Being Jewish, Husband and I will probably go to the movies on Christmas Day with all the other eggnog deprived Jews looking to soak up some holiday cheer in a public setting. Christmas Eve is always spent at my buddy betty’s with her large circle of family and friends we are thrilled to be a part of. There’s always a big tree with decorations both new and nostalgic that consistently calls to mind the Waltons, and I remember holiday eves in the past where we all sat on the floor and sang carols along with the guitar accompaniment of betty’s husband, the wonderful mister betty. There’s not so much kneeling on the floor anymore, or even singing, but the heart still gets very light and merry once inside the door.
Tomorrow, however, will be Christmas Day, and this year my movie of choice is True Grit. Here I have to admit that I am not the biggest John Wayne fan, so I’m not in agreement with Husband (who reveres the Duke) that Jeff Bridges has big shoes to fill as Rooster Cogburn. Even at the time Wayne won the Oscar for his portrayal of the crusty marshal, I wasn’t convinced it was such a terrific performance, just probably the last one the legendary star would be nominated for. For me, whatever role John Wayne happened to be playing, he was always essentially the Duke first, and the character second.
Oh, but not so Jeff Bridges. How sly is this guy to remain relevant for his entire acting life? From Duane Jackson, popular high school jock in a small Texas town in 1971’s The Last Picture Show, to the more fabulous of The Fabulous Baker Boys and Starman in the 80’s, to the quietly terrifying serial killer in The Vanishing and the iconic Dude in The Big Lebowski in the 90’s, right up to his own Academy Award winning role as Bad Blake in Crazy Heart last year, Bridges has seemed to sail on naturally to greatness with the most laconic of ease.
Some might say he was born into it. He and brother Beau appeared on their father’s late 50’s-early 60’s TV showSea Hunt as young boys, and Jeff has said in interviews that following his dad’s lead into an acting career was something he did more or less on autopilot. Whatever the inspiration to begin, everything that has come since is purely his own. Daughter mentioned recently that she and Boyfriend went to see Tron, the much-advertised remake of the original 1981 sci-fi flick that starred Bridges back then and features him now. Asked how it was, she responded, “The amazing effects really took over the lame story, but Jeff Bridges is always worth watching.” I asked her why. She answered, “He’s the Dude, Mom; he’s golden.”
A fourteen karat actor deserves solid gold directors, so I am really looking forward to the Coen brothers’ treatment of True Grit, a 1968 Charles Portis story set in the 1880’s west. Together again for the first time sinceThe Big Lebowski, it will be interesting to see Bridges’ portrayal of Rooster Cogburn as directed by the Coens. Husband says John Wayne leaves big shoes to fill. I hate to disagree, but I’m thinking with all respect to The Duke, it’s the actor who tries it after The Dude who’s doomed.
Daughter’s Featured Fotos taken downtown evoke the Holiday Aura
the bustle
the fire
wintry lobby
***Merry Holiday To All!!***