Composition I Compare/Contrast Paper

  Not in anyway giving anyone permission to plagiarize or copy this and also not verifying the authenticity of any of the information. Also note that there are probably no sources listed and I am not one myself, so don't quote me. This is just some of my homework; thought it might be interesting to someone:


English Composition I

20 June 2011

Which True Grit Has More “True Grit?”

True Grit was first released in 1969 starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell, and Kim Darby. The movie follows teenager Mattie Ross as she travels across Arkansas and Oklahoma in the late 1800s to avenge her father’s death. Mattie is assisted along the way by Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn, who she hired because of his “true grit,” and Texas Ranger La Boeuf, who is searching for the killer because of a separate murder in Texas. In 2010, True Grit was remade starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld, this time using modern direction and technology. Even though both versions of the movie True Grit are good, the 2010 remake is more entertaining and believable because of its improved characters, direction, and cinematography.

One of True Grit’s greatest strengths is its interesting, well-developed characters. The acting performances in the original version are comparable with the best of their time and show the talent of the cast. However, due to the nature of the film and what the actors are portraying, the performances are often unconvincing, making them somewhat boring. For example, at times it is impossible to forget that John Wayne is playing Rooster Cogburn and not himself. In the new version of the movie, an improved script and new cast added more depth and humor to the characters. The acting performances were convincing and fitting for the characters. Jeff Bridges used a gruff voice and appearance to make Rooster Cogburn seem like the battle-hardened, tough character that he is supposed to be. The new version’s realistic and convincing characters make it the more engaging and believable version of the movie[G2] .

The characters were not the only thing improved in True Grit. The direction of the 2010 version by the Coen brothers makes considerable improvements over the 1969 version directed by Henry Hathaway. The original version has obvious errors in continuity throughout the movie. Even though the movie is set in Arkansas and Oklahoma, the backgrounds often look more like The Sound of Music, with tall, snow-capped mountain ranges in view. In some scenes of the movie, the setting is obviously at night, like when the characters stop to make a campfire, but the scene is filmed in broad daylight. The costumes, character appearances, and living conditions are also completely unrealistic-looking for the late 1800s. Some of the costumes look like they were bought in a thrift store in the 1960s and the characters and scenes look clean and tidy. The 2010 remake significantly improves on the continuity between how the locations and times are presented in the story and how they appear. The period effects such as costumes and character appearances are more realistic looking, featuring appropriately dirty characters with scars and missing teeth. The setting issues are also corrected due to more authentic-looking filming locations and high-definition filming at the appropriate times of day. The improvements in direction make the 2010 version by the Coen brothers more realistic-looking overall.

Like the improvements with its characters and direction, the new version of True Grit benefits from better cinematography. Both versions of True Grit feature fast-moving action scenes and story-building scenes of dialogue. In the original version, some of the action scenes can be hard to follow because of how they were filmed. During the final shootout scene, John Wayne is riding a horse and the camera-person following him is also on horseback. While that approach may add some realistic perspective, it sometimes makes it difficult to follow the action. In the scenes taking place inside houses, the rooms often seem especially bright considering the time period’s lack of electricity. In the new version of the movie, the action scenes are smooth and easy to follow. The lighting and camera angles look more natural and make the story flow better. Because of improved cinematography, the remake of True Grit is more natural-looking overall and is easier to follow than the original.

True Grit is an excellent story, whether being judged by the original movie from 1969 or the remake from 2010. Both movies represent the best qualities of the movies of their respective times. When compared, the 2010 version stands out because of its improvements in characters, direction, and cinematography. The changes in the new movie make it more realistic, engaging, and believable. In other words, the 2010 remake of True Grit really does have more “true grit.”