IT AIN'T EASY FINDING "TRUE GRIT" IN THE WILD WEST...

I had, I do believe, made a loose resolution of sorts at the beginning of the year that I was going to watch a lot more of the old classics this year. I inadvertently started catching up with this resolution when I purchased True Grit in a charity shop thinking, for some reason completely incomprehensible to me now, thought it was something completely different and a lot more recent. I actually started watching it on my way up to Dream Factory on the train, a rather fitting return to creative cinematic roots. I really, truly should watch more westerns. They are the grandparents of so many action films in so many ways… And damn good fun to boot.

True Grit is the story of Mattie Ross (Kim Darby). Her family is struck by tragedy when her beloved father is killed and the scoundrel who killed him runs off with the family savings. Mattie however, is a strong and resourceful girl – and a true daddy’s girl to boot. She is not going to let the fact that she is a mere child stop her avenging her father. She may not be able to chase the man down and arrest him herself – but she knows to find the man who can! Enter Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne, who actually won an Academy Award for his performance), a wily old U.S. Marshal who is both up for and capable of pretty much anything given the right monetary (and liquid) encouragement. Now, asking Rooster to track this man down is one thing. Getting him to accept that Mattie will be coming with him on the journey is another matter altogether. And then there is the “small” matter of the marshal from Texas who will neither be shaken off their trail nor take no for an answer who is hunting for the same man for a completely different set of crimes… Things are about to seriously hot up – old Rooster’d better have his wits about him!

I have really mixed emotions about this film on some levels. I mean take Madeline. She is the typical rather outdated “perfect” heroine with no faults at all. I mean yeah, I guess it can be counted as at least a stroke of originality that she is a tom boy. She has short hair like a boy, can ride and use a gun. But as far as her morals and the way she act goes she is, basically, far too perfect to be believed. Then again this was 1969 so I guess heroines with realistic character flaws were rather thin on the ground. It didn’t stop her annoying me all the way through the film though. You know, in the way you get annoyed with the nerd in class that constantly gets top marks. And before you berate me for saying this, back in the day I WAS that nerd. So I actually can say things like that.  

And I mean of course one can’t really go comparing the way things were (or at least the way they were portrayed) back in the day to these days or you’d just go mad. I mean for example, call her “baby sister” all the way throughout or not, was I the only one who got slightly concerned about the “friendship” between Rooster and Mattie? Oh come on! We live in an age where veteran entertainers who were the joys of our childhood are accused of child abuse (I don’t want to name names and go into discussions, UK readers will know what I am talking about)  don’t tell me you didn’t think of that at all from a 21^st century perspective! But then again, I guess it was a slightly more innocent age when these things – if not uncommon – were definitely not discussed so much. Plus of course True Grit is very much a family film of its time. And for all the components of a classic western that it is (It’s a John Wayne movie for God’s sakes! ) this is very much like the children’s films of yore where the young heroine (usually of the age of the target audience – and hand on heart I couldn’t swear to how old Mattie is supposed to be here although she still lives at home and very much is her father’s baby (as opposed to a woman of marriageable age) so she can’t be THAT old) completes amazing feats with the aid of a larger and stronger yet bumbling sidekick. In this case the amazing Rooster Cogburn who for all his talent and bravado clearly does not have half Maddie’s skills at planning, foresight and determination and oh, scandal of scandals; HE DRINKS WISKEY. The horror.

As I write these I am genuinely not sure if it is my complete desensitization to violence and “hard hitting” movies that has prompted me but honestly, to me, True Grit felt like a movie for young adults. I would actually say children but there adult themes such as death (not least the death of Maddie’s father), drink, gambling and cheating so maybe not very young children but especially in this age of smartphones and data overload pre-teens could hack it. Ironically enough they may even find bits of it naïve. I’m thinking you as an adult will almost definitely find things to smile knowingly at. But is this a bad thing? Not if you’re me. It’s definitely one for the fans of John Wayne, westerns and old movies to gather round. Definitely one to watch with your slightly older kids. It’s not going to change your world and your philosophy but if you want to escape the 21^st century real world for an hour or two, Rooster Cogburn is your man!

PS If you watch the film look out for Dennis Hopper in a tiny part as Moon one of the motely gang Mattie and Rooster are chasing!

"A FEW DOLLARS MORE" - COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH!

