Cowboy up!

My Darling Clementine was on last weekend on AMC, and couldn't help myself I had to watch it again. If you haven't seen it, get a copy. Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Ward Bond, Gabby Hayes. Of course it is the story of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the shoot out at the O.K.Corral. Maybe Westerns aren't your thing but just watch it for the masterpiece John Ford created, and if you say you don't like black & white movie, try this one, what Ford does with lights and darks and shadows will make forget you are watching in black & white. But this isn't about waxing on about My Darling Clementine, it is the jumping off point for today's post.

Reading the history of Wyatt Earp you know that he was not without his brothers, Virgil, Morgan, and James. And the most recent incarnation of Morgan Earp was played by Mr. Nichols. How can you forget a thumbsucking Morgan Earp? Austin, I know it was Milch's vision, but seriously what would Ward Bond have thought?

Now Austin loves Westerns, comes from Texas, can ride a horse (which we saw in Deadwood, for once proving he wasn't lying, unlike some of the others he's claimed - and a Texan lying about horse riding, that could getcha in some deep shit) and has played an iconic figure in history of the Old West. What's a boy to do now? Hook up with some Jewish cowboys. Wait hasn't he done that? Not talking about that, Brothers, wait ... no no that's another movie with... Hell... try and get a meeting with the Coen Brothers who are going Western.

Many have talked about Austin fitting into the Coen Brothers movies before and this one, well, I think might be it. Joel and Ethan Coen are retelling True Grit. It is not the traditional remake, would expect anything traditional? It will be more faithful to the Charles Portis book than the 1969 picture staring John Wayne.

Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old tomboy, Mattie Ross, on a mission of "justice", which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, "Rooster" Cogburn, because he has "grit", and a reputation of getting the job done. The two are joined by a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, who is looking for the same man for a separate murder in Texas. They track her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. The Coen Brothers will retelling the story from the girls perspective.

Trivia to impress your friends: The 1969 movie was the only Academy Award John Wayne ever received, for his performance as Marshall "Rooster" Cogburn.

So listen up Mr.Nichols get on the phone and get your agent on top of La Bouef. Glen Campbell,who Wayne hand picked for the part, got a Golden Globe for it and he was from Arkansas. What could a Texas boy do with it. And what Texas boy wouldn't want to play a Texas Ranger?

Austin quirkiness would fit in the the bandwagon of players the Coens like to set up shop with. Of course the Coen Brothers you know would have the same reaction to the studio execs who'd suggest to cast Shia LaBeouf as La Boeuf as the rest of us. "You squirrel-headed bastard!"

Rooster Cogburn: Damn that Texan - when you need him, he's dead.

LaBoeuf: I ain't dead yet, you bushwhacker. Hang on.

Variety- Coen Brothers to adapt True Grit


Austin over at Southern Gothic
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