Monday, January 3, 2011

The King's Speech and True Grit.

Went to see The King's Speech on Sunday. (I asked for The King's English at the box office --- doh, I knew I was going to do that...)

Good old-fashioned movie.

I thought it ironic it probably has more swear words than any movie you'll see this year.

And that the f-words and sh-words are hilarious and almost totally innocent.

**********

Off to see True Grit.

Later:

I loved this movie. Best movie I've seen in ages. Couldn't imagine how they could improve enough on the old movie to make it truly unique, but I was wrong.

Some reviewer I read said it wasn't a 'funny' Coen brothers. What movie did he see?

It really felt like I was up in the woods in Central Oregon.

A star is born in the girl -- she was apparently only 12, playing 14, and she was pitch perfect. Matt Damon really has become a good actor. Jeff Bridges is Jeff Bridges -- and John Wayne -- and Rooster Cogburn.

17 comments:

H. Bruce Miller said...

Saw "True Grit" on Sunday, loved it. It was ... errr ... dare I say this ... oh well ... grittier than the older version, and I think that was an improvement. And I was glad they kept the scene where Rooster takes the reins in his teeth, yells "Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!" and rides down on the four outlaws with both guns blazing. Glorious stuff!

(BTW here's a slight change I wonder how many people noticed: Jeff Bridges wears the eye patch on his right eye, John Wayne had it on his left. Not that it makes a damn bit of difference.)

Unknown said...

I too thought it was fantastic. And just to set the record straight, I accidentally caught the first few minutes of the John Wayne version, and it was gawdawful. Same excellent period dialogue, atrocious acting though the young lady did her best. John Wayne -- ackkkk. But Jeff Bridges obviously was having the time of his life playing Rooster. I loved it! I thought he would have a hard time outdoing Crazy Heart, but he went far beyond.

Also loved the King's Speech. Colin Firth, oh my, those dimples (not until the very end) and still he can act. I hadn't heard anything about this film except that Colin Firth & Helen Bonham-Carter were in it. So every time a corner was turned and another famous Brit actor popped up was a delight.

This is more movies (have also seen the latest Harry Potter and a little-heralded black English comedy called 'Tamara Drewe' in one 30-day period than I have seen in many years. All good. What fun. Maybe I'll start going to movies again.

Duncan McGeary said...

Tamara Drewe is based on a comic which was based on Thomas Hardy's Far From The Maddening Crowd.

Just thought I'd say.

Unknown said...

I saw that it was based on a 'graphic novel' but I don't really know what that is. Comic book?

H. Bruce Miller said...

"I thought he would have a hard time outdoing Crazy Heart, but he went far beyond."

I thought the performance was kind of like Bad Blake transported back to the Wild West and equipped with some guns and an eye patch. But it worked.

"Thomas Hardy's Far From The Maddening Crowd."

It's actually titled "Far From the Madding Crowd." "Madding" meaning crazy or frenzied.

Duncan McGeary said...

Madding -- Maddening.

Dammit! That's twice I've made that mistake just in the four years I've done this blog!

Duncan McGeary said...

Graphic Novel = longer comic book. Words and pictures, or these days, the story-board to a movie...

Unknown said...

So, kind of for poor readers? and kids?

Unknown said...

It worked for John Wayne, and he couldn't sing. :)

Duncan McGeary said...

"So, kind of for poor readers? and kids?"

i will not rise to the bait, i will not rise to the bait, i will not rise to the bait, i will not.......

Unknown said...

Well no, sorry, I wasn't trying to be provocative. I really don't know anything about this. I read comics as a kid but kind of left them behind long ago. That was just a guess. Wrong, apparently

Duncan McGeary said...

Well, you don't want to mistake the Form for the Content.

It's a bit like saying you garden because you're poor, for the food.

Or because you're too dull and stolid to have a more interesting hobby, like biking or chess.

Or because you're too stupid to have a real job. (Anyone can mow a lawn and pull weeds....)

I could go into a very long explanation. But let me just say, the very best and most moving memoir I've read in the last five years was a graphic novel memoir called Fun Home.

Duncan McGeary said...

That sounded a little attacking, didn't it?

I didn't mean it to. Ouch.

I know you and I both love gardening, and was trying to show how it can be seen from the outside, but it sounded like I was calling names and I really wasn't.

Darn it.

Duncan McGeary said...

Really, I can't BELIEVE how far off the tone sounded from what I intended. I was reading it to my employee and was horrified.

No offense?

Unknown said...

Hey, no worries, Duncan. I started it :)

H. Bruce Miller said...

"Dammit! That's twice I've made that mistake just in the four years I've done this blog!"

Well shape up, dammit!

Duncan McGeary said...

I will, dammit!