Comments on: The ‘Coen bounce’: which actors got it, and which didn’t?

By: libtree09

libtree09 — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:38:36 +0000

There are films that never should be remade…Red River with James Arness? A remake of LadyKillers? Sometimes I think the making of a great film is not just the assembling of good actors and director but a serendipitous collision of talent from top to bottom in a certain time and space that can never be improved on.

Now True Grit never lived up to its odd novel and Wayne was better than usual…which wasn’t hard at that time…the Shootist a much better film for him…but the tone of True Grit seemed forced…so it is a film that could be improved on and as one who loves westerns…I look forward to a Coen take.

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:55:03 +0000

Wonderful observations, Libtree, thanks for bringing this to the table. I hadn’t thought of the perspective, so I’m glad you did!

I too find it somewhat sad that they hit a point in their career where I guess the only thing they could, or wanted to, make was a do-over of another film. And when they did it, as with Ladykillers, I couldn’t really see the point. Why? Why spend all that time and effort remaking this without, as you said, bringing something new to the table. But every time I think they’re down for the count, they come back stronger than ever. I agree about their latest; it’s an odd little film, perfectly crafted in its own way, and certainly much better put together than anything from their “middle period.” After their success with No Country, and the cast they’re putting together for True Grit, even though it’s a remake, I’m holding out hope.

We’ll be hearing from those crazy wrestlers, and I don’t mean a post card.

By: libtree09

libtree09 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:31:17 +0000

During the eighties I began to notice that the new crop of actors were pretty…not all but it seemed that Television was looking for stars that resembled models…many were models…not that weren’t good looking guys in the classics…Cary Grant, some cool latin lover types, Olivier, Heston, john wayne before the drinking…but Stewart was gawky, Gable had weird ears, Tracy was pudgy and had freckles, Cagey a scrimp, EG Robinson, Bogart was…well an interesting face. What they projected in their performances were what the directors wanted…what they brought to the table.

And that is why I believe the Coen Bros. look to…character actors are actors…they work…often and well…and they deserve to be recognized and rescued…McDormand as a leading lady…sexy? Hell yes.

All of their selections can act and act well…they serve the script and I salute their casting.

I find it depressing they now have to stoop to remakes…

I have been down on them lately…but I finally saw A Serious Man… brilliant script, flawless execution, funny and truthful and depressing as hell and wonderful…they still have it…will Hollywood let them use it?

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:01 +0000

Hey Scott,
That’s cool. I’ve heard nothing about that being a possibility for the near future. They’re adapting The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, the Chabon novel, next, which should be very very interesting. And a remake of Gambit (which I fear could end up like their remake of Ladykillers), and maybe another black comedy with George Clooney. Other than that, I got nothing! However, they often write and then sit on a script for years, so you never know.

By: Scott Bowen

Scott Bowen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:33:25 +0000

Mike — In my interview with Christopher Dickey, a month ago, he and I talked about the Coen Brothers considering but then deciding not to do a film version of James Dickey’s last novel, “To the White Sea.” That process got as far as talk about casting, as I recall, back in the late 1990s. Are there any rumors about the Coens possibly giving the project another try, or someone else taking it up?