Why the 'True Grit' eye patch is on the other eye

Probably one of the most common searches that bring people to my blog is the question of why Jeff Bridges wore the eye patch on the right side in the Coen brothers film while John Wayne wore it on the left eye in the original True Grit.

Here's the answer. According to Walter Scott in Parade, Bridges says, "There was no specific reason. We tried it on both, and it just javascript:void(0)looked and felt better on the right eye."

Oh, and if you want to see tons of photos of the True Grit set, do a search above.

Hailee Steinfeld wins Acadamy Award...Wait a minute!

OK, it's just a nomination at this point, but Hailee Steinfeld lucked out to be put in the supporting actress category, and should be a major favorite to win for her role in True Grit (which was really a leading role).

Oh, and, yes, True Grit is also up for a few other awards, including best picture and best director(s) for the Coen brothers!

'True Grit' trailer is up!

The wait is over to see a snippet of the Coen brothers' True Grit. You can find the trailer here. It includes a couple of quick shots from the Granger, Texas, set (standing in for Fort Smith, Arkansas), including the hanging scene. You can see more shots from the hanging scene here.

By the way, the song in the trailer is the Mosie Lister gospel song "Where No One Stands Alone" as sung by the Peasall Sisters.

'True Grit' wraps this week in Austin.

Here are the details of filming of the Joel and Ethan Coen remake of True Grit that will close some downtown Austin streets tomorrow. Here's a photo of the construction for the shoot.

Here also are a few stray photos from the Blanco shoot that have yet to make it on the blog. If a search engine brought you here, you might want to look around at quite a few other photos from filming in Blanco and Granger.

Jeff Bridges with his 'True Grit' eye patch!

WHY IS IT ON THE "WRONG" EYE? Click here.






Some late-breaking photos from the recent True Grit shoot in Blanco at the old courthouse. Big thanks to the local who sent these along. (I did not take them. They were shot from across the street from the set where locals gathered to watch the filmmaking process.) They also offer the first photographic evidence that Rooster Cogburn's eye patch does indeed make an appearance in the film. With Jeff Bridges here is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who portrays Mattie Ross in Joel and Ethan Coen's version of the story.


(For a lot of photos from the True Grit set in Granger, including these from the hanging scene, take a look at my recent posts.)

'True Grit' goes to court in Blanco

Joel and Ethan Coen'sTrue Grit arrived in Blanco this week as Granger tries to deal with the layer of dirt the film set applied to its brick street. The shoot at the old Blanco Courthouse is only expected to take a couple of days. Already, the locals are lining up to watch what they can (probably not much since shooting will be indoors). The Uptown Blanco Restaurant across the street is offering extended "movie fan hours" through Wednesday to allow fans to eat and drink and star watch.

Thanks to the kind reader who forwarded on this photo of the courthouse extras arriving Tuesday.

A few last shots from 'True Grit' in Granger

Here are a few last photos from the True Grit set in Granger. I should repeat that I did not take these photos. The person who took them viewed the set from the street, was not an extra or a crew member--just a local watching the filmmaking process.

As a film writer, I was not invited to the set, so I did not go during the shooting at all. I, however, see nothing wrong with the invitation by the photographer to pass on these photos taken in a very public space. I also believe doing so promotes the cause of what appears to be a great movie in the making.

Filming at this point has moved on to the courthouse in Blanco, Texas.

'True Grit' performs movie magic

Part of the wonder of movie-making is just how they fool the audience's eyes. Here are a few examples from Joel and Ethan Coen's True Grit set in Granger, Texas:


Filming is taking place in the spring, but the story is set in winter, so a worker had to meticulously remove all of the new leaves from this pecan tree!


Smoke pots were used to add a spooky feel to the street.


Got a telephone pole that is not true to the film's time period? Make it into a tree.

'True Grit' boarding house

This house in Granger, Texas, served as the interior of the True Grit boarding house in Fort Smith, Arkanaas, where the young female head stays. The covering was added to keep out exterior light during filming. Also here you can see the exterior view of the boarding house facade that was constructed just off the main filming strip in Granger.

'True Grit' hangs 3 men in Granger, TX

There was a triple hanging on the set of True Grit in Granger, Texas, today. The man in the middle cried uncontrollably before taking the big fall!

Filming in the town is expected to end by Thursday, when action moves to Blanco for courthouse scenes. Thanks to the kind reader who passed on these great pix! I'll be posting more from the Granger filming tomorrow. (Look closely at the bottom photos here. Is that Jeff Bridges with the white beard and wearing a straw cowboy hat?)

Three men were hung in Granger.



These dummies really took the fall.


The hanging drew a crowd of extras.


Lots of extras on the street.


Playing an Indian who hooted and hollered during the hanging was Jonathan Joss, best known as the voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill.

Some other shots from Monday and Tuesday's filming at the gallows:

'True Grit' train (and horses) arrive in Granger, Texas

One of the draws of Joel and Ethan Coen filming True Grit in Granger, Texas, was the railroad line that runs right next to the strip of wide street where much of the filming there will take place. Today the actual train to be used in the film arrived in town, attracting even more tourists. It's a beauty, with a coal tender, a Pullman car and a freight car attached.

Filming, by the way, appears to have been pushed one more day to Tuesday. The set looks very ready for action, and as you can see the security guards have arrived. I also noted a Paramount truck with New Mexico license plates! Bring on Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. Guys, be sure and make a stop five miles down the road in Taylor for some barbecue while you're in the area.






The horses arrived Sunday as well...

Here are a few more shots from the street. You can find a whole lot more photos from the set here.