tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53591129166940234492024-03-04T22:00:06.346-08:00Rancho DiabloUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-66110312596070948912012-11-14T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-14T05:30:01.714-08:00New Book Out Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Randy Post, a young cowboy riding for the Rancho Diablo brand, gets accused
of murdering a saloon girl, Sam Blaylock saddles up to get to the bottom of the
matter before they fit him for a hangman's noose. Sam doesn't know that the
murder has set off a chain of events that will end up with him swapping lead
with a murderous gang of robbers eyeing one of the banks in Shooter's
Cross.<br /><br />In the past, Marshal Everett Tolliver and Sam Blaylock haven't
seen exactly eye-to-eye on things involving the ranch hands. Tolliver intends to
hold the peace in town no matter what the cost. But he's going to need help if
he's going to find out who murdered Jessie Holden in cold blood.<br /><br />Even
after they've set there differences aside for the time being, Sam and Tolliver
still have to put their lives at risk to hold the line in Shooter's Cross in a
gundown on Main Street that will become a legend.</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwmelodomnet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00A7097CA" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-65351072227199060532011-06-12T12:23:00.000-07:002011-06-12T12:23:09.934-07:00Nice Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasV6wSQ7-A3E8hM-zGIJIRn3Ed1CF9zo5X-pS23g92h6f-gNnit_l7v828OSpi0yYaQ7wp3GwJqO0N4Ij9InBvUhmGLXK5_uSczv9IJmsuunXYV7ZAQjMcoVhAFsp0-s9t4Esws7KO2IX/s1600/rancho+diablo+the+final++6x9+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasV6wSQ7-A3E8hM-zGIJIRn3Ed1CF9zo5X-pS23g92h6f-gNnit_l7v828OSpi0yYaQ7wp3GwJqO0N4Ij9InBvUhmGLXK5_uSczv9IJmsuunXYV7ZAQjMcoVhAFsp0-s9t4Esws7KO2IX/s640/rancho+diablo+the+final++6x9+small.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Read it <a href="http://westernfictionreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/rancho-diablo-1.html">here</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-84498123581747170832011-06-09T08:55:00.000-07:002011-06-09T08:55:21.031-07:00True Grit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWeqCC6vXn_UlpA7VpZp2H2RtjmAf5_UZUsEHpa1Yp22_h7v2YnvTPtzsAwsc9Yi6SD0qpd3VcQPmpAhGbI54IxtRrH40p0qaj1blkU6zjcnMNU0PfL_YD4UR92VekSInMnuUp-DjAABQ/s1600/True-Grit-2010-BluRay-1080p-DTS-x264-CHD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWeqCC6vXn_UlpA7VpZp2H2RtjmAf5_UZUsEHpa1Yp22_h7v2YnvTPtzsAwsc9Yi6SD0qpd3VcQPmpAhGbI54IxtRrH40p0qaj1blkU6zjcnMNU0PfL_YD4UR92VekSInMnuUp-DjAABQ/s400/True-Grit-2010-BluRay-1080p-DTS-x264-CHD.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I picked up <strong><em>True Grit</em></strong> just to listen to again. The use of the language throughout the film is amazing. I don't know if many of you picked up on it while you were watching the film in the theaters, but the vocal performances and storytelling were astounding. The Coen Brothers really outdid themselves on the script.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-31733295867873355522011-06-08T07:48:00.000-07:002011-06-08T07:48:26.104-07:00Rancho Diablo Spinoff Coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNACkkXukdcqEVD6aaHYd5UsDWK_ShnjlbsBTlUWkcKZBH2dYsd98-G73YcjUxV2sCZQKc80SFqQkl4qaUT7Z-0uOGjFFYuslNnVW0DXPeyITe8nLZZOhqn7XG9yqr1_AktZxIrc38CFrK/s1600/rancho+diablo+shooter+york+2+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNACkkXukdcqEVD6aaHYd5UsDWK_ShnjlbsBTlUWkcKZBH2dYsd98-G73YcjUxV2sCZQKc80SFqQkl4qaUT7Z-0uOGjFFYuslNnVW0DXPeyITe8nLZZOhqn7XG9yqr1_AktZxIrc38CFrK/s640/rancho+diablo+shooter+york+2+reduced.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Folks, James, Bill, and I have had so much fun creating the world of Rancho Diablo that we've decided to add a spinoff series. There is just too much history in Texas, and in that hill that became an anchor point of our ranch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shooter York was a veteran of the Mexican-American War, but he was so much more. The first book, simply titled <strong><em>Shooter York</em></strong> is going to introduce the man that became the legend, and how he gave the town of Shooter's Cross its name. But we've got more adventures in mind for him. Texas was wild and woolly back in the 1840s (not that it can't be now), and Shooter didn't just stay in Texas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hope you join us for his adventures, as well as those of the Blaylock family as they make Rancho Diablo their home and tame their section of the Old West. <strong><em>Shooter York </em></strong>will debut in the fall.