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Post by pupdurcs on Dec 4, 2019 6:15:22 GMT
The Dude turns 70 today  . A terrific, versatile American screen actor, part of the iconic 1970's generation that produced fellow septagenarians like DeNiro, Pacino, Christopher Walken etc. Some might argue that he's now the best screen actor in his 70's. He's probably the most consistent, having gotten his first Best Actor Oscar nomination all the way back in 1972 for The Last Picture Show, and has had very few major dips since. Also interesting to note that since his breakthrough movie, he's been almost exclusively a film actor. Not many actors having staying power in movies as long as him.No TV or stage, though looking at his IMDB, his next project appears to be a TV movie. Anyway, instead of picking a single favorite performance of his, I'm going to pick one from every decade of his adult career as a film actor, because he's been around forever and got a lot to choose from: 1970's: Thunderbolt And Lightfoot1980's: The Fabulous Baker Boys1990's: The Big Lebowski2000's: The Contender2010's: True GritWhat are your favorite Jeff Bridges performances across the decades?
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Post by pacinoyes on Dec 4, 2019 8:08:45 GMT
To me he's more out of the 80s class than 70s though he clearly emerged with the 70s guys but he's one of those in-betweeners who fits more into 80s films (I know some people disagree but hey it's my post, ftw) he is an example of a guy that is a true American original without much actor precedent.
Tom Hanks sort of did Lemmon in one way and Spacey did too........Denzel/Penn/Cage sort of did all the post Brando guys....and Cruise did Newman but Bridges fit into no acting archetypes like that. Almost none of his great roles have a gun or certainly any "brand" or anything identifiable as a star.
He's pulled off wildly diverse roles across all genres and is going into TV at a perfect time soon too. Some faves from 3 distinct periods:
Cutter's Way - a sort of Chinatown of the 80s - not THAT good but underrated and Bridges and John Heard are a great team here and memorable. He's very good at interacting - he almost never tries to blow anyone off-screen.
Tucker & Fabulous Bakers Boys - This is his "star" period and yet these are more character parts and he's everything to everyone - likable, not always likable, charming, stubborn, sexy, hard to put into any frame of reference.
True Grit/Hell Or High Water/Bad Times At The El Royale - not merely 3 excellent later turns but thematically linked in the way that only the very best do - think Dafoe or Pacino - Bridges sets these characters up to be laughable jokes at the start (and he is doing that himself in his specific choices) and yet by the end, you are not laughing at all - he's breaking your heart rather - and amazingly none of it seems similar or redundant at all.
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Post by TerryMontana on Dec 4, 2019 8:40:12 GMT
Happy b-day to the Dude!!!
My favs:
1970's: Thunderbolt And Lightfoot
1980's: Tucker: The Man and His Dream
1990's: The Big Lebowski
2000's: Crazy Heart
2010's: True Grit
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Dec 4, 2019 19:37:16 GMT
Happy birthday to one of the greats. An incredibly likable but also observant actor. Bridges have given some incredible performances, many of them have actually gone unnoticed.
My favorite performances per-decade would be.
1970s: Thunderbolt & Lightfoot
1980s: Starman - He plays such a great alien. Tucker, The Man and His Dream would be a huge HM too.
1990s: Fearless
2000s: The Contender
2010s: Hell or High Water
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Post by stephen on Dec 4, 2019 19:40:41 GMT
An absolute boss, and class incarnate. To see him go from a young up-and-comer to an elder statesman without a career drought is incredibly impressive, and I think it's because of that consistency that we have taken him for granted. Bridges, at his peak, can easily stake a claim as being the best American actor working, and his 2010s output is, in my opinion, his strongest offering to date, and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Here's to many more years, Dude!
1970s: The Last Picture Show
1980s: Starman
1990s: The Big Lebowski
2000s: Crazy Heart
2010s: Hell or High Water
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Post by wallsofjericho on Dec 4, 2019 20:18:20 GMT
One of my favourites. His range is impeccable and I can't believe how effortless he makes it look. National treasure. Happy Birthday Dude!
1970s: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
1980s: The Fabulous Baker Boys
1990s: The Big Lebowski
2000s: Crazy Heart
2010s: Hell or High Water
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Post by Mattsby on Dec 4, 2019 22:23:42 GMT
 Love him. 70s: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (alt Bad Company) 80s: Fabulous Baker Boys (alt Starman, Jagged Edge) 09s: Big Lebowski (alt American Heart, Fisher King) 00s: Crazy Heart 10s: Bad Times at the El Royale |
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Post by Weaver Addict on Dec 5, 2019 0:03:39 GMT
Flat out brilliant in "Fearless" and my win for that year. An understated no muss, no fuss peformance that manages to crack open your heart. That ending is just perfect. My go to Jeff Bridges movie. Forever.
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Post by Weaver Addict on May 21, 2020 4:13:35 GMT
To me he's more out of the 80s class than 70s though he clearly emerged with the 70s guys but he's one of those in-betweeners who fits more into 80s films (I know some people disagree but hey it's my post, ftw) he is an example of a guy that is a true American original without much actor precedent. Tom Hanks sort of did Lemmon in one way and Spacey did too........Denzel/Penn/Cage sort of did all the post Brando guys....and Cruise did Newman but Bridges fit into no acting archetypes like that. Almost none of his great roles have a gun or certainly any "brand" or anything identifiable as a star. He's pulled off wildly diverse roles across all genres and is going into TV at a perfect time soon too. Some faves from 3 distinct periods: Cutter's Way - a sort of Chinatown of the 80s - not THAT good but underrated and Bridges and John Heard are a great team here and memorable. He's very good at interacting - he almost never tries to blow anyone off-screen.Tucker & Fabulous Bakers Boys - This is his "star" period and yet these are more character parts and he's everything to everyone - likable, not always likable, charming, stubborn, sexy, hard to put into any frame of reference. True Grit/Hell Or High Water/Bad Times At The El Royale - not merely 3 excellent later turns but thematically linked in the way that only the very best do - think Dafoe or Pacino - Bridges sets these characters up to be laughable jokes at the start (and he is doing that himself in his specific choices) and yet by the end, you are not laughing at all - he's breaking your heart rather - and amazingly none of it seems similar or redundant at all. You mentioned in the Cutters Way "he never tries to blow anyone off screen." The very reason that I love this actor. Thank you for noticing that. |
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. A terrific, versatile American screen actor, part of the iconic 1970's generation that produced fellow septagenarians like DeNiro, Pacino, Christopher Walken etc.
