There are plenty of actors I wish would work with the Coen brothers again: Tim Robbins; Nicolas Cage; Beth Grant; William Forsythe; Tony Shalhoub; Philip Seymour Hoffman. Of course, the one that most of us Coen fans want the most is "The Dude" himself, Jeff Bridges. Well we're in luck, because the "Big Lebowski" star is in talks to join Joel and Ethan Coen for their remake of the 1969 comedic western "True Grit," according to Variety.
Based on Charles Portis' novel, the original "True Grit" starred an eye patch-wearing John Wayne as 'Rooster' Cogburn, an aging U.S. marshal who helps a 14-year-old girl find the man who killed her father. Also along for the ride in the original is country singer Glen Campbell, who additionally performed the film's Oscar-nominated theme song. "Grit" is mostly remembered for being the film that finally won Wayne his only Academy Award, which many fans consider to be one of those career-honoring Oscars.
Bridges will obviously be playing Cogburn, a role that likely won't much resemble his iconic "Lebowski" character. But at least it'll be a true return to the Coens' brand of filmmaking. The announcement of the reunion comes via the Toronto International Film Festival, where Bridges is promoting his work in Grant Heslov's "The Men Who Stare at Goats." That movie is receiving mixed buzz after its first screening yesterday, but many critics have acknowledged the film's similarity in tone to a Coen brothers movie. Bridges' performance is even said to be "the Dude all over again."
The Coens are also at TIFF with "A Serious Man," and as long as they're taking some time to cast "True Grit," I'd like to suggest they talk to "Whip It" star Ellen Page for the role of the girl. She may seem a bit old, but she's around the same age Kim Darby was in the original. If she recycles her look from "Hard Candy," Page will easily pass as another tomboyish teen. As for Campbell's character, the Coens should probably aim a little younger for the role, especially if they keep in that scene where he tells the underage girl he'd like to kiss her.
Who else is excited about this "Lebowski" reunion? Do you look forward to seeing "The Dude" with an eye patch? Who would you like to see riding along with Bridges in this version?
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