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-22574720829098818482011-05-23T08:41:00.000-07:002011-05-23T08:41:26.986-07:00Cossack Three Ponies by James Reasoner Now On Kindle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXG303KoV28S6X-DhfsH1A75YQATTqFFg1ga9JC7bIm427E41oBxnc3wanG4xF-4QaE21forzFC2KdsOZ5JwQdXa0FIdcTNXusY1eWUzAepEMc9Yj0vKDyoWn15C00Ua3vgmE3so_byf/s1600/James+Reasoner+Cossack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXG303KoV28S6X-DhfsH1A75YQATTqFFg1ga9JC7bIm427E41oBxnc3wanG4xF-4QaE21forzFC2KdsOZ5JwQdXa0FIdcTNXusY1eWUzAepEMc9Yj0vKDyoWn15C00Ua3vgmE3so_byf/s400/James+Reasoner+Cossack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">James Reasoner's newest ebook is out on Kindle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sent to protect a delegation of Russian aristocrats on a goodwill mission, Viktor was thrilled to journey to the bold, open land of America. But when the arrogant nobles murdered an Indian for sport, Viktor knew that more blood would be shed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stranded in a foreign land and caught in a foreign war, with a mortal enemy at his side, Viktor set out to rescue a child from danger. To save his own life, and to become a Blackfoot legend . . .<br />
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</div><div align="center"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwmelodomnet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0051XS3S2" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-85426234797093435742011-05-21T19:21:00.000-07:002011-05-21T19:21:53.661-07:00UNDER OUTLAW FLAGS by James Reasoner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkbwSeQZqRUuiOK-vXUDkOkD0HNsonCkrI0QgcfIMIzRT-mLCMfyhzDR9Yd93Ai2Uj7oGsZHt2oML8Rh_Xj3pDP8QE5M1qtRZg53CWVhmqoi_aPnTotNn6Qghkghk6e3XIiKzF5d30X9U/s1600/James+Reasoner+Under+Outlaw+Flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkbwSeQZqRUuiOK-vXUDkOkD0HNsonCkrI0QgcfIMIzRT-mLCMfyhzDR9Yd93Ai2Uj7oGsZHt2oML8Rh_Xj3pDP8QE5M1qtRZg53CWVhmqoi_aPnTotNn6Qghkghk6e3XIiKzF5d30X9U/s400/James+Reasoner+Under+Outlaw+Flags.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Folks, this is a great story, a mix of Old West cowboys and World War I soldiers, all blended together with some of the most natural storytelling you're going to find. Get a copy and enjoy it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwmelodomnet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00507U35K" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-84159058791668704432011-05-20T20:19:00.000-07:002011-05-20T20:19:35.243-07:00Hombre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGcAEOtGGh_iCHi4m-uKNg6cN0sGW-3E3TQA1aMEPwt7UiJKcVGvAqRkafCu20CBAgZssVyGH0TIUHsS2PsC4InzFhXi12bsx0Wygxu-1JoVi5XNhbPoS219YV2QFKVoIFTonpVsJ_2iE/s1600/Hombre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGcAEOtGGh_iCHi4m-uKNg6cN0sGW-3E3TQA1aMEPwt7UiJKcVGvAqRkafCu20CBAgZssVyGH0TIUHsS2PsC4InzFhXi12bsx0Wygxu-1JoVi5XNhbPoS219YV2QFKVoIFTonpVsJ_2iE/s640/Hombre.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who would have thought blue-eyed Paul Newman would ever play an American Indian in a Western movie? At the time the movie was released (1967), Newman was fast becoming a major star.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, the script was helped along (basically lifted from the pages) by the Western novel written by Elmore Leonard. Leonard was stepping into his own at the time the novel was released in 1961, and Hollywood snapped this one up quick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The story is fairly simple. Paul Newman plays a white man named John Russell who was captured and raised by Apache Indians. Russell returns to his father's boarding house to gather his inheritance, a gold watch and the house. He promptly sells the house, much to the chagrin of the people living there, and decides to spend the money on a herd of horses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the way Russell gets paired up with an Indian agent who's been stealing from the Indians he was supposed to represent, his racist wife, and a woman who was once in love with a member of the outlaw gang that holds up the stage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Newman portrays taciturn Russell to a T, quiet and reserved and quick to act once he decides on a course of action. Richard Boone stars as the outlaw leader, Cicero Grimes, and steals the show on occasion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The twists and turns of the plot and the shifting alliances and motivations between the characters is awesome. If you haven't seen this movie and you love Westerns, well then, you'd best get to it.