The first bit of good news I’ve had all year – last year my landlord said I’d need to move out when my current lease is up; this year she’s decided that I can remain for another year …. and with no rent increase.   Those of you who live here know that’s about as close to a miracle as one can get these days.  Buddha bless her.

Watched True Grit yesterday, the remake.  I was nervous, the last Coen Bros. remake was the very unnecessary Ladykillers, with Tom Hanks filling in for Alec Guinness.   And a True Grit remake seemed unnecessary to me as well.  But I loved it.  This is the first Coen Bros movie to gross over $100 million at the US box office and it is the most straight forward of all their films but it’s a film that I saw yesterday and wouldn’t mind watching again today.  Having a 13 year old girl play the lead role this time, expanding her role and its depth, and finding Hailee Steinfeld to play that role, having Matt Damon playing LaBeef instead of Glen Campbell, the whole thing just plays much better, much more depth and weight.   Can’t compare the Dude and the Duke, let’s just say that they’re different.   Barry Pepper comes off well vs. Robert Duvall but the original did have Dennis Hopper and Strother Martin and Jeff Corey and this one has a parade of faces and voices that may not be as famous but that fit their roles like butter.  Edited by Roderick Jaynes, haha, they’re still milking that one.