@glitterbag,
The point of your dissent is that the Coen's version more closely followed the book than did the first screen version. I however have to say that as one who read the "Sat Evening Post's"serialized version of True Grit as a teen. I then read the book and saw the movie with my then GF . I didnt like the book as much as John Wayne's version where Rooster got top billing even though the book was meant to be narrated by Cassie (the girl).
Similar to what the producer did with "Grapes of Wrath" the movies had to cut out huge amounts of dialogue that Steinbeck used to feature the overwhelming size of the country between Oklahoma and California. Both "...GRIT" movies, left out huge amounts of back story that dealt with the Arkansas country and the lives of the people of the soil. (even though the book took place in Arkansas ,both"... GRIT" movies took place in places foreign to the serial and the book. Grit A took place near the Tetons and Grit B took place in New Mexico.
Grit A killed Le Boeuf and had Cassie all healed up and the ending was satisfying. Grit B though more congruent to the book leaves it less satifying as film entertainment and, there are certain movie styles that were made for "the Duke". IMHO, this was one.
I did like the Jeff Bridges scene where they were shooting corn muffins , but I liked the Cassie characters perfect Bulwar Lytton dialect in Grit A.
What the hell, its an ice cream flavor. Im a western movie freak and I usually like the first version of a classic , a redux , has never gotten me . THree ten to Yuma, Stage Coach, never had me grbbed me like the firat versions. Im sorta that way with sequels too.
The only two sequels IMM that surpassed their originals was Godfather II, and TITANIC (, Camerons version) and FRIGHT NIGHT, I hate Roddy Macdowell prformances
