Forget Clooney–maybe it’s Jeff Bridges’ year
Honorary St. Louisan George Clooney is reaping a lot of justified attention for his work in the upcoming corporate dramedy “Up in the Air,” the animated “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and the new military satire “The Men Who Stare at Goats.”
But don’t overlook Clooney’s co-star in the latter film, Jeff Bridges. As the hippie colonel who trains an army of psychic warriors, the dude gives his most enjoyable performance in a decade. And now there’s buzz building for an upcoming Bridges movie that even critics had never heard of: In “Crazy Heart,” which had a sneak preview in L..A this week and will probably open there in late December to qualify for year-end awards, Bridges plays a broken-down country-music singer. Maggie Gylenhaal plays his much-younger redeemer.
The Academy loves that kind of last-stand stuff. Remember “The Wrestler”?
Actually, that’s not unlike Clooney’s burned-out character in “Up in the Air.” So maybe on Oscar night, George and Jeff will be wrestling over a gold statue.
Here’s a scene of Bridges’ character performing with a young hotshot played by Colin Farrell:
I think Jeff Bridges has long been one of our most underappreciated actors and any attention that is finally paid to him is long overdue. He can do drama, comedy, over the top type stuff such as his role in “Iron Man.” Probably my all time favorite Jeff Bridges movie, however, remains “The Fisher King.” I can’t wait to see “Men Who Stare at Goats” because with Bridges, Clooney and Spacey it has to have some great moments in it.