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Go west, Coen Brothers
Published: 3/23/2009 3:10 PM
Last Modified: 3/23/2009 3:10 PM

The Coen Brothers are making a western, and not just any western, but one set partly in Indian territory and one of the cinema’s more revered oaters.

“True Grit,” the 1969 western for which John Wayne won his Academy Award as best actor playing drunken, crotchedy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, is the film that the “No Country for Old Men” pair is at work on adapting. But you can apparently forget that movie version.

Reports are that the Coens intend to retain the focus of the novel by Arkansas native Charles Portis, whose story centered on a 14-year-old girl and was told from her point of view, as she accompanied lawmen in the search for an outlaw who killed her pa.

That would be in contrast to the 1969 version that obviously had Wayne front-and-center, leading the girl (Kim Darby’s character in the first film) and a Texas Ranger (another Arkansas native, Glen Campbell, had this role) in this dangerous quest.

Is it possible the Coen Brothers would do some filming in our neck of the woods, at least in Arkansas if not in our state? It is very possible.

After starting with “Blood Simple” 25 years ago (set in Texas and shot in Texas), the duo has done location shoots like “Raising Arizona” in Arizona, “Fargo” in Minnesota and “O Brother, Where Art Thou” in Mississippi.
Stay tuned.

For a look at the original "True Grit," consider this:

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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