Ok, so here are three films that Mr. Bear has yet to mention here that are very much well worth digging around to find. My guess would be most people have never seen these.
and the theme is Jeff Bridges in the 70's...because I like the 70's and I think Jeff Bridges is great.
Oh and here's an odd piece of 70's Jeff Bridges trivia...in the 70's Jeff had a big dog that he named 'Reefer'...I'm not kidding...the guy was born to play The Big Lebowski.
and the movies are:
Fat City - directed by the great John Huston this little slice of (low)life pic is about a boxer who is certainly on his way down. Bridges plays a young guy who runs into this car wreck of a man (played by Stacey Keach in probably his best performance) in a gym and on his advice attempts a boxing career. A lot of people point out the bar scenes are very Bukowski-like and they are so if you liked Barfly you'd love this film. I love the scenes of Keach working in the fields...made me think of Kerouac, always a good thing.
Rancho Deluxe - This movie has the rather amazing distinction of being the only work that ever made me like anything that Jimmy Buffet has done. His music was perfect for this film but as far as I'm concerned about all his other records are good for is to be used as platters to serve burgers off of or landfill...take your pick. Funny, if you watch Bridges work from the 70's you'll see exactly where the Coen boys were coming from...in fact I think they must have watched this film a few thousand times...I think Frank Perry was the Coen brothers before there was the "Coen Brothers." This is a very funny film and if you're a fan of that sort of humor, you'll love it. Oh yeah, and of course this is based on the Tom McGuane book with a script by the man himself. Plus this film has Slim Pickens in it...that is reason enough to see it!
Winter Kills - This film may be the best film you've never heard of and there are reasons for that...it's a black comedy that plays with John Kennedy's assassination that for some reason or reasons a lot of people wanted to see disappear. All of that aside this film is a lot of fun, wonderfully made, and has maybe the most amazing cast ever assembled...certainly the most amazing cast for a first time director. Bridges plays the younger brother of the dead president who discovers there was something not quite right about his big brothers death. Along the way he tangles with an assortment of wackos and oddjobs played by the likes of John Huston, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Boone, Sterling Hayden, Anthony Perkins, Toshiro Mifune, Eli Wallach, and a very delicious Belinda Bauer. This is one of those films you have to watch several times and each time it gets better and better. Don't rent this one, just go buy a copy. You won't be sorry. This is one of my favorite dvds.
