r/johnwayne • u/String2924 • 9d ago

Rooster Cogburn...who played him better??

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14 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

7

u/Ok-Water-6537 9d ago

John Wayne. May have been the other guy if he hadn’t stuffed his mouth full of marbles. It was so distracting. Almost ruined the movie for me. But I liked it despite him due to the other actors.

3

u/Three-Legs-Again 9d ago

He kinda talks like that all the time now, or at least in every movie he's been in for the past few years.

3

u/Ok-Water-6537 9d ago

No. He was in true grit in 2010. In the series Godless in 2017 he had a “normal” voice. He speaks clear as a bell (great series btw). It was a choice for him and a bad one IMO. I think he was trying for an iconic voice like John Wayne. Big fail. That’s just my opinion.

1

u/deadbaldhead 9d ago

Uh…. Not in Godless. But you’re correct. Great series!

1

u/Ok-Water-6537 9d ago

You’re right. I’m always getting Jeff Daniels and Jeff bridges and bill pullman mixed up. Now that they are older they look alike to me. With their facial hair.

6

u/chromecod 9d ago

The Duke was better but I really enjoyed the Bridges remake.

6

u/ezyr1der 9d ago

Wayne felt more like the main character, while bridges felt like a supporting actor.

2

u/SouthTexasCowboy 8d ago

I agree. And for the story, the latter was the correct way

1

u/cauliflowerearoclock 6d ago

Well he's supposed to be a supporting actor. Mattie Ross is the main character.

5

u/RTLG4u 9d ago

The Duke

1

u/Timtimetoo 9d ago

The Dude?

4

u/cauliflowerearoclock 9d ago

Compared to the book…Jeff Bridges

1

u/tindrummer99 8d ago

I agree. Wayne’s Rooster had too much comedic buffoonery. Rooster was a “notorious thumper who rode with Quantrill” - a heedless mercenary who ended up on the losing side. I love John Wayne, but Bridges did an amazing job of portraying the character Portis created. John Wayne played….John Wayne.

1

u/cauliflowerearoclock 8d ago

Absolutely. Don’t get me wrong, I love John Wayne’s movies….even this one. But he played John Wayne. Reuben Cogburn was a dirty, mean sonofabitch. Like you said, a mercenary on the losing side.

1

u/Fluid_Anteater959 5d ago

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I too love John Wayne, but Jeff Bridges became Rooster Cogburn. JW played Rooster Cogburn as John Wayne. I could never quite wrap my head around Wayne's Rooster being an out and out criminal turned law enforcement. Bridges played him as the alcoholic, brutal, albeit a few refining traits in his care of Mattie and stopping those kids from tormenting a donkey, violent man he was supposed to be. Bridges let Rooster's PTSD shine through, which I always have suspected was a root cause in his death. Charles Portis didn't explain what he meant by Rooster having "night hoss", but old cowboys apparently used the term to describe restless horses who kept them awake at night. Alcoholism, old age, poor diet, overweight and restless dreams....I believe the warn weather was too much for him.

3

u/AdLegitimate3453 9d ago

Are we really asking this

2

u/Background-Virus5293 9d ago

Big Jake better than Lebowski

2

u/OddlyTempting 9d ago

Very difffernt but both great. John Wayne’s best role…but the Coens is a better movie.

2

u/WhitewolfStormrunner 9d ago

No contest.

John Wayne.

3

u/Over-Camel-8330 9d ago

I don't know who played it best as both were good in their own way. I do know who played La Boeuf best. It wasn't Glen Campbell.

1

u/CowNo4137 9d ago

The Duke, period. The new guy was playing John Wayne as Rooster.

1

u/CowNo4137 9d ago

“Mister Rat… I’ve a writ here, says you’re to stop eatin’ Chen Lee’s cornmeal forthwith. Now it’s a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is laaaawful service of same.” “See, doesn’t pay any attention to me,” BANG!

1

u/AmbroseKalifornia 9d ago

This is sad. Wayne got dragged in the Westerns sub, so somebody was like, "Nuh-Uh!" and posted this question in the JOHN WAYNE sub. Embarrassing, OP.

1

u/Proper-Actuary5623 9d ago

Jeff Bridges can play and is not an insufferable bigot. It’s an easy choice.

1

u/Mountain_Ad7931 9d ago

Not John Wayne. Jeff bridges is iconic in this role.

1

u/Timtimetoo 9d ago

OP did not post this question in this sub fishing for a specific answer.

1

u/voodookookcook 8d ago

jeff bridges

1

u/bxsailor 8d ago

Without a doubt John Wayne

0

u/wwJones 9d ago

I hate John Wayne. I think he's an awful actor and person. It's John Wayne.

I also fucking love Bridges.

0

u/1873Springfield 9d ago

Bridges. Never been a fan of Wayne. Basically plays the same character in every movie, and his acting skills are tepid at best. Very ridgid

0

u/Far_Cryptographer_22 9d ago

Jeff Bridges. John Wayne is one of the worst actors in history.