True Grit: Charles Portis

[poliphilo]

I've only seen the first movie. It's surprisingly faithful to the book- except that the book has things happen in winter not early summer and John Wayne gives Rooster rather more bounce than he has on the page- where he's younger and sadder and looks a lot like Grover Cleveland.  Much of the book's marvelous dialogue makes it into the script. "Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!"- that's in the original.

Mattie Ross- gawky, opinionated, frontier-religious- is a wonder and a terror. We see her at two ages- as the fourteen year old avenger and as the equally fierce old spinster who's telling us the story. Portis, skillful writer, never falters in his impersonation of a person whose writing- heretofore- has been limited to (unpublished) articles for local newspapers- and we believe every word of her.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

A friend gave me the book for Christmas around the time the new film came out. Utterly brilliant.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely book.

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

I read the book years ago. Absolutely loved it. I saw the John Wayne movie version, and, surprisingly, liked that, too (not much of a John Wayne fan). Saw the newer version of the movie last year. Surprisingly, I liked that, too. I think it is closer to the book than the first, but then, I read the book years ago. Anyway, it made me want to read the book again, but I haven't had time.

I read the book after the first movie came out, but before I saw the movie. It used to be common for me to read books rather than see new movies. Now I have time for neither.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A good book that's been made into two good movies: that's a remarkable strike rate.

I love the John Wayne movie. The only serious flaw is the casting of Glen Campbell as LaBoeuf. He tries hard but he just isn't much of an actor.

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I've never read the book (I love to read and am always in the middle of five or more books). And I LOVED the original movie -- my sister and I can repeat almost every single word of the film, we know it so well.

(It was a favorite of our dad when he was still alive...)

Now I MUST read the book! You've really got me wanting it!

Have never seen the remake of the film so far...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend it.