Rating: 
Summary: Bold Acting for a One-Eyed Fat Man
Review: 1969 was a long time ago but I still remember was a joy it was to watch this movie on the big screen. John Wayne won his one and only Oscar for his performance as Rooster Cogburn and what a deserved award it was. Wayne had the foresight to see that this was a role tailer made for him. He lost out on the bidding but that turned out to be a blessing because Hal Wallis got the rights to the book. Hal also had Wayne in mind as the lead role. It's mere speculation both I'm confident that the Wallis/Hathaway production was better that what might have been. After all, how could this movie be any better? All of the acting is terrific even if it comes from someone so unlikely as Glen Campbell. Kim Darby turns out to be something of a one-shot wonder but this role was designed for her. Playing the adult-like child who tries to take on the world in search of justice, she emotes just the right assortment of confidence and vulnerability. The character actors, especially Strother Martin embellish the story every step of the way. The scenery captured so wonderfully by the expert camera work was absolutely inspiring at times. There was excitement, suspense, heroics, and more. There was a relationship that developed between Matty Ross (Kim Darby) and Rooster Cogburn that was touching in a different sort of way. Throughout the whole movie, served in generous helpings, was a most enjoyable sort of humor. Wayne was actually doing a satire of sorts on many of his previous characters. He projected an off-beat sort of image of what the Ringo Kid might have looked like at 60. The humor underscores an atmosphere that is somewhat surreal throughout the movie. It's as though someone wanted to portray a Western in which the characters all spoke and acted like they from a slightly different world. In this case that different world is the 1880's as opposed to modern-day Hollywood's image of the American West. There are times you think, "Did he REALLY say that?" but it works well and it gives the humor an added touch. Some may not see through it (or else, not care to see through it) and the movie may then appear as a combination of bad writing and over-acting. That would be too bad because there are a number of classic scenes throughout the film. I've watched the movie at least 20 times and I can't help but watch it again every time I come upon it while channel surfing. The ending scene is terrific. Who but the Duke could have said "Well, come see a fat old man sometime!"
Rating: 
Summary: Warts and all
Review: Portis' novel should have been left alone; translating it to the screen only highlights the failure of so many people to understand that, in the 19th Century (and probably earlier), written speech was always formal and correct - unlike spoken language. Do people really believe that the contraction wasn't invented until the 20th Century? All that being said, "True Grit" has two final acts that are wonderful - they got ME to buy a copy of the movie. While the final act is moving, the one just before is thrilling AND moving.
Rating:
Summary: True Grit has real grit
Review: True Grit was a film when I first saw it I didn't like. I thought it was dumb because of the main character who, by contrary to what a lot of people think, is Kim Darby. John Wayne is not the main character, he is the big name in the film, he is the character that defines this movie and makes it what it is, but he isn't the character you end up following. You follow Kim Darby from beginning to end, not John Wayne. Wayne doesn't enter the movie until twenty minutes into it. Although one would think this as a bad thing, it actually turns into a good thing. True Grit is and isn't an ordinary John Wayne western. It has his style in it, but the character Wayne plays is so very much enjoyable. How could you not like Rooster Cogburn? The character has personality, wisdom, yet with obvious weakness, and typical John Wayne grit. Cogburn is a drunkard, who is blundering, yet trustworthy. It's this trust we feel in his character that allows us to forgive his character's sorry state (or in lamen's terms: when he's drunk). Kim Darby almost steals the show from Wayne, but she doesn't. They instead create a balance, with a conflict between two personalities both different yet alike. Mattie Ross is her character and she is very precise, observant, demanding, stubborn and a natural take charge kinda gal. I like this personality of hers, it's so much refreshing from a lot of other female leads that are only in the movie for pathetic love interests. Glen Campbell is also in this film, and although I didn't care much for his character, he is sort of the dork of the film, not Darby. Campbell is often the brunt of many remarks and cracks from Cogburn or Ross, which makes me laugh. I'm fine with his character because he's full of flaws like the other two characters, there's nothing macho about him, his character is believable, which works for me. True Grit has plenty of humor, but also drama. I love this mixture of emotion, and it is so very apparent in Mattie Ross. Her character's purpose is to hunt down the man who shot and murdered her father, and although it is an emotional time for her and she is very determined to find him, she still remains in character the entire film. With Rooster Cogburn it's the same deal, he's hilarious one moment but full of drama and grit the next. This is character development. The plot is solid, although some of the shoot outs are a little unrealistic, such as Cogburn's famous charge at the end, it doesn't really matter. It's a story about the hunting down of a murderer and the grit and determination of a daughter and a U.S. Marshall to bring him to justice. My only complaint about this film is the scenery. This takes place in Missouri or in Texas, and yet this thing was filmed in Oregon. Obviously, there is a huge difference between Texas land from Oregon land. Mountains and forests and clean looking rivers are not aspects of Texas, trust me. So that's a little incorrect. This is now my favorite western, and my earlier perception of it has changed very much because now I understand Darby's character a whole lot better and I can see how she adds to this film. You want to see this film. You need to see this film if you are a Western lover. Grade: A+
Rating:
Summary: Super Movie!!