I’m getting slightly hooked on these westerns. I really am. I totally see why there is a whole bunch of people out there who watch the old classics ad nauseam. Oh don’t worry; I won’t be subjecting you guys to the same treatment. But a few of the good ones will crop up in the blog now and again. The ones that are good, cinematically relevant you know… I kinda started watching Sergio Leone movies mainly because Quentin Tarantino is a fan (yes, I’m sad. But you see, Quentin Tarantino is a guy I am a MASSIVE fan of so I was curious. Plus Sergio Leone isn’t exactly an obscure character no one has heard of so I wanted to see what the fuss was about). Anyway. I now know what the fuss is about. I will attempt to convey said reasons.

We are, once again in the Wild West. When men were men and only those with sharp wits but even sharper shooting skills could survive. There are many ways you could use your wits and gun to live, and one of them is bounty hunting. And the bounty hunting stakes sky-rocket one fine day, when an infamous bandit and gang leader, Indio, escapes from prison. Munco (Clint Eastwood) and Colonel Douglas Mortimer ( Lee Van Cleef) cross paths and swords (well, guns) when they both start chasing the same man so an uneasy truce is formed between these two lone wolves. But as the chase continues deep into the heart of the desert and loyalties are tested over and over again, one thing begins to become painfully clear: Only one of the bounty hunters is actually after the bounty. The other one has a slightly different agenda ready for Indio.

I am actually pleasantly surprised by these films over and over again. We are – or at least I am – slightly prejudiced into thinking these “old” films are rather simplistic. They don’t have any special effects – but this we already knew – and they don’t have any “depth” in the story. You know, black vs white. Goodies vs Baddies. It HAS to be boring, right? Well, no. Not really.

I mean yes, it’s true, a lot of these films are “black and white”, but this is still often an occurrence, especially in mainstream cinema. It is a plain and simple fact that, for all our snobbery on the matter, we enjoy it. We want to cheer the good guys and boo the bad guys, get all worked up, but deep down know that the goodies WILL prevail in the end. When worded like that, that just sounds like an incredibly boring idea.       But this film appeals straight for our heart strings so cleverly, you just… Get sucked up. Besides, it is not a simple matter of good overcoming bad”. Firstly, this is the Wild West. Everyone is CONSTANTLY double crossing everyone else. You have to be constantly on your toes to follow the shifting alliances and you can never quite guess which way the plot is going to swerve next… Plus, there is the matter of the definition of “good” and “bad”. In this instance, Indio is as bad as bad can be. But the “good”… Well… I mean, to my mind, Clint Eastwood is automatically “good” but is he, here, in this instance? He is, basically, killing people for money. Ok I grant you, they are “bad” people but still. He is dangerously close to being a hired killer. And then there is the fact that he is very clearly quite selfish – in that he is out to protect number one – and ONLY number one. I mean, this being Clint Eastwood, his charisma carries him but still. Oh and by the way, you have NO idea how impressive Clint Eastwood is in a western role until you have seen it. No wonder he never quite drops the act (I mean I’m sorry but it IS true). As for Lee Van Cleef – the archetypal western villain – he seriously gives Mr Eastwood a run for his money as far as charisma goes. And that is really, REALLY saying something.

In short, if you need a whirlwind of cathartic emotion to whisk you away from your day to day troubles, Sergio Leone is your man, again. Highly recommended.               

THE THINGS WE GET UP TO TO MAKE A LIVING... "A FISTFULL OF DOLLARS"

I have, I believe, recently mentioned that I do not watch as many westerns as I should. It is of course up for discussion what “should” and “shouldn’t” be watched, but I pride myself in having more than just a passing interest in cinema. This is why I feel it’s a tad bit shameful I don’t know more about a genre that was the backbone of the entire art form at one time, not to mention the creator of so many sub-genres and cinematic traditions later on.  Hence, I have been a good girl, and have begun to properly research the subject. Now, am I influenced by the fact that Quentin Tarantino (yes, yes, him again) is such a fan of Sergio Leone in my choice? Yes. Unquestionably so. His films, starring Clint Eastwood and giving us so many moments and conventions that became cinematic staples later on are cinematic classics that should be watched though. Mind you there is a lot more than just duty that attracts me to this film. I know I moan on and on about originality and thinking outside the box but still. There is something very comforting about a simpler world, goodies vs baddies – both very clearly black and white, with the goodie winning out in the end. Mind you, in a fistful of dollars we can’t exactly call our goodie “white as snow” ethically speaking but hey…  At least there’s nothing complicated about who you’re meant to back… ;)

