Jeff Bridges’ returns to screens this Friday in Hell or High Water, the stunning new crime thriller from Brit director David Mackenzie.
His grizzled Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton, sets out to run down robbers that have been holding up local banks in a performance that really is Bridges at his best so we’re taking a look at some of his other finest characters out there.
The Fisher King
The Fisher King is a film that Jeff Bridges brings to life with his amazing performance. It just fills you with emotion and it takes the audience on quite a heartfelt journey. In a popular New York bar a madman carries out a terrible massacre after hearing a DJ rail against yuppies. After hearing about the news the DJ becomes extremely disheartened and regrets what he feels has caused. In his time of remorse the DJ befriends a man by the name of Parry who is a former professor who lost control of his life after witnessing his wife die during the bar shooting. After learning this story the DJ tries to seek redemption by helping Parry in his journey to recover an item that he truly believes is the Holy Grail and to win the heart of the woman he loves.
Crazy Heart
This is one of Jeff Bridges more musical roles but it takes the audience on quite a deep journey of self-discovery and love. Crazy Heart is based on the 1987 novel by Thomas Cobb.Otis “Bad” Blake is a fifty-seven year old country & western singer who is a minor legend but regardless of that he can’t even perform at B-rated venues such as bowling alleys. Although his status doesn’t get him far he does have a standing gig to perform at his friend Wayne Kramer’s bar in Houston. A doctor has warned Bad that his unhealthy lifestyle will lead to his early death but that doesn’t stop him from being an overweight, chain-smoking alcoholic. This behavior has led him to have to several failed marriages and a grown son who he has not seen since he was four and has no idea what he is up to and how he is doing. One day after a performance Bad meets Jean Craddock, a journalist who wants to do a piece on him for her newspaper. One thing leads to another and this takes Bad on a crazy life journey where his lifestyle could jeopardise him from having a happy future.
True Grit
True Grit is the western that Jeff Bridges was just born to play. Drastically different to the pot smoking Lebowski or to the country music playing Bad and a lot more serious and rough. After her father was murdered by hired hand Tom Chaney, Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old farm sets out to bring her killer to justice. To help bring in her fathers killer, Mattie hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, a man with “true grit,”. Mattie insists on joining Cogburn to find the killer due to his whose drinking, sloth, and general character not boding well with her. Against his wishes, she joins him in his journey into the Indian Nations in search of Tom Chaney. Eventually they are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who is also after Chaney for his own reasons. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises and each has his or her “grit” tested.
Fearless
Jeff Bridges takes on a whole new level here when explores the complex struggle of post-traumatic stress disorder with his character in Fearless. Max Klein is one of few survivors after a horrible plane crash. After the crash Klein attempts to remain calm and to help the other survivors and this leads him to being praised as a hero by the media. Max Klein emerges a changed person. When he returns home he has these detached feeling to his wife and is struggling to connect to his former life but it comes with the strange side effect of him feeling invulnerable. Psychologist Bill Perlman is sent by the airline to help the survivors recover but he is unable to help Max, instead he asks Max to help him out with another one of his patients from the plane crash, Carla Rodrigo, who is racked with grief and guilt since her baby died in the crash.
Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is a definite favourite amongst all the Bridges films. Jeffrey Lebowski. One is a lazy, pot smoking, White Russian drinking hippie who goes by “The Dude”. The other is a self-made, handicapped, multimillionaire war veteran who lives in a huge mansion. One day their paths cross when the millionaire Lebowski’s trophy wife owes money to a known pornographer. The thugs who are hired to confront Lebowski end up confronting The Dude instead because he has the same name. After a huge ordeal The Dude, wanting payback for his now destroyed rug, seeks out the millionaire Lebowski. Unfortunately things don’t get any better and what follows takes the Dude and his bowling buddies Walter and Donnie on a bizarre adventure filled with, kidnapping, pornography, nihilists, and White Russians. This is a fun filled film with Jeffrey Bridges completely knocking us off our feet and putting us into hysterics.