Review: This is a super movie. I have seen this movie up-teen times. I know the lines almost by heart. I have a copy of the book, the VHS, and the DVD. I have read the book twice. This is an exciting movie. If you have not seen this movie I suggest buying the movie or renting it. ...
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding trio of Wayne, Darby, and Campbell
Review: Plot summary: While on a business trip Mr. Ross is ruthlessly murdered by his hired hand, Tom Chaney. Ross's daughter, Mattie, sets out to have Chaney arrested for her father's murder. Complicating matters the killer has fled to federal territory and is thus outside the jurisdiction out of local law officers. Mattie takes the case to a Deputy Federal Marshall, Ruben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. The ornery deputy marshall, while initally repelled by Mattie, quickly grows very fond of her and soon takes the assignment to hunt Chaney in the federal territory he has taken asylum in. Mattie and Cogburn are joined in their search for her father's killer by a visiting Sgt. in the Texas Rangers named Le Boeuf. He wants Chaney for previously killing a Texas state senator. This hit film has some great moments beteen the Duke (John Wayne), Kim Darby, and Glen Campbell. The three of them as Cogburn, Ross, and Le Beouf (sp?) are dynamite together. Their the best things in the film. The Duke (always entertaining) is more so in this film essentially because he is so much more flamboyant than usual. In most films Wayne was kinda quiet and reserved. In this movie he is louder, more glib than usual, and much rougher around the edges. Some say he was parodying himself in this movie. I say he is doing a delightful reversal of his usual screen persona. Darby does very good in this film as well. She convincingly and dedicatedly plays a girl of great emotional strength. Perhaps even physical strenghth too. Her character Mattie Ross has to constantly mention Lawyer Daggitt and Tom Chaney but she doesn't get boring with the names. You get the feeling tracking down Chaney has really become Ross's life's ambition. As for the lawyer, well women in the 19th century needed some form of defense didn't they. I am now going to write something not an opinion. Campbell is from Texas in real life (just as his character is). His accent and even mannerisms are authentically Texan. That is beyond dispute. Also, he speaks his words very clearly and does not get lost in this movie. Someimes that happens to singers who take on acting assignments. Lastly about him, when he gets angry he is rather ugly. Note the scene when he starts horsewhipping Ross on the ground. He becomes very unlikable and that's clearly what the director wanted. There is no way his performance can be bad when he is doing so much right. The supporting cast of Jeff Corey, Strother Martin, Mark Lenard, Dennis Hopper, Robert Duvall, and Alfred Ryder ran the gamut from great to pretty good. As the murderer and main film bad guy Chaney, Corey is effectively nasty and slimey to boot. He also has some kind enough attitude bits and this is necessary as Chaney is supposed to be a man who hides out from the law pretending to be a decent laborer. Great! As the cunning and tough lawyer chewing Deputy Marshall Cogburn out on the stand, Ryder carries the whole scene and for a short time makes the film a powerful courtroom drama. Also great. Martin is wonderfully humorous as the growingly exasperated horse dealer who surprisingly finds Mattie much more han he can handle. A third great performance! Lenard as Mr. Ross has a short role but he does well enough with it. His character makes sense too. When he takes Chaney from the gambling table (just prior to getting killed) we feel his Ross had a right to do so. Chaney was working for him and thus honestly was somewhat in his control. Lenard quickly conveys the illusion of a good and strong willed person (guess Mattie takes after him). Good performance. Surprisingly the two pretty good performances are by future megacelebrities Hopper and Duvall. I know shock time! Hoppper is pretty damn good in his role as the wounded crook who gives our trio info. Problem? By the last scene of the movie you have forgotten his character ever existed. Not a good performance, but pretty damn good. Duvall only turns in a solidly pretty good role as other villain, Ned Pepper. I give him this because he yells pretty good when calling out to Cogburn to clear out or he (Ned) will kill he captured Mattie. Outside of this his performance isn't that good. He has no chemistry at all with any of the cast members at all. About that yelling scene I just wrote of. Did Duvall really meet Kim Darby in this movie? It's hard to believe his scenes with her weren't trick photography. His no-chemistry scenes with Corey are no better. His Ned doesn't even mix well with anybody in the scene where the other guy dies and Pepper takes his horse. Look everyone, if Duvall had not gone on to becomng such a film superstar would you all really care about his Pepper character that much? Probably not!
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne's finest performance-Great American Western!
