The Flick:

There is no doubt that the Coen Brothers are prolific filmmakers. Their often quirky and misunderstood style is a veritable Garden of Eden for cinephiles. Jumping from genre to genre, and redefining acceptable means of telling a story, the Coen brothers have become heroes of film fanatics the world over. One of the films that helped them build on their reputations as auteurs is The Big Lebowski.

The Dude abides…

In what could be one of the most beloved roles in cinema history, Jeff Bridges portrays The Dude. A laid back, flashback having, pot smoking, White Russian drinking, bowler that happens to share his given name (Jeffery Lebowski) with a local tycoon. Somehow, a few thugs get The Dude confused with the tycoon and unwittingly involve him in a multifaceted kidnapping. See, the tycoon’s wife Bunny (Tara Reid) is trouble. Between making porno movies, spending money, and doling out blow-jobs she has come to owe a local porn mogul a lot of money. In turn, said mogul sends above mentioned thugs to retrieve the money, and from there the plot thickens. Together with his friends Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi), The Dude works every angle possible in this pseudo detective story.

Sure, I could go into more detail, but I figure that true fans of the flick probably own the flick already, and newbs should just take my word for it and pick it up because I say it’s awesome. Just saying. Jeff Bridges’ portrayal of The Dude is flawless. He’s the laid back slacker that all of us wish we had the balls to be. He spends his time on the things that are important to him. Things like, bowling, smoking pot, and drinking White Russians. Even when his life is threatened he keeps his cool. The Dude is perfectly accented by stellar supporting characters. John Goodman is particularly interesting as Walter, a war veteran prone to bouts of anger. Also, impressive is Julianne Moore as Maude Lebowski. I couldn’t get enough of her eccentric sex appeal.

The Coen brothers threw everything they could into this flick, creating a mishmash of awesome that fans of cult cinema can’t get enough of. The Big Lebowski is a positively killer film that needs to be seen often to be truly appreciated.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 audio track is phenomenal. It pulsed and pounded on my home theatre system making me smile throughout the movies entire runtime. The video looks good, but not amazing for a blu-ray release. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t look bad, but it seems like it could have been taken up a notch for a limited edition release.

Special Features

Exclusive introduction: A comedic introduction to the work of the Coen Brothers.

Jeff Bridges Photo Book: Cool feature showing off pictures that Bridges took while working on the film. Definitely worth a look.

Worthy Adversaries: What’s My Line Trivia: A game allowing viewers to play as either The Dude or Walter and try to complete lines from the film.

The Dude’s Life: The cast talks about the iconic character.

The Dude Abides: The Big Lebowski Ten Years Later: Another Dude feature that is worth a look.

DigiBook: The blu-ray comes in a nicely designed book with beautiful pictures and quotes form the film.

There are a ton of other features that inhabit this packed disc, such as a Photo Gallery, Interactive Map,  BD-Live and U-Control Features, Featurettes, and more.

The Flick: Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Blu-ray: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Film:

As Americana was the western genre is, the face of the iconic landscape has been and always will be The Duke. His snarl, his walk, his tipped hat, John Wayne is the western genre, and while the Italians added the dirt, blood, and grime, nothing in movies today compares to the John Wayne’s shadow over a genre. In 1969, The Duke won the Oscar for his role of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, and while that film isn’t perhaps his best film (here), it’s damn good, especially in his later films. Remaking that film somehow feels a little like burning the American flag, but if anyone had the (ahem) grit to do so, it’s the Coen Brothers, who essentially made a modern western in their Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men. Grit justified, I’d say.

