MovieChat Forums > The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) Discussion > Jeff Bridges in his Coolest Role?

Jeff Bridges in his Coolest Role?

posted 16 years ago by ecarle
24 replies | jump to latest

I know there are a lotta Lebowski fans out there, but honestly, Jeff was just cool deluxe in this thing, yes?

The generally deadpan and non-commital way he carrieshimself early on, always doing great work at the piano but holding in his bitterness about his real feelings as best he could. The not-saying-much. The smoking (smoking can be cool to LOOK at, still.) The longish hair. The long overcoats. The vulnerability. The attitude.

Brother Beau -- certainly handsome enough in his own way and much more so in his younger days -- bravely played the older, paunchier, square brother and let brother Jeff take over in the charisma department. It was as if the two brothers were willing to confront the brutal honesty of stardom in Hollywood: you're a star (Jeff) or you're not (Beau.) It all gets sorted out.

Jeff Bridges has been a star of sorts for many years (starting pretty much as an unformed, plump-faced youngin' in "Last Picture Show"), but honestly, in "The Fabulous Baker Boys"...he's a movie star, all the way. Grown up, matured, manly. Joe Cool.

P.S. Writer on film David Thomson wrote that Jeff Bridges reached Robert Mitchum-like levels of coolness in this film.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ecarle 16 years ago

SPOILERS

Well, perhaps suave and cool. He looks suave, he acts cool.

I posted this because I just saw the movie again and when I can get on imdb, I try to get away from my usual stuff (Hitch) from time to time.

"The Fabulous Baker Boys" is somewhat solemn, but it is also a fine character piece about how certain things in life simply can't go on anymore -- like a brother piano act with only one genius in it -- and how change is uncertain but necessary in life. The brothers will still be friends. Jeff might just get Michelle.

The movie has gorgeous cinematography (by Michael Ballhous, and never greater than in the long sequence in which a gold-hued hotel room is contrasted with a royal blue night sky as the three leads interact on a balcony) which, mixed with the melancholy jazz score, rather seeps Bridges performance in suave cool.

Oh, yeah, Michelle Pfieffer (I can't spell it) was great, too. Her greatest role, in some ways, a carry-on of her great work in "Scarface" (tough but hurt), and a dry run for her multi-layered and funny Catwoman in "Batman Returns." But honestly, she makes "Feelings" work as an actual song, not a joke. That's great singing. That's great acting.

Alas, she doesn't work much anymore...

[–] gwen24 16 years ago

I was interested to read your comments about this film, which is a favourite of mine. The mention of Robert Mitchum's name linked with the Bridges' reminds me that Beau actually worked in a film (The Red Pony) with Robert Mitchum when they were both quite young.

[–] ecarle 16 years ago

Thanks. I did not know that about "The Red Pony."

Career intersections across time....

I might add that Jeff Bridges' coolness in "The Fabulous Baker Boys" is now almost 20 years ago...and he's still cool today! He seems to have "Iron Man" next, and he's done gone and shaved his head and added a goatee. Cool.

[–] Connie_n_Raymond_Marble 15 years ago

Jeff Bridges is ALWAYS cool and makes really interesting choices as an actor. I think he's incredibly underrated.

We'll see whose the filthiest person alive! We'll just see!

[–] onleft23 14 years ago

ecarel wrote,
' ... The movie has gorgeous cinematography (by Michael Ballhous, and never greater than in the long sequence in which a gold-hued hotel room is contrasted with a royal blue night sky as the three leads interact on a balcony) which, mixed with the melancholy jazz score, rather seeps Bridges performance in suave cool. ...'

yes very well pointed out
the cinematography in fbb is quite excellent
really imparts a specific mood to the film

right from the getgo too the opening shot sort of glides you in
to both jack baker's 'thing' (for lack of adequate descriptive skills on my part) and seattle itself at 'the dimming of the day'

and as the scene plays out - as we (the camera) watch jack make his way to that night's gig - the camera work really pulled me in
this was an interesting character living in a city with a definite feel to it
i wanted to go along for the story to see where he and it went

t/y for giving me ballhous' name
ive watched fbb at least a half dozen times over the years now since seeing it at the theatre
and today i know something new & cool about it that i didnt yesterday

[–] LTUM 13 years ago

good points. i think you nailed it

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behold, sublime genius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0

[–] netshopper-2 15 years ago

Jeff played Jack Baker. Beau played Frank Baker.

