True Grit: If only the new one had been filmed in Colorado, like the John Wayne version

For the second year in a row, a movie with Colorado ties is getting Oscar buzz.

In 2010, it was Precious, which was co-produced by Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness of Denver. This time around, it's 127 Hours, which stars James Franco as Aron Ralston, the Colorado climber who cut off his own arm.

John Wayne or John Denver?

Another awards-circuit movie would have its roots in this state had it stayed true to the original - or at least to the original sets. The Coen Brothers remake of True Grit - which is starker and darker than the 1969 John Wayne version (and has a horrible ending) - was filmed in Texas, while the original was shot primarily in the San Juan Mountains, where the quaking golden aspen trees look fit for a 1980s-era John Denver TV special.

For a rundown of the Colorado settings in the original True Grit, go to coloradovibes.com/2010/02/true-grit-then-and-now.