Obviously, No Country for Old Men isn’t True Grit, but in terms of some thematic elements, they feel like companion films. But enough of that. Charles Portis’ novel is the inspiration for this update, instead of a direct remake of the Wayne starring film, and for that, it provides for some interesting discussion. Both films are great, but different. Imagine the same story told by two different, but equally great film makers, like The Thing. Howard Hawkes’ version is still good, even when compared to John Carpenter’s masterpiece, but they’re different. Same idea here. Two big differences between these two True Grit‘s are the sharp, period-centric dialogue, compared to Wayne’s that features his usual big, bold lines. And then there’s the ending. Between the after-climax and this coda, that greatly differs from the 1969 film. It follows the book more than Wayne’s, but also is greatly detached from the prior hour-and-a-half.

As Rooster rides through the night to save Maddie from the snake bite, the Coens film this in a large, broad, darn right cartoonish. Maybe they were seeking that larger-than-life heroics John Wayne always provided, but it looks goofy. The coda is much too cold to have any lasting effect. Too bad, but it doesn’t really hurt what’s another great film from the Coens. Replacing an Oscar-winning role like John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn seems as blasphemy as another Joker in a Batman film, but Jeff Bridges doesn’t try to do Wayne, but instead does Portis’ Rooster Cogburn, which is key. Bridges has grit, real Confederate/outlaw grit, no longer seen today, in film or in real life. It’s a memorable, rocking performance.

Others are good, but Coens’ knack for blakc comedy is usually welcomed, although Josh Brolin talks a little goofy, like a down-syndrome Jonah Hex. Nonetheless, my quibbles are minor. True Grit is a much needed American western in a genre that’s beating a faint heartbeat. It’s perhaps the Coens most accessible film, and much like the 1969 film, should be remembered as a character piece that focused on tough, rugged characters if steel backbones.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Paramount Pictures releases a great HD disc. The clarity and details in the picture are second to none. Skins tones, dimensionality, and solid black levels makes this a superb, all around transfer. The DTS track is just as good. Nuanced, lively, robust, the audio mix will surely please the most die-hard audiophile.

Charles Portis — The Greatest Writer You’ve Never Heard Of…: This HD 30-minute documentary covers the writer amongst interviews, as well as, contrasts the 1969 film to the novel. Overall, it’s quick and informative enough, making it one of the disc’s better extras.

Most of the extras are quick, semi-interesting looks at the various behind-the-scenes aspects of the film, like in Mattie’s True Grit where Hailee Steinfeld talks about her casting and developing the character; From Bustles to Buckskin — Dressing for the 1880s showcases the detailed costume work from Mary Zophres; Colts, Winchesters & Remingtons: The Guns of a Post-Civil War Western shows off how authentic the guns where in the film; Re-Creating Fort Smith is quite self-explanatory, as is The Cast Interviews. All of these are in HD and run about 5-10 minutes.

The HD version of the trailer and the DVD/Digital Copy disc round out the extras.

The Film: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Blu-ray: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

There’s no word on when filming is expected to begin, but it may not be soon as Reynolds is also attached to Twentieth Century Fox’s Deadpool spin-off (here) that just recently landed a director (here), and Green Lantern 2 for WB.

Jeff Bridges, will be auctioning off his painting inspired by Tron to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign, for which he is the national spoke person. In addition to the original painting, a limited number of signed prints will also be sold to raise funds for the charity.

Click here for the auction site.

Here’s the painting:

“As the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, Jeff Bridges’ commitment to others is exemplary,” said Bill Shore, founder and executive director of the hunger non-profit. “This donation is another example of how important the work of ending childhood hunger is to Jeff and one of the many reasons we feel honored to be working with him.”

Find out more here.

The books follow a teenage boy training to be an exorcist in the 1700s, where “Spook” (played by Bridges) is the aging exorcist and Pettyfer as the apprentice.

Anyone read these books and care to tell us what’s up below in our comments section?

