The Dude Abides

I just wanted to take time to say how fulfilling it was for me to see Jeff Bridges win the Academy Award last night for Best Male Performance in a Leading Role. It’s not that I have a personal relationship with the actor or have even met him. For quite a while I’ve been amazed at Bridges’ acting ability and for him to finally receive recognition for his performance in Crazy Heart is well-justified and proof of his incredible talent.

My favorite Bridges movie? Hands down, The Big Lebowski. Ok, so maybe playing an unemployed burned out stoner in search of some rich guy’s wife whom he happens to share a name with might not be the most challenging role. But the thing about Bridges is that whether he’s playing “The Dude,” or horse owner Charles Howard in Seabiscuit, or Country musician Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, he gives a performance that lets you believe that he is those characters and you wouldn’t be able to imagine anybody else playing the part.

So, here’s to Jeff Bridges on his well-deserved Oscar win last night.