Comments on: True Grit and True Commerce

By: Jule Herbert

Jule Herbert — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:46:30 +0000

Great review. I saw the Wayne version on cable the other night — I had not seen it in years. Now here’s a chance to actually go to a movie at a real movie theater.

Doug: You are now taken up the torch the “Mr. First Nighter” of 70s fame. Keep it up.

By: David J. Sanchez

David J. Sanchez — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:32:10 +0000

I will definitely make the time to go see this latest version of “True Grit” after having read this article by Doug French, and how the Coen brothers have tried successfully to follow the script of the book as it was written. To be quite honest though when the latest version of this film was first released, I thought that Hollywood was attempting to cash in on Jeff Bridges as he had only last year received an Oscar for his role as a “washed-up alcoholic has been Western singer” who was barely able to make ends meet, until he meets a single mom who gives him the confidence he needs to become successful. I also feel that “the Duke”, John Wayne, remains in the pantheon of the greats from another Hollywood of the past. He did such a terrific job in the original “True Grit” movie, which even though it did not follow the book as well as the latest movie, was a classic as were all his films. He was a true patriot and wholesome American, with solid values, areas that are truly lacking in this age with corrupt politicians solely in it for themselves feeding at the “public trough”. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised by the results of this latest version, when I see this latest rendition of “True Grit”. It sounds like it is well worth the time and the money. Sincerely, Dave S.

By: Paul Woodward

Paul Woodward — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:04:32 +0000

Thanks Doug for the fine review! I’ve always been a great admirer of the Duke as well, and have been curious about seeing this new movie. I’ll be sure not to miss it.

By: Havvy

Havvy — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:54:44 +0000

For me, there is a hope that we will see better times. But still, grit is something that is needed.

By: Jesse Forgione

Jesse Forgione — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:00:39 +0000

I loved that she says Tom Chaney robbed her father of “his life, his horse, and two California gold pieces,” then sets off to collect those four items.

By: Gil Guillory

Gil Guillory — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:10:26 +0000

The horsetrading scene alone is worth the price of admission. Excellent movie. Great review, Mr French!

By: A. Viirlaid

A. Viirlaid — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:17:46 +0000

Thanks to Doug French, I am now going to “have” to see the new movie. No, really, Doug, thanks for the overview.

The closest word for ‘True Grit’ in Finnish is “SISU”. I thought of this word as I was reading.

In raising issues of money and commerce, this ‘review’ by Doug French, also managed to allude to the uniqueness of the period, its morals, its worldview, and also to the firmament within which the story is set.

This was a time when people and their money both had more ‘SISU’ than seemingly either do today.

The time had not fully ‘flowered’ when the Federal Reserve had done as much damage as it did later.

People still respected money for its worth and respected the fruits of hard work.

Cash had yet to be seen as “trash”.

This was a time when justice was a meaningful concept. People who cheated and gained unjustly at the expense of others were rightly seen as villains.

Today Money itself has no SISU because of the way it is abused by The FED. That abuse teaches many of us to act immorally. This view encourages parents to steer their children to Financial Engineering or Financial Gerrymandering as a worthwhile career.

There will be no Happy and Just ending for our time.