Obviously, No Country for Old Men isn’t True Grit, but in terms of some thematic elements, they feel like companion films. But enough of that. Charles Portis’ novel is the inspiration for this update, instead of a direct remake of the Wayne starring film, and for that, it provides for some interesting discussion. Both films are great, but different. Imagine the same story told by two different, but equally great film makers, like The Thing. Howard Hawkes’ version is still good, even when compared to John Carpenter’s masterpiece, but they’re different. Same idea here. Two big differences between these two True Grit‘s are the sharp, period-centric dialogue, compared to Wayne’s that features his usual big, bold lines. And then there’s the ending. Between the after-climax and this coda, that greatly differs from the 1969 film. It follows the book more than Wayne’s, but also is greatly detached from the prior hour-and-a-half.

As Rooster rides through the night to save Maddie from the snake bite, the Coens film this in a large, broad, darn right cartoonish. Maybe they were seeking that larger-than-life heroics John Wayne always provided, but it looks goofy. The coda is much too cold to have any lasting effect. Too bad, but it doesn’t really hurt what’s another great film from the Coens. Replacing an Oscar-winning role like John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn seems as blasphemy as another Joker in a Batman film, but Jeff Bridges doesn’t try to do Wayne, but instead does Portis’ Rooster Cogburn, which is key. Bridges has grit, real Confederate/outlaw grit, no longer seen today, in film or in real life. It’s a memorable, rocking performance.

Others are good, but Coens’ knack for blakc comedy is usually welcomed, although Josh Brolin talks a little goofy, like a down-syndrome Jonah Hex. Nonetheless, my quibbles are minor. True Grit is a much needed American western in a genre that’s beating a faint heartbeat. It’s perhaps the Coens most accessible film, and much like the 1969 film, should be remembered as a character piece that focused on tough, rugged characters if steel backbones.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Tron: Legacy is a stunning event picture that marries every known technological aid to its advantage, making its inception a digital hallmark, something that George Lucas tried to ring in with his Star Wars prequels, and failed. Tron: Legacy makes those look darn right analog. Credit Joseph Kosinski, who in his directorial debut, ushers in a new pinnacle in movie-making. Of course, he benefits from efforts before him who have succeeded and failed, but no one has yet crafted a visual wonder with flawless CG, mo-cap, and green screen like this wonder kid. He’s a new voice to get excited about. This is Avatar 2.0.

True, visuals will only carry you so far, and I’m sure many will view Tron: Legacy on just that note, and then decide its fate, but while the film does gloss over some potential for depth in its world, it’s fairly complex in its digital morality tale. Flynn and Clu 2 (both played by Jeff Bridges) strive feverishly for perfection, but it’s only Flynn who through failure realizes perfection is just a word, and it’s through error do we ultimately succeed. His world of Tron has evolved thanks to Clu 2, but not without some its hidden motive.

I think there’s something to the correlation of Clu 2′s need to be in the real world, and our need to be fully connected digitally. When will we stop? Are humans on a technological warpath that will eventually lead into the fiction that director Steven Lisberger originally had Flynn achieve? It’s a fascinating nugget to analysis, but with the wonders of the IMAX screen, with the light cycle battles and disc throws, it’s hard not to be caught up into this world of Tron. In fact, the IMAX 3D is the only preferred way to see the film. It’s epic and an experience you won’t get elsewhere.

Tron: Legacy is the next big thing. It’s a visual marvel, with its wonderful musical companion in Daft Punk’s monumental score. Thanks to a visionary director, Joseph Kosinski, who is a new voice in film making, Tron: Legacy will live on for years to come. It might not be a perfect experience, but what is? Tron is given little to do, sadly, and Michael Sheen’s character feels like a rejected extra from some video off of Marilyn Manson’s Mechanical Animals album, but Tron: Legacy - The IMAX 3D Experience is an event worth attending. Or at least, until the next upgrade comes out.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

To get you ready for Tron: Legacy in a few days here is another clip from the film where Sam meets Clu, his father’s creation. Enjoy!

Source: IMDB

Don’t forget Tron: Legacy is set for release on December 17th.

Source: PopCultureZoo

Source: IMDB, EmpireOnline

Check out it below, you can click for a larger version.

Source: IMP Awards