Jeff Bridges is no John Wayne

When I went to Paranormal Activity 2 this weekend, I saw the first trailer I’ve seen for the Joel and Ethan Coen remake of the 1969 classic John Wayne western, True Grit. A grizzled Jeff Bridges is taking on the role of U.S. Marshall Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, a role for which Wayne won his only Oscar. (He had been nominated earlier in his career for The Sands of Iwo Jima, but lost at that time to Broderick Crawford.

Now, arguably, Bridges is at a similar point in his career. He’s been nominated for two Oscars (Starman and Crazy Heart) and won only once (Crazy Heart). But Bridges is no John Wayne.

I’m a fan of the Coen Brothers; but even just in the previews, it’s easy to detect that this modern True Grit will be far more violent than Henry Hathaway’s classic ever thought of being. Sure, Wayne was often outspoken and said some things that ought never have been said during his infamous 1971 Playboy interview, and he needed a good colon cleansing as a reprimand for it. Yet overall, his legacy is a positive and pro-American one.

I suppose it’s inevitable that even John Wayne’s films are remade; but there’s no way even an actor as skilled as Bridges can ever outdo Wayne’s only Oscar-winning performance.