best film: The Big Lebowski. It’s always a great sign for an actor or actress when their best film lines up with their best performance. The Big Lebowski is a comic masterpiece that ranks amongst not only the best all-time comedies, but the best all-time noirs, films of the 90’s, and films from the Coen brothers. That’s saying something. The Last Picture Show from Bogdanovich is Bridges’ next best film.
best performance: The Big Lebowski. Jeff Bridges is “The Dude” and kudos for him to emerge from this cult classic and have some a brilliant 21st century so far. His Oscar win (Crazy Heart), two of his best five films (True Grit, Hell or High Water) all come well after The Big Lebowski. It’s a big role and it takes a hell of an actor and performances to be the cool center of the film’s wild narrative and not be bowled over by talented (and showier) cohorts and co-actors like John Goodman, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
stylistic innovations/traits: Jeff Bridges has had a long career with now seven Oscar Nominations (spread over 5 decades- skipping the 90’s oddly enough which is his best decade—both of his top two performances). He’s often known for playing western/southern/rural characters. He’s also, largely, been a lead for most of 19 archiveable films. It’s sort of his bad luck that the one Cimino film he wasn’t in was Deer Hunter and that he didn’t hook up with Sidley Lumet or Francis Ford Coppola until the late stages he did. On the flip side, he’s in one of the best Coen brothers films and is working with Terry Gilliam at his artistic (or very near) peak in The Fisher King.
directors worked with: Cimino (2), Coen (2) and then Bogdanovich, Huston, Lumet, Coppola and Gilliam all once
Top 5 Performances:
- The Big Lebowski
- The Fisher King
- A Crazy Heart
- Fearless
- Hell or High Water
Archiveable films
| 1971- The Last Picture Show |
| 1972- Bad Company |
| 1972- Fat City |
| 1974- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot |
| 1980- Heaven’s Gate |
| 1981- Cutter’s Way |
| 1985- Jagged Edge |
| 1986- The Morning After |
| 1988- Tucker: A Man and His Dream |
| 1991- The Fisher King |
| 1992- American Heart |
| 1993- Fearless |
| 1998- The Big Lebowski |
| 2000- The Contender |
| 2003- Seabiscuit |
| 2004- The Door in the Floor |
| 2009- A Crazy Heart |
| 2010- True Grit |
| 2016- Hell or High Water |
He is very good in Bad Times at the El Royale(2018).A highly entertaining film.Why is it not in the archives?
@Chris- Yes, I’ve seen it. Didn’t think too much of it the first time- but certainly willing to give it another shot
Bridges is great here in Bad Times at The El Royale.One of my friends says he is among the best performances of the year.There is a faboulas mis-en scene at the 1 hour and 30 minute mark.Absolutely worthy of the archives and close to the top 10 of 2018.
I’ll agree with this – Bad Times is a divisive movie… And I’m fairly sure it will, in time, develop a cult status because of that. I think Bridges is incredible in it – and I would rate him, alongside Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born, as giving one of the best performances of 2018. The cinematography is genuinely gorgeous and its screenplay is one of the most entertaining in recent years. It, probably, has one of the single greatest ensembles in a film of the 2010s. Chris Hemsworth is truly great as the Charles Manson-esque cult leader. Lewis Pullman brings depth to his portrayal of the lobby boy . But it is Cynthia Erivo who stands out here and makes her mark as a potential movie star – her character is essentially the heart and soul of the film. It is not simply her singing that is great, but, also, the way she portrays her character.
The single greatest scene in the film is the one between her and Bridges, where they discuss their lives… both of which to moving effect – culminating in a great use of The Four Tops’ single “Bernadette”. I, also, love the roulette scene towards the end.
Really a great film, in my opinion, and definitely in the Top 10 of the year – might even be in my Top 3 of the year – but, of course, that’s controversial haha.
I would put it somewhere close to the top 10.It is certainly worthy of the archives I’m sure of that.
Thought both Cynthia Erivo and Bridges were excellent.Have you seen it?
Why is Starman(1984) not in the archives?
The film directed by John Carpenter?
Just saw Starman(1984) archived in the John Carpenter page.Why isn’t Starman included in the Jeff Bridges page.
@Chris- thanks for the catch. I used to have it in the archives (for 1984, Bridges and Carpenter) but removed it. I’ll clean up the Carpenter page when I update it and remove it there
Haha. He is the villain in Iron Man(2008). The bold guy Obadiah Stone.
@Malith- yes- I’ll be adding that one when I update. Thank you- good catch. I very much miss/appreciate your help with some mistakes. Let me know if you see any in the most recent 10 reviews or so if you get time.