THE OLD MAN: A Review Of The New Jeff Bridges Series

Introduction

The Old Man, which airs on Thursdays on the FX network, halted production back in 2020. At the time, its star, Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges, was battling cancer, and subsequently also fighting a debilitating case of COVID-19. As a result, the show was put on the shelf. Thankfully, Bridges’ cancer is in remission and the world has somewhat returned to normal. With that said, it’s no strange coincidence that sickness, mortality, as well as paranoia, all play a huge part in this absolutely tremendous series. 

With the introduction of “prestige” television to the masses, there has been a rush for all the major streaming platforms to secure and fund top-notch talent and production. Within the last decade, performers at the level of Al Pacino, Jane Fonda, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Matthew McConaughey all have reaped the benefits of fronting some of television’s most acclaimed shows. To that end, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine have created a thriller that is the perfect vehicle for the 72-year-old Bridges.

Synopsis

In The Old Man, Jeff Bridges portrays Dan Chase, a former C.I.A. operative who was deep inside the covert US-funded proxy war that its government was waging during Afghanistan’s war with the Soviet Union in the early 1980s. Betraying the Agency and his colleagues, Chase is forced to go underground, where he remained for 30 years. Rebuilding an assumed new life with a loving wife and daughter, Chase is abruptly confronted by his past as the series opens.

During the present time, we see Chase, an aging widower, getting up all hours of the night to pee. With his two faithful Rottweilers at his side, Chase lumbers to the bathroom, making the moaning noises that older men make. Chase’s wife, Abbey (Hiam Abbass) has since passed on five years earlier, succumbing to dementia. Chase suffers through nightmares about her, sitting on the bathroom floor, the sink overflowing with water.

One night, after being awoken from another nightmare, Chase, and his dogs hear an intruder breaking into the house. The viewer quickly realizes that Dan Chase is not just another aging retiree. Displaying incredible strength and stealth skills for a 70-year-old, Chase subdues and kills the mysterious assailant. He then proceeds to “fix” the crime scene by making it look like a shootout, whereby Chase was defending himself. Chase’s past has finally caught up with him.

Communicating with his daughter via cell phone, Chase explains to her that things are not what they seem and that he must leave immediately. As he packs and prepares to once again disappear, Chase receives a call from Harold Harper (John Lithgow), an old friend/colleague in the FBI. Now, a figurehead who has moved up in the ranks, Harper is ready to take Chase down. However, he offers him the opportunity to disappear forever, severing all ties with his daughter. If Chase refuses, Harper and the FBI will go after her, as well as him.

As it turns out, Chase doesn’t take the offer. Harper, who clearly seems to respect and care about Chase, orders a team to take him, alive. This leads to some incredible hand-to-hand combat scenes featuring Bridges. Additionally, we see the further development of Chase and Harper’s characters via 30-year-old flashback sequences starring Bill Heck as the younger Dan Chase and Christopher Redman playing a young Harold Harper. These scenes take place during the explosion of the Russian/Afghanistan conflict in the early 1980s.

With Chase on the run, he winds up in the home of troubled divorcee Zoe McDonald (Amy Brenneman). A sad and lonely woman, she quickly falls for Chase (and his cooking skills) and winds up in the crosshairs of the massive manhunt that is now underway. McDonald’s character represents the viewer who is both completely freaked out and scared of Chase’s horrific past. Yet, she also feels drawn to his protective personality as well as his warmth and kindness.

Analysis

The Old Man, for people over the age of 40, and perhaps younger, offers the viewer something unique and glorious. Jeff Bridges kicking serious ass at the age of 70 is truly a sight to behold. If you look at Twitter and social media as a whole, you’ll see that Bridges has become something of a national treasure. Forever memorialized in the iconic Coen Brothers classic The Big Lebowski (1998), the actor has chosen his roles carefully in the ensuing 25 years, culminating in an Oscar win for Crazy Heart (2009). If you’ve ever listened to a podcast with Bridges, the “Yeah, man” persona has become part of who this likable human being is.

All of this adds to the inspired casting of Bridges as a washed-out, on-the-run CIA spook who has been living a lie for the past 30 years. Bridges, in his typical casual and authentic style, delivers a blunt and powerful performance. Even if the writing gets a bit stereotypical at times, it doesn’t matter. When Bridges is on-screen, you cannot look away. One could watch the veteran actor cook eggs for hours. Add to that the physicality and violence that he lends to the role, and it’s easy to see why this limited series was quickly picked up for a second season.

John Lithgow’s performance as Harold Harper, while in the shadow of Bridges’ lead role, cannot be understated. The 76-year-old actor is at his absolute best trying to foil Dan Chase at every turn, yet showing subtle sympathy and compassion for his former friend. The duality in both actors’ performances is what drives the series forward. Dan Chase is kind, loving, and loyal, yet a stone-cold killer. Amy Brenneman, while a bit underused thus far, delivers a solid performance as a lonely middle-aged divorcee who just wants to be loved.

The Cast

While the performances in The Old Man are fantastic across the board, the series is centered around and belongs to, the legendary Jeff Bridges. He is the focal point of this fantastic show. He’s also performing at a high level which will assuredly be recognized come time for the Emmy 2023 nominations. All of the actors in this seven-episode limited series are doing a fine job selling this fantastical tale. Brenneman emits the same sorrow-filled yet alluring vibe she did in Heat (1995) and the HBO series The Leftovers (2014).

John Lithgow is, as usual, fantastic. The scenes (over the phone) between Bridges and Lithgow crackle with energy. These two veteran actors are the absolute best thing about this series. Lithgow is an expert at being smarmy, and he’s dialing it up all the way here. His character is in charge, smarter than you, and not afraid to tell you. Joel Grey in a guest-starring role is absolutely chewing up the scenery as Morgan Bote, Chase’s mentor and a man with serious connections.

Hiam Abbass, of Succession fame, is criminally underused as the late wife of Chase. Her ghostly scenes with Bridges are some of the series’ most frightening. Alia Shawkat does a fine job as Angela Adams. As Harper’s FBI protege, her character, through four episodes, is somewhat ambiguous. She clearly has something to hide. Bill Heck as a young Dan Chase and Christopher Redman as a young Harold Harper are intriguing in the flashback scenes. Their aping of Bridges and Lithgow is almost so good that it distracts you from the performance.

Conclusion

FX, Jonathan E. Steinberg, and Robert Levine have assembled a fantastic cast, a great premise, along with solid writing. When you combine these elements with rousing action sequences and an award-worthy performance from Jeff Bridges, it’s easy to see why critics and viewers alike are calling The Old Man one of the very best dramas on television.

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