Review: The Duke was great, Kim Darby was cute, and Glen Campbell sang wonderfully, remember he is a singer! I bought this DVD as a Christmas gift for an even bigger John Wayne fan. I was disapointed at the lack of any extras on the DVD. Not something I usually gripe about, but I don't consider a trailer and a menu with chapter markers, much less a "Widescreen presentation" to be extras!!! Those are standard features on most DVD's. I have noticed Paramount to be woefully lacking in this department on the Paramount DVD's that I have collected so far. Frankly, it reminds me of the airlines, the big carriers think they have a monopoly, in this case its the big studios ... . Well, I realize the Duke isn't around today to do a running commentary, but how about Kim Darby or some of the production people? This is the whole point of DVD's greater capacity! Paramount can do better, Film rating A, DVD rating B/Video-B/Audio-C/extras, overall rating B- Best Wishes.
Rating:
Summary: A Revelation on DVD
Review: I recently received this movie as a gift. I had seen it many times over the years on television and had always enjoyed it. The DVD transfer on my set is fantastic! I saw details, and heard things, that I'd never noticed on television presentations. The most striking to me, though, is that the length of the movie is 127 minutes. As we know, ordinarily a movie like this will be allocated 2 hours on a TV schedule. That's 7 minutes lost. If it is broadcast on commercial TV, deduct time for commercials. That takes another 10 minutes, at minimum. I saw scenes on the DVD I'd never seen on broadcast. It's far too many years for me to remember whether I saw them on theatrical release, but it was indeed a surprise and a pleasure to see them here! There is little I can add to the prior reviewer's assessment. It's tough for me to say which is Wayne's best performance, he had so many and some so different. However, as noted before, this film represents John Wayne at his Western best. He couldn't have done this role to best advantage at any younger age. I enjoyed the performance of Kim Darby, with her self-centered prudishness and confidence. Glen Campbell was the weakest actor, as to be expected since he wasn't an actor. Even with repeated viewings, this is a movie to enjoy for its own sake, and to enjoy great acting and beautiful scenery.
Rating:
Summary: The *BEST* John Wayne Movie!!!!
Review: In my opinion this movie is the *BEST* movie that John Wayne ever made. "True Grit" is my favorite movie that John Wayne did. I have "True Grit" on VHS & on DVD. John Wayne, Glen Campbell & Kim Darby are fantastic. Once I watched the movie I had to buy the book. The movie pretty much follows the book. If you haven't watched "True Grit" I suggest renting it from your local video store. I also suggest watching "The Sons Of Katie Elder" & "The Shootist" both movies star John Wayne. Movie/Book Spoiler: One of the most memorable lines from the movie/book is when Rooster is in the court room and he says "I always go backwards when I'm backing away."
Rating:
Summary: The Duke is alive and well in this video
Review: The late John Wayne is one of the most famous American screen actors of all time. See this film and you can see why he finally won a well-deserved Oscar for his performance. We are all fortunate that he lived long enough to perform in this film; he underwent lung cancer surgery a few years earlier and he almost didn't make it. This is also the first (and last) appearance of country singer Glen Campbell in a movie. Campbell is one of the most successful country recording artists with many gold records to his name; his performance in this movie isn't the greatest, but it's adequate enough for a supporting role. Whether you're a Wayne fan from years ago or just discovering his films now, this video should be in your collection.
Rating:
Summary: The Duke's best...
Review: John Wayne stars as Marshal Rooster Cogburn, a one-eyed, hard-drinking, straight-shooting, cantankerous lawman teamed with a feisty kid (Kim Darby) and a conceited Texas Ranger (Glen Campbell) to bring to justice one Lucky Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall). Wayne won a much-deserved Oscar for this performance. This, along with "The Quiet Man" prove the guy could really act. It's a shame he didn't get to more often.
"True Grit" benefits from a sharp script with a real feel for period dialogue... and some cranky characters with very individualistic points of view. Of course, the Duke's Cogburn leads the way, but Kim Darby, in her film debut, fearlessly jousts with all comers and generally comes out ahead. She's Cogburn's match in the grit department, headstrong and stubborn. "She reminds me of me," Cogburn says with obvious glee as the girl daringly crosses a swiftly-moving river on horseback. Duvall makes a redoubtable villian in his short screentime- not evil, exactly. Just hardbitten and intent on pursuing crime, and strangely fatalistic. Even with such well-observed characters, the film doesn't lack for Western action; it eschews gunfight cliches in favor of realism. ... Gorgeously shot in authentic outdoors locations by director Henry Hathaway, "True Grit" also features an outstanding Elmer Bernstein score. Even if you're a Western-hater, just focus on the characters and an excellent tale. This is just flat-out a first-rate movie.
Look for cameos by Jay Silverheels, Wilford Brimley, plus small roles well-played by Strother Martin and Jeff Corey (Wild Bill Hickock in "Little Big Man").
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