..
I agree, East. The dialogue was great, and the whole business was very well acted too.
The reason they made the film is pretty simple. It has nothing to do with adding anything to the story or being true to the book. They made it for the same reason all movies are made, people will pay to watch it and that is what these guys do is make movies folks will pay to watch. The One True Cynic has spoken. Having said that I can add that current technology added to the skills that modern movie makers have some of these remakes can be darned entertaining in their own right. And lets face it the industry is running out of plausible story lines in much the same way that musicians ran out of the ability to make new music and had to switch over to simply making loud noises and grunts.
The Coen brothers can’t possibly need the money. They must be worth squillions with all the success they’ve had over the years. As well, they haven’t always made the popular choices along the way. I think they have a strong vision for their films, and I’ve liked most of their films a lot.
You could say that there are only a few stories in the world, but at the same time, each story is unique and so there are also infinite choices, infinite stories (Borges’ Library of Babel has just sprung to mind). I have to think about why these guys, who could produce and direct any movie they wanted, would want to take a crack at a story that’s already been well done. It isn’t the first Western remake, nor is it the first good one. 310 to Yuma springs to mind as an excellent reworking of a strong original film.
The Italian painter Enrico Baj, at one point in his life, painted many versions of paintings by Picasso, all in his own quirky style, but all recognizably riffing on Picasso’s work. When you make a work that references someone else’s work so closely, you can’t help but comment on that vision. In this case I don’t think the Coen brothers are deconstructing either the original John Wayne vehicle nor the Charles Portis novel. I’ve not read the novel, but I would definitely say the new film is very respectful of the older one.
All that said, the new version of True Grit is a terrific film and I recommend seeing it.
Of course in other art forms, like music, reworking a classic tune happens all the time. Jazz players reinterpret tunes that have become standards all the time. How many versions of Summertime have been recorded, for instance? I wonder if the Coen’s will rework any other film classics along the way?