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-10934767964785103432011-05-16T14:07:00.000-07:002011-05-16T14:07:57.760-07:00Django Unchained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIn0JEQVw1L8XFst99mPHMpepxpf-LeW6nWve5Hr2gRPQhgzzZ7Ss14PNvstZ9GFf9Q6KeTELJEvAmCVrWwcv5dbGuI_absh9wZ7EjZBU349GRXYSIz6bPaSEjliTN5i6FqyqzrPmCTYB/s1600/wild_wild_west_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIn0JEQVw1L8XFst99mPHMpepxpf-LeW6nWve5Hr2gRPQhgzzZ7Ss14PNvstZ9GFf9Q6KeTELJEvAmCVrWwcv5dbGuI_absh9wZ7EjZBU349GRXYSIz6bPaSEjliTN5i6FqyqzrPmCTYB/s400/wild_wild_west_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Will Smith is going to play the lead in Quentin Tarantino's new movie. It's a Western called <strong><em>Django Unchained.</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last time Smith played a cowboy was in <strong><em>Wild, Wild West</em></strong>, and that movie didn't work out too well. Looking forward to this one, though, because it's supposed to be really dramatic. Have to wonder how Smith is going to deal with Tarantino's violence level. We haven't ever seen him in anything like this.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-19461549990276693912011-05-11T08:56:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:26:26.158-07:00Hell On Wheels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhVZMzIibDNNkuS_tZZbXixLIFhkbZNATbI0LxXik8zkY74OKtSRQRnsAsJh7yL7YgiEzx0ZKqYrZSRYLU1zFwWW7s5f1hQw-M61F6AF_FsEB0Kc7ZlHeNxT8YSNFIfgSL6do2k6E-z35/s1600/rancho+diablo+6x9+compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhVZMzIibDNNkuS_tZZbXixLIFhkbZNATbI0LxXik8zkY74OKtSRQRnsAsJh7yL7YgiEzx0ZKqYrZSRYLU1zFwWW7s5f1hQw-M61F6AF_FsEB0Kc7ZlHeNxT8YSNFIfgSL6do2k6E-z35/s640/rancho+diablo+6x9+compressed.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><br />
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The next book in the Rancho Diablo series will be out in June. This one deals with the relationship between Jenny Blaylock and gunhawk Mike Tucker. Tucker is in Shooter's Cross when two gunmen from his past call him out. Tucker deals with them violently and quickly, leaving them stretched out in the street.<br />
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Jenny Blaylock is in town shopping and sees the whole thing. Her children are with her. She knows she doesn't want her boys growing up idolizing someone like Tucker. She and Sam have a difference of opinion regarding Tucker staying with family at the ranch.<br />
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While Sam is away from the ranch on business, he leaves Tucker to protect the property. Jenny has a showdown of her own with Tucker and he ends up leaving.<br />
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In Shooter's Cross, Jenny and Miriam are attacked. Miriam is taken by a gang known for trafficking in young women across the border in Mexico. Marshal Tolliver sends for help but can't chase after the outlaws.<br />
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Knowing there's only one thing to do, Jenny goes back to the ranch, takes out a rifle, and shoots into the air. As she suspects, Tucker is still around to watch over the ranch. She knew he wouldn't leave until Sam got back because he'd given his word.<br />
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Jenny tells Tucker about Miriam. He says he'll go after her. She tells him that she is coming with him. Tucker doesn't bother to argue with her because he knows that would be foolish. Together, Jenny and Tucker take up the chase along the outlaw trail, and neither of them know how much they will be changed by their journey.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-88010469547927004822011-04-04T15:13:00.000-07:002011-04-16T10:19:01.402-07:00Bill Crider's Book Is Out Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTq-HqrZZ1Ge0p6lB1YthW76Ugw2fUjOYHtElLtP2N5GJTjoEYjHKlpuSmgOmithxSZvwm8bFNMVP4Hza-11Ayj0MqSKxWOTVos1aFeDKr2UYgdUHBBu0Cgg0j20d4yKrVaYx6idwfRk5/s1600/Rancho+Diabloe+Dead+Man%2527s+Revenge+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTq-HqrZZ1Ge0p6lB1YthW76Ugw2fUjOYHtElLtP2N5GJTjoEYjHKlpuSmgOmithxSZvwm8bFNMVP4Hza-11Ayj0MqSKxWOTVos1aFeDKr2UYgdUHBBu0Cgg0j20d4yKrVaYx6idwfRk5/s640/Rancho+Diabloe+Dead+Man%2527s+Revenge+2+copy.