The beginning of the story is familiar to all, even to those of us who are complete foreigners to the genre. A nameless, sharp-shooting stranger rides into a little town close to the Mexican border. It is high noon and the town is shrouded in a deadly quiet, all but the coffin maker who always seems to have his hands full… The town is torn apart by the in-fighting of two rival families, both planted firmly on the wrong side of the law and both hell-bent on becoming the one and only masters of the town. The rivalry is all-consuming and the two gangs have no consideration for the consequences of this fight to the town. Our hero (Clint Eastwood), has other plans. He will play double agent, playing one family against another to make himself a wad of cash… And maybe, just maybe he might be able to do some good for the good folk of the town too. The stranger must be careful though. He walks a very dangerous path where one wrong step could cost him his life…

Well, first and foremost we are very much in the domain of comfort films ladies and gents. But you knew that already. It’s Clint Eastwood. It’s a western. You know how things are going to go down. It is a brilliant combination of “raah” moments and adventure, peopled with some of the badest baddies  you could possibly imagine. And, even though you may not be a huge fan of Clint Eastwood’s style – some are and some aren’t you know – you have to admit, here, it’s brilliant. The stranger has to keep his cards very close to his chest and not give a single shred of thought and emotion away as he negotiates the minefield that is the gang relations. But the true mark of a good director comes through here too because in with all the stuff we “know and love” is mixed a truly nail-biting story. We get caught up in it so very easily, and credit where it’s due, you have to admire the stranger’s shrewdness in playing the two families against each other (or in this case, the shrewdness of the scriptwriter). The story takes such twists and turns that it you never fall into the lethargy of knowing the “goodies will win in the end”, simply because you are never %100 sure what our hero is exactly up to. Well that and the fact that he does not really seem to be your common or garden “good guy”.  I mean, are we %100 sure  he “wins in the end”? You’re in for a jolly good adventure with this one, fellas. It’s the kind of film that makes you understand why kids were so obsessed with playing cowboys in the heyday of these films… If you’re looking to get away from your day to day life for an hour or two and go on an adventure from your front room, this is the fella to go for ladies and gents. And given the almost desert-like quality to the British weather at the moment, a rather fitting adventure at that. 

STEPPING EVEN FURTHER BACK : "SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON"

Ok, slightly dumb question. Does this count as a western? I think it must. There are red Indians in it, and they are pitted against the “white man”, the undoubted good character in the mix. There’s even a damsel in distress or two. And if nothing else, it’s a John Ford movie. It doesn’t get more classic than that. I’m ashamed to say that westerns are my Achilles heel when it comes to cinematic knowledge. As in I must have watched about a total of five in my life. Not counting films like Django Unchained of course – or in fact, the fact that most Tarantino films are somehow offshoots of westerns no matter where and how they are set.  I have just realised the irony of the situation actually. Since I am SUCH a fan of Tarantino, I’d probably love westerns. Hmm. Must set about finding me some. I mean take this one. I enjoyed this one.

Captain Brittles is about to retire from the US Cavalry. He is well loved and respected by his men and with his years of experience he has almost become a father figure to them over the years. He has pretty much devoted his life to the cavalry, especially since his wife and children died when he was quite a young man. Now, at the end of an era, Captain Brittles doesn’t quite know what to do with the rest of his time, however he is trying not to think about that. He is concentrating on the one last remaining mission in hand, because is last mission is going to be a slightly tricky one. He needs to lead a patrol round the territory to quell a native uprising that has been boiling for some time, growing in ferocity by the day. But as if that were not dangerous enough, he must also take the wife and daughter of his commanding officer to safety. Will Captain Brittles leave the cavalry in a blaze of glory befitting his reputation? Or will he fall at the last hurdle and tarnish a so far spotless career?

This film, in fact, achieves something pretty similar to the “thing” The Corpse Bride achieves, even though it’s in a completely different context. Let me try and explain.

