SYNOPSIS (novel): Charles Portis has been acclaimed as one of America's foremost comic writers. True Grit is his most famous novel — first published in 1968 — and the basis for the movie of the same name starring John Wayne (for which he won his only Academy Award). It tells the story of Mattie Ross, a fourteen-year-old girl from Dardanelle, Arkansas, who sets out in the winter of eighteen seventy-something to avenge the murder of her father.

Since not even Mattie (who is no self-doubter) would ride into Indian Territory alone, she convinces one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshall, to tag along with her. As Mattie outdickers and outmaneuvers the hard-bitten types in her path, as her performance under fire makes them eat their words, her indestructible vitality and harsh innocence by turns amuse, horrify, and touch the reader. What happens — to Mattie, to the gang of outlaws unfortunate enough to tangle with her — rings with the dramatic rightness of legend and the marvelous overtones, the continual surprises, of personality.

True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight, and unflinching, like Mattie herself, who tells the story a half-century later in a voice that sounds strong and sure enough to outlast us all.

CAST

Jeff Bridges - Marshall Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn

Josh Brolin - Tom Chaney (the murderer)

Matt Damon - La Bouef

??? - Mattie Ross

NOTES: 5th March 2008- The world's most awful newspaper, the UK's Daily Mail, is reporting that the Coens are set to work on True Grit. Apparently they are to adapt the original Charles Portis novel as opposed to remaking the John Wayne movie. "The book recounts the girl's story," Joel apparently told said newspaper. "In the John Wayne film, she was played older. We want her to be her real age - it's her story!"

In June 2009 either Brad Pitt or George Clooney were rumoured to be starring in the Coen's take on True Grit. YKFK news story here.

In September 2009 it seemed that the True Grit adaptation was almost certainly next up for the Coen brothers. Firstly, Jeff Bridges was reported as being in talks. Then the Coens themselves semi-confirmed the news.

In October 2009 it was widely reported (starting with Variety of course) that Josh Brolin would re-team with the Coens in True Grit and along for the ride too would be Matt Damon. I'm sure you will agree that so far that is an awesome cast! YKFK news piece here.

Early November 2009 seemed to confirm that True Grit was definitely next as casting calls for the 14 year-old girl, Mattie Ross, who is the focus of the Coen's take on the Charles Portis novel went out.

The movie goes into production in March 2010 for a release late in the same year.

"A SERIOUS MAN" MICHAEL STUHLBARG RICHARD KIND CASTING BY ELLEN CHENOWETH RACHEL TENNER

EDITED BY RODERICK JAYNES DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ROGER DEAKINSASC,BSC EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS TIM BEVAN ERIC FELLNER ROBERT GRAF WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY JOEL COEN AND ETHAN COEN