Jeff Bridges is one of Hollywood’s most consistent actors. Known for having a knack for choosing the right roles, Jeff Bridges started his career in the early ’50s with The Company She Keeps. Cut to seven decades later, Bridges has gone on to act in more than 60 films along with winning and being nominated for multiple awards including the prestigious Academy Award. This comes as no surprise as Jeff Bridges was born into the world of show business with his father being Loyd Bridges, a successful actor back in his day. Jeff gracefully carried forward his families legacy and is regarded as one of the most versatile actors Hollywood has to offer. Here are some of his best dramas, ranked.
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7 The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
Overture Films (North America) Momentum Pictures (United Kingdom) Mandate Pictures (International)[1]
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a bizarre tale that’s inspired by true events about the U.S Military’s top secret wing that dealt with parapsychological skills. The film’s plot revolves around a disgruntled reporter, Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) and his pursuit to seek out an adventure when his wife leaves him for someone else. He flies out to Kuwait and meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), an ex-special officer with psychic powers. Wilton then goes on to meet a crazy Army officer Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), who insists for his soldiers to gain strength through kindness and the power of love.
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6 The Fisher King (1991)
Tri-Star Pictures
Powered by a dual engine of two of the greatest actors of this generation, The Fisher King is a cocktail of love, sanity and acceptance. The film walks on the age-old trope of the hero’s quest to heal the wounds of the past and come to terms with reality, gracefully projecting Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges as two very different men, divided by society, united by destiny.
5 American Heart (1992)
Triton Pictures
American Heart is a deeply moving tale about the bond between a father and son. The story revolves around Jack Kelson (Jeff Bridges) who has been released from prison after five years, and the unpredictable equation he shares with his 14-year-old son Nick (Edward Furlong). While Nick is desperate for his father’s love and approval, Jack, although not maliciously rebukes him, trying to create a distance between them, so Nick doesn’t make the same life choices as he did.
4 The Vanishing (1993)
20th Century Fox
A remake of George Slugger’s 1988 French-Dutch film of the same name, The Vanishing portrays Jeff Bridges in a never-before-seen sinister light. The film follows a couple, Jeff Harriman (Keifer Sutherland) and Diane Shaver (Sandra Bullock), who are on a vacation when suddenly Diane goes missing. Unable to trace her, Jeff becomes obsessed with finding answers pertaining to Diane’s disappearance, but eventually ends up abandoning the quest. Enter chemistry professor Barney Cousins (Jeff Bridges), the man responsible for Diane’s kidnapping. When Barney realizes that Jeff has given up on finding out about Diane, he baits him by promising to reveal what happened to Diane only if Jeff promises to endure what she went through. The Vanishing is a twisted tale of the human psyche, making it an unsettling, though rewarding film to watch.
3 Hell or High Water (2016)
Lionsgate
A modern day re-imagining of an American western, Hell or High Water, follows two brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), who are forced to rob banks in order to keep up with their ever-increasing mortgage payments. The initial robberies are well planned and executed, but due to Tanner’s volatile behavior, the duo leaves behind reckless clues and patterns. With Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges), hot on their trail, a cat-and-mouse game begins that could lead to a disastrous outcome for all the parties involved.
2 True Git (2010)
Paramount Pictures
Directed by the legendary Coen Brother’s, True Grit is an emotional journey of 14-year-old, Mattie Ross as she hunts her father’s killer seeking vengeance. Aiding her on this violent journey is a tough, perpetually drinking US marshal (Jeff Bridges). As the duo search for Mattie’s father’s killer, they are joined by LaBeouf (Matt Damon), a Texas ranger, who has also been wronged by the same man responsible for Mattie’s father’s murder. In True Grit, Bridges’s does a fantastic job of portraying the marshal as a Stoic yet tough man, making the character an accurate representation of the reality of being a lawman in those years of the West.
1 Crazy Heart (2009)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
In arguably one of Jeff Bridges’s most iconic roles ever, the legendary actor portrays the role of Bad Blake, an aging rock star who is past his prime, in the industry as well as in his personal life. The film documents his acceptance of reality, along with him maintaining a subtly detached gracefulness as the curtain of life falls on him. Crazy Heart undoubtedly depicts Jeff Bridges at the peak of his craft, earning the actor an Academy Award for his efforts.