[–] Ram_Bowen 14 years ago

I don't know about cool, maybe some think Jack Baker is cool, but he's certainly a very sad person. Still, one of Bridges' best roles!

Jeff Bridges is above cool if you ask me.

[–] onleft23 14 years ago

ecarle,
' ... I know there are a lotta Lebowski fans out there, but honestly, Jeff was just cool deluxe in this thing, yes? ...'

no doubt about it bridges caught 'it' in the role

i dig him alot too in 'against all odds' toss up which part
is more cool

both pre 'his dudeness' characters and part of me wouldnt mind
if jeff labowski had been played by some other actor
but part of me gets a big kick out 'bowling bridges'

as jack said to susie about frank, 'well ... he grows on ya after a while'
after barely not walking of the big lebowski the first time i saw it
it has grown on me over the years

jeff bridges is just a heckuva actor but i think im preaching to a choir
here ...

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Patrick_Bateman718 13 years ago

The popularity of The Dude and The Big Lebowski is a fad? A fad that has lasted over 10 years. That's some fad.

[–] ecarle 13 years ago

On other matters:

I first entered this post on Jeff's coolness in "Fabulous Baker Boys" over two years ago, and in the interim, he has won an Oscar for his work in "Crazy Heart"(playing a different, much older kind of musical genius in failed circumstances) and is currently delivering the sublime Old Coot Killer Cool of Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit."

I recently saw True Grit, and just saw "Baker Boys" again the other night on cable. What was a little bit sad was the realization of how much Bridges has aged since "Baker Boys"(1989 -- Bridges was about 40) to "True Grit"(even accounting for old man bad-skin make-up, Bridges is REALLY 61.)

But: Jeff Bridges is still handsome, has become a bigger star than ever...and is still way cool.

[–] viewer-1230 13 years ago

Your analysis is about the brother Bridges is pretty much spot on. I finally saw this film after all this years and really got into it. I thought the scene in the garage near the end was a really powerful one. I have two brothers and over the years I see them less and less so it made me reflect on some of that relationship they have. Of course being brothers in real life did really add an extra element to the scenes together the Bridges had together. All and all a really nice little character drama!

[–] ecarle 13 years ago

Thanks. I assume the movie was devised so that non-brothers could have played the brothers -- they usually do (like the Godfather brothers.) But somebody got it to the Bridges and the rest is history.

Again, I think Beau Bridges was quite brave to appear in a movie in which his brother was practically swathed in glamour close-ups (that Ballhous photography) half the time, even as Beau looked like the paunchy dweeb. But it felt like the Brothers Bridges had to do it like that, just one time. I hear they remain very close today, nothing personal about Jeff's star status. Jeff probably spreads the superstar pay around in the Bridges family.

In the thread above, I like how some have "refined" the take on Jeff Bridges in this to add "suave" and "sad" to the characterization.

Jeff did it all in this one, now almost 22 years old!

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

I saw this film the other day and enjoyed it. Now I see why Jeff went on to do "Crazy Heart". He's like a thinking man's musician always plumbing the why's of his existence and his relationships. Smart guy that Dude!...;-)......
And I don't know I think his father had great acting genes to pass down. I have to say I wonder if Mr. J Bridges believes he 'works' when he acts. He's like pure natural up there on the screen.

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[–] LTUM 13 years ago

wow, his coolest? he has had so many to pick from

i think it is one of his coolest roles. but i also liked him in against all odds. and in crazy heart. the dude was cool too.

as i said he has had so many. but yeah he pulled this one off. i think it was a very deep interesting characters

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behold, sublime genius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0

[–] a-a-r 13 years ago

Home sick toady and just saw this for the first time... Another said 'pre-coolness.' I like that thought. He was quite cool and sexy in this, to be playing a lounge piano player.

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