A few weeks ago, the Coen brothers surprised a lot of people, including me, when they announced that their next project is going to be a remake of True Grit. That’s right, True Grit, the 1969 western that won John Wayne his one and only Academy Award. This from the guys who made No Country for Old Men? Didn’t make sense. Had they learned nothing from The Ladykillers?

That’s what I thought until I took another look at True Grit and realized that the brothers Coen might actually be onto something here. This could be a terrific movie and the story really plays to their strengths as filmmakers. It revolves around strong-willed young Mattie Ross (Kim Darby in the first film) whose father is murdered. She sets out to bring the killer, a hired hand who worked on their ranch, to justice. She hires Marshall Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) and a Texas Ranger (Glenn Campbell) to help her.

The Coens have said that they’re going to be more faithful to the source material, Charles Portis’s novel, and keep the focus more on Mattie. That’s fine but the balance among the characters is really about right as it is. The story really works through a fairly realistic look at the old west in terms of dialogue and attitude, and a surprising combination of sudden violence and humor. Neither of those could be fully addressed in the late 1960s.

In those times, the west was still presented as a magnificent wilderness with majestic mountains, babbling streams, golden aspens, etc. At times, the film is simply too pretty for its own good—but that’s what audiences expected 40 years ago. I’m pretty sure the Coens will sharpen that mix of violence and comedy, too. That’s one of the things they do best. I can see their True Grit looking and sounding like “Deadwood.” (No, I’m still not over it.)

But, who do they cast? Dakota Fanning? She’s probably old enough for the role. Just about any young actor could handle the Glenn Campbell part.

Rooster Cogburn is more problematic. How does any actor recreate an iconic performance by one of the world’s biggest stars? Some have already suggested Coen brothers alum Josh Brolin, but since the character is a hard-drinking, grizzled, cantankerous, overweight ex-outlaw, I think Tommy Lee Jones is a more natural fit. And he’s not the only one who could handle the role. Think about how good Jeff Bridges was in The Big Lebowski. I’m not saying that The Dude and Rooster are at all similar but he’s a terrific actor.

As I was rewatching the DVD, I came up with a less conventional choice, but a better one, I think…

Mel Gibson.

Consider:
Hard-drinking? Check.
Grizzled? Check.
Cantankerous? Check.
Ex-outlaw? Check.
Overweight? He’s only a few cheeseburgers away.

Really, this could work.