You know, we like experiencing different things from time to time. Especially when it comes to matters like art and cinema. We are not after clichés we are mostly after things that excite, surprise and fascinate. But you know? Sometimes you don’t want the latest development fusion cuisine. Sometimes you want comfort food. Bangers and mash. A big slice of chocolate fudge cake. That’s what this film is. Well, that’s what both films are in fact but this one more than others. You know exactly what’s coming, you know what’s what. You know the good guys, the bad guys and you also know the good guys will probably win out at the end of the day. It’s the perfect tonic, I have found, after a long tiring day at work. Captain Brittles is one of the archetype heroes the whole “man’s man” hero has been based on today. Tough, manly… The character has been copied in modern films and tv series down to the absent /deceased family. And do you know something? When you take a big homely bite out of the cathartic experience that is watching the film, you can see exactly why.

I mean there’s a lot more to say about the film. It ranges from the fact that it uses classic Hollywood editing down to the racist treatment the Native Americans get in this film as they did in every “cowboys and Indians” type film of the era. Now, I just want it noted that I strongly believe that there is a lot of very interesting things one can do with a camera without being “Hollywood style”. I also get shocked at the way native Americans were portrayed back in the day  - i.e. either maniacs set out to kill or powerless dunks. I invite you to take the phenomenon as the misconceptions and ignorance of a past age. And to be fair on the film itself, although the portrayals are not ideal – they are definitely slanted – they are not the worst I have ever seen by a very, very long shot. See them as the archetypal “baddies” in your common or garden “goodie vs baddie” type film and you’ll be ok. That is, how I strongly feel the film intended them to be seen anyway.

ANOTHER MIXED BAG: (AND A TIMELESS CLASSIC) THE GOOD, THE BAD THE UGLY

I’m not exactly sure how I never got round to watching a western in my life. I mean, how does one actually skip a whole genre? I really don’t get that (unless Lucky Luke counts – I was crazy about him but I never actually saw the movie just the cartoon, so I’m assuming it doesn’t count…). This occurred to me as I was searching for the answer of that eternal question “What should I watch today?” Almost overwhelmed by the panic brought on by the idea of thousands of films gone unwatched, I scrambled madly for the closest western to hand. It happened to be just about the only one; I think I have one more somewhere but that will be for later. This also happened to be a classic in its own right so I decided my quest of the day had ended… I have to admit that I was intimidated by the length of the film (have a heart it was the first time I faced the genre, what if it was something I didn’t like? It’s nearly three hours long for Heaven’s sake…) but I bit the bullet (so to speak). Now, although I can well imagine that the bad ones can get pretty damn repetitive and boring but very few can beat a good one in my humble opinion. Luckily for me, this was one of the good ones…
Well, meet Blondie (Clint Eastwood) and Duco. Two dastardly characters wanted all over the United States of America for pretty much every single thing you can think of. They’re not so much bosom buddies but business partners. Blondie’s a crack shot, so Duco turns himself in every once in a while, is condemned to hang and Blondie rescues him. Each rescue means the price on Duco’s head goes up, so they just rinse and repeat the act as they go along. Now, the couple are on the verge of getting bored of each other and are in the process of getting what we might jokingly called “a rather messy divorce” when they become aware of ?? million dollars worth of gold bullion stashed away. Now, the problem is that each one is left with half the location but they must work together if they want the money. Now quite apart from the fact that they don’t trust each other further than they can throw each other, not to mention the American Civil War going on full blast around them, they are not the only ones after the money. Notorious bad guy “Angel Eye” is also after the gold and they will stop but neither man will stop at NOTHING to get his hands on the money…
Now you’ll remember a few weeks back when I wrote about “Spirited Away”, how I told you about the benefits of escapism. Now to be fair, period films very rarely fulfill this purpose (they are usually either adapted from a very serious book and/or speak of very serious historical events… Not so with Westerns. Adventure, a different world, a lawless place where a man can pretty much make what he can of himself if he uses his head… The Wild West… I think it’s partly our desire to escape from the day to day routine and have adventures and partly the thought of riding off into the “land of opportunities” with everything to play for yet that attracts us to Westerns… I mean, escaping from the day to day run of the mill is one thing, having a clean slate to rewrite on as you please is a completely different kettle of fish… Well, let’s face it, America was never so wild nor full of opportunities as in its “Wild West” days… I therefore think it’s fair enough to go back and dream of those times every once in a while.. Don’t you agree?