One More "Bad Idea" Reboot

[white avenger]

News of this has been around for some time, apparently (I think that my family intentionally kept it from me, knowing what my reaction would be) but just last night I became aware of the fact that "True Grit," has been remade, and that the role of Rooster Cogburn, that earned John Wayne his only Academy Award for Best Actor, is being played by Jeff Bridges. As many of you undoubtedly know, I have been, and always shall be, an unabashed John Wayne fan, and have been for my entire life. I am trying, however, to remain open minded about this, aided greatly by the knowledge that Mr Bridges is neither the man nor the actor that John Wayne was, which is not in any way belittling Bridges' talents, I simply mean that he is DIFFERENT, and I have no doubt that his interpretation of the role will be something totally his own and unique.

My point in mentioning this is simply to point out that, as much as we may be devoted to a certain actor in a certain role, no matter how sacred we might believe that it might be, the Powers That Be in Hollywood, London, or wherever movies are made, the studios are always run by businessmen, not artists, and they will always try to make a buck. That is their bottom line. Whether the role is Rooster Cogburn, Tarzan, James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Rhett Butler, Luke Skywalker, or Buffy, as much as we might see the decision as nothing short of blasphemy in the highest degree, movie making is a business. We might hate that concept, but it remains the truth. And we are just going to have to live with it.

But if Jeff Bridges even THINKS about saying, "Fill your hand, you son of a b**ch!" I'm gonna throw my popcorn bucket through the screen.

 

[white avenger]

Comments on this post
Old Master 3.0 agrees: In total agreement with all of that, sir. Submitted for your approval, would it make it any more bearable if they'd cast Sam Elliot in this role?

I could see Sam Elliot or maybe Tom Selleck playing the role, but only if they agreed to gain enough weight for the part of a "one eyed fat man" properly. Elliot in particular is far too thin. Another possibility would be Nick Nolte, again with the weight gain. Watch "Extreme Prejudice" sometime. Nolte as a Texas Ranger is awesome. Another great character actor who could fill the part would be Rip Torn, from the same movie, playing the grizzled old County Sheriff. Any of those men could fit my image of Rooster Cogburn far, far better than Jeff Bridges.

Even though Bridges did make a passable Wild Bill Hickok.

 

[Mindfiend]

Why oh why must they remake classics?

True Grit, while taken as a whole is simply a good film, has one of the greatest moments in cinema history.

"Fill your hand you son of a b*tch!"

Awesome.

Has anyone ever seen a remake that was anywhere near as good as the original, let alone better? Movies are a sign of their times, so a remake would need different qualities now, thus not really fit with the feel and theme of the old.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I dunno... it has a really good cast, and good directors.. I was actually interested in the idea.