How Jeff Bridges’ Brush with Death Makes The Old Man Essential Viewing

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As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for delving into the lives of the actors I admire, I must say that Jeff Bridges‘ performance in “The Old Man” is nothing short of extraordinary. The man has played a myriad of roles throughout his illustrious career, but Dan Chase is a character like no other.

⚠️ Beware of spoilers! This piece discusses spoilers related to ‘The Old Man’.

Dan (or Johnny or Henry or Peter or whatever his name is this week) is a former CIA operative who has been living off the grid since he absconded from Afghanistan with Belour (Leem Lubany/Hiam Abbass), the wife of the warlord, Faraz Hamzad (Pej Vahdat/Navid Negahban), he served during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. He lived this way peacefully for 30 years until one night someone breaks into his house and he’s forced to go on the run.

The story of The Old Man alone would be enough to get people’s attention, but Bridges also went through a cancer diagnosis and a bout of COVID-19 during the production. Plus, shooting for the second season was halted by the 2023 Writer’s Guild and Screen Actor’s Guild strikes. That makes Bridges’ return to the screen for The Old Man especially welcome.

Jeff Bridges Got Two Tough Diagnoses

During filming of his first season role in “The Old Man,” Jeff Bridges received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Not only did he undergo cancer treatment, but while he was receiving chemotherapy, he contracted COVID-19 and spent five weeks in the hospital recovering from it. This period was quite challenging for Bridges, but he recalls it with his typical resilient spirit, as he shared in an interview with Salon.

In such a situation, it makes you acutely aware of the importance of love in your life, even if it may seem sentimental.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t ready to fight for his life just yet. Bridges explains, “I remember my doctor saying to me, ‘Jeff, you’re not fighting. You’ve got to fight.’ I had no idea what they were talking about. I was in surrender mode.” Even after Bridges decided to fight it was a long road to recovery. He says, “I gave myself these little goals and I didn’t think I was going to work again…. And then my daughter Hayley was getting married, and she said, “Come on, dad, walk me down the aisle.” …. It was difficult.”

Apart from fulfilling his daughter’s needs, the experience ignited a spark within him to resume work on “The Old Man”. As he escorted her down the aisle, thoughts crossed his mind such as “Perhaps I can revisit and reignite ‘The Old Man’ once more.” And indeed, I did. Zach, my coach, assisted me in this endeavor. He was exceptionally good at providing just the right amount of challenges while allowing me to progress at my own pace. I valued that aspect immensely.

Returning to “The Old Man” serves as a powerful demonstration of Bridges’ dedication to his profession and his audience. Despite having only three episodes remaining when he departed for cancer treatment, he made a triumphant return a year later, announcing that he was cancer-free and COVID-19 negative. Since then, he has continued to film the second season of the show.

The Old Man Is About Aging Men and the Sins of Their Youth

The Old Man might be ideally suited for a maturing Jeff Bridges as it encourages more seasoned actors like him and John Lithgow to face the consequences of their past actions during their youth. These actions, daring and audacious, have left lasting impacts on their lives. Lithgow’s character, Harold Harper, previously assisted Dan Chase and Belour in escaping Afghanistan, and now, 30 years on, someone is not only targeting Dan but also threatening to disrupt Harold’s life.

In a natural and easy-to-understand way, here’s how you could rephrase that:

It’s evident that everyone involved, including Bridges himself, had to maintain both their physical and emotional energy to accurately portray these characters. When queried about this by Salon, here’s what Bridges responded:

It’s as if no time has passed at all when you return, finding familiar faces that make you feel like you’ve merely extended a weekend. It’s almost like instinct, or a kind of muscle memory… But with Amy Brenneman, John Lithgow, and Alia Shawkat in the mix, it becomes an exceptional ensemble, adding the extra touch that truly matters.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself deeply moved while watching “The Old Man.” Jeff Bridges’ riveting behind-the-scenes account of his battles with cancer, COVID-19, and strikes adds an extraordinary layer of emotion to the film. It’s nothing short of miraculous that we can still witness the exceptional talent of Jeff Bridges on screen, making him a beacon of hope for us moviegoers.

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2024-09-30 00:01