True Grit ***

Director: Henry Hathaway

Year: 1969

Based on novel by: Charles Portis

Adapted by: Marguerite Roberts

Cinematographer: Lucien Ballard

John Wayne won best actor Oscar. Glen Campbell could have won the worst actor. A good script with great potential not capitalized upon by the director. Perfect candidate for a remake if put in the hands of skilled directors... I'm looking at you Coen Bros.

Some funny bits, some classic John Wayne lines like "I was aiming at his upper lip." A cameo by a young Robert Duvall. Some really interesting characters, but what should have been the heavy hitting almost ending was almost comically tragic... and then a much too comforting denuement indicate sloppy directing. During the first 2 acts, the scenes are hit and miss, even lines and shots within scenes are hit and miss. An inconsistent direction.

But a good movie none-the-less, on the force of the characters and story, and John Wayne.