Movie Review: "True Grit" (2010 version)

Growing up at the tail end of the western movie era, there is something nostalgic for me about watching cowboys and indians or sheriffs and outlaws on the big screen. Some of my favorite television characters were Matt Dillon, Kitty and Festus. When "Silverado" came out in the '80s, I applauded the return of the western genre, but there have been very few westerns made since that time.

So when my husband suggested that we go see "True Grit" this afternoon, I wasn't opposed to the idea, even though "The King's Speech" was the next movie I planned to see. Somehow I missed the original "True Grit" and had the story line confused with "High Noon." I'm glad now that I did not know the story, because it was all fresh and unexpected.

It was one of the best movies I've ever seen. I was there, in that town on the edge of the frontier. I was 14-year-old Mattie, saddling up for an adventure, only mildly aware of the potential dangers ahead.

The story deals with vengeance, redemption, honor, and determination.

All of the acting was superb, especially Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn. Phenomenal! He was completely believable. Matt Damon made an exceptionally fine Texas Ranger. Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross was great, too. All of the minor characters, most of them outlaws, were absoltuely convincing. The casting was perfect.

And the writing was outstanding -- never too much. Sometimes I expected more information, because movies these days tend to spoon feed the audience, but I was pleased that this script did not attempt to explain self-evident details.

I expected the movie to be violent, but it was even more violent than I thought it would be. I also expected it to be suspenseful, and it definitely was. What I did not expect was humor, but it was full of humor as well. Cogburn's ramblings and his frequent squabbles with LaBoeuf were priceless.

When I walked out of the movie theater, I wanted to walk right back in again.

Some Quotes on Life and Writing

Pit your daily determination, discipline, grit, and sense of duty against the debilitating emotions of fear, dread, confusion, and procrastination.
-- Lloyd D. Newell. Oct. 17. 2010 ("Music and the Spoken Word")

There isn't time to talk about someday writing that short story or poem or novel. Slow down now, touch what is around you, and out of care and compassion for each moment and detail, put pen to paper and begin to write. - Natalie Goldberg

Don't quit. It's very easy to quit during the first 10 years. Nobody cares whether you write or not, and it's very hard to write when nobody cares one way or the other. You can't get fired if you don't write, and most of the time you don't get rewarded if you do. But don't quit. - Andre Dubus

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. -- Pablo Picasso

Nothing keeps a poet in his high singing mood like unappeasable hunger for unattainable food. -- Joyce Kilmer

Life began for me when I ceased to admire and began to remember. -- Willa Cather

I am always surprised at what I find in myself, and this to me is the most rewarding part of being a writer. -- Doris Lessing

I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top. ~English Professor (Name Unknown), Ohio University

The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes. ~Agatha Christie

Publication - is the auction of the Mind of Man. ~Emily Dickinson

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ~Arthur Polotnik

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. ~Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 19 August 1851

An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere. ~Gustave Flaubert

Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted. ~Jules Renard, Journal, 10 April 1895

I do not like to write - I like to have written. ~Gloria Steinem



And one exquisite stanza of a poem by Ezra Pound (not necessarily about writing):


What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross.
What thou lovest well shall not be reft from thee.
What thou lovest well is thy true heritage.

Change the Page...Write About Anything!

Late Sunday night, two stories due for the newspaper tomorrow -- the perfect time to blog. At least that is my M.O.

Anyway, I have one recent quote to share:


Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'
He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"

Love it! Utah's own Yogi Berra.

Here are some famous Yogi Berra quotes:
As a general comment on baseball: "90% of the game is half mental."[17]
On why he no longer went to Ruggeri's, a St. Louis restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."[18]
"It ain't over till it's over." In July 1973, when Berra's Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9½ games in the National League East; the Mets rallied to win the division title on the final day of the season.[19]
When giving directions to Joe Garagiola to his New Jersey home, which is accessible by two routes: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."[20]
On being the guest of honor at an awards banquet: "Thank you for making this day necessary."[21]
"It's déjà vu all over again". Berra explained that this quote originated when he witnessed Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris repeatedly hit back to back home runs in the Yankees' seasons in the early 1960s.[22]
"You can observe a lot by watching."[23]
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours."[24]
Responding to a question about remarks attributed to him that he did not think were his: "I really didn't say everything I said!"[25]
On the death of George Steinbrenner, the New York Times quotes Berra as saying "George and I had our differences, but who didn't?"[26]