Behind The Scenes Video: The Coen Brothers' True Grit
I’m wildly curious aboutTrue Grit, the new version of theCharles Portisnovel currently lensing under the supervision ofJoel and Ethan Coen. For the past couple weeks I’ve resisted posting the many set photos that have hit the internet as the film shoots in New Mexico and Texas. Mostly because they didn’t show much; you could see old west building facades and some period-appropriate costumes, but there wasn’t anything that really suggested what the movie would look like.
Now there is some video, but the useful factor here is that it shows some brief glimpses of theyoung, mostly unknown actressHailee Steinfeld, who plays the story’s heroine, Mattie Ross.
On Location Vacationshas embedded a handful of clips from the film’s set in Granger, TX, a small town northeast of Austin. You can see the aforementioned old west sets, a steam engine, horses and dirt streets, and the relatively conservative dress that seems to comprise a section of the film’s costuming.
Looking at the way Mattie is dressed, it isn’t hard at all to see howthe notion of using Protestant hymns for the scoremakes total sense. Actually, looking at these outdoor shots, I love that idea more and more, and really hope it sticks as the film moves forward.
You can’t really see too much in these clips, and that’s a good thing. For the most part, I’d rather just wait for the teaser to see how the Coens are really putting this together — the behind the scenes glimpses are fun, but I’m much more excited to see this world through the lens of Roger Deakins' camera than via an onlooker’s phone or consumer camera.
We won’t have to wait long, either, as the film, which also featuresJosh Brolin,Matt Damon,Barry PepperandJeff Bridges, isscheduledfor a Christmas Day release.
On Location Vacationshas some photos, too, which give a few better close-ups of the set.