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwmelodomnet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004VB605S" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>"><strong>HERE</strong></a> to get it!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-25256267722285525682011-01-16T11:28:00.000-08:002011-01-16T11:28:50.492-08:00True Grit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAXyk60pyAfMVmBk_VIzBcRDYCRZJg71eCKJ4W12YXI_RYHVRjVb47X6CY5gwogVjRg50wSU6XzMC7Pd-l6tTSEKJRV8AG0CGIYpMban_p2p8n-roOuNkXs-_VOxN3WH1FcQ3oUawY0FT/s1600/True+Grit+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAXyk60pyAfMVmBk_VIzBcRDYCRZJg71eCKJ4W12YXI_RYHVRjVb47X6CY5gwogVjRg50wSU6XzMC7Pd-l6tTSEKJRV8AG0CGIYpMban_p2p8n-roOuNkXs-_VOxN3WH1FcQ3oUawY0FT/s640/True+Grit+Poster.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No doubt about it, pilgrim, this movie is gonna split the herd when it comes to whether it's a good idea or not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know when I first heard about it I wasn't exactly thrilled, but when I discovered the Coen Brothers and Jeff Bridges were attached to the project, hope began to rise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My wife and son went with me to see the movie the week it came out. Neither of them had seen the original John Wayne version of the Charles Portis novel. Purists of the novel had sometimes faulted the 1969 movie for not being more faithful to the book. The movie leans more heavily on the character of Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Coen Brothers adaptation places the story firmly into the voice of Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld, who turns in a fantastic performance). The audience sees the other characters through her eyes and her eyes only, and she doesn't know what anyone else is doing offstage. Personally, I really enjoyed this take, though I doubt many other viewers will have noticed that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing I truly enjoyed was the richness of the language. Even the bad guys spoke well. I don't know if the Old West was truly like that, but I like to imagine that it was. People forget that in those time most entertainment was an oral tradition. A person had to speak well if he or she was going to be understood and listened to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The action in the film is toned down to PG-13, something kind of rare for the Coen Brothers. But I think the decision was a wise one. This way the film can be enjoyed across the board, and parents who loved Westerns as kids can take their kids to the movie without risking shock exposure. Despite this guideline, the violence is still abrupt and attention-getting. These are hard times and hard men, and Mattie is caught up in the middle of everything she initiated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaCXLlH-pH4RDA90LudypwS22o3IYF7mJJ2Nesf8oW480kAFuN5KSdXKvSgepH5abHLuzbmmcSc6BZIdrTcQq7cCVFJ-hmF7JxeKurwQs92CJ6WdM-cjgutM9y_lqxCKGwbYvXIppzzCD/s1600/True+Grit+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaCXLlH-pH4RDA90LudypwS22o3IYF7mJJ2Nesf8oW480kAFuN5KSdXKvSgepH5abHLuzbmmcSc6BZIdrTcQq7cCVFJ-hmF7JxeKurwQs92CJ6WdM-cjgutM9y_lqxCKGwbYvXIppzzCD/s400/True+Grit+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I loved the John Wayne film, the posturing and the posing and the tough guy attitude. But this True Grit offers a lot of new experiences for fans of that first film. Purists may groan and gripe, but I loved it and am going to buy it when it comes out on DVD. This is one of those movies that I'll watch again and again.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359112916694023449.post-85363599520984754682010-12-12T07:50:00.000-08:002011-01-15T22:56:38.826-08:00Great Review!There's a great new review of <strong><em>Shooter's Cross</em></strong> up at Meridian Bridge!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://meridianbridge.com/?p=1535">http://meridianbridge.com/?p=1535</a><br />
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And <strong><em>Hangrope Law</em></strong> by James Reasoner has been published!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4NfIgi3kgvyFuTc69tV2B9nVJHu9nLzgcWFQNJ_DbzjEGN2Olugj6FQcaxX2k2PkjuU5EH1oS6Qi_7Uzt0u0KyQ7xuMRynZIuxbkhjTtqmGz-bWN-beHqF3WMgJT4mkcBd6Nl99Bd5zL/s1600/rancho+diablo+book+hangrope+law+%25282%2529+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4NfIgi3kgvyFuTc69tV2B9nVJHu9nLzgcWFQNJ_DbzjEGN2Olugj6FQcaxX2k2PkjuU5EH1oS6Qi_7Uzt0u0KyQ7xuMRynZIuxbkhjTtqmGz-bWN-beHqF3WMgJT4mkcBd6Nl99Bd5zL/s640/rancho+diablo+book+hangrope+law+%25282%2529+blog.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1