Bridges: His Oscar is overdue

If you’re interested in seeing Jeff Bridges in his Oscar-nominated role in “Crazy Heart,” your chance will come on Friday. “Crazy Heart” will open at AMC’s River Park Square Theatres.

If you don’t already know, Bridges has won the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild awards for “Crazy Heart.” In the film he plays an aging country singer who, the trailers tell us, may have one more run for fame and fortune in his path.

Some critics are describing the film as this year’s “The Wrestler.” It looks to me as if it’s a variation on “Tender Mercies,” the 1983 film that won Robert Duvall his Best Actor statuette.

Whatever, it’s about time that Bridges get recognized for his many worthy movie performances. I’ve compiled a list of 10 below:

“The Last Picture Show” (1971): In Peter Bogdanovich’s classic tale (based on Larry McMurtry’s novel), Bridges plays the BMOC football player Duane Jackson.

“Fat City” (1972): An aging John Huston enlisted Bridges to play a young boxer trying to make a name in the sport, while Stacy Keach plays the veteran who sees the end coming soon.

“Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974): Cast alongside Clint Eastwood, Bridges plays half of a robbery duo as brought to the screen by a very young Michael Cimino.

“Winter Kills” (1979): Bridges plays a man on the trail of the man whom he suspects assassinated his president brother.

“Heaven’s Gate” (1980): Though only part of Cimino’s ensemble cast, led by Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken, Bridges makes an undeniable impression as an old-West saloon owner.

“Starman” (1984): Playing an alien snared Bridges his first Best Actor Oscar nomination.

“Tucker: The Man and His Dream” (1988): In Francis Ford Coppola’s biopic, Bridges plays the real-life automaker Preston Tucker, who was ahead of his day.

“The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989): Bridges, cast with his brother Beau and a sumptuous Michelle Pfeiffer, plays a man so emotionally protected that he has to be pulled screaming from his emotional closet.

“The Fisher King” (1991): Playing an ambitious DJ to Robin Williams’ emotionally disturbed homeless man, Bridges portrays an essentially good man fighting against his marketing instincts to help a fellow human.

“The Big Lebowski” (1998): Bridges plays The Dude, who gets caught up in the Coen brothers’ study in absurdity. A role for the ages. The Dude, in truth, abides.

Below : Jeff Bridges as The Dude.