The Old Man

As many acclaimed film actors have migrated towards television, it was about that time for Jeff Bridges to do the same. Considering Bridges is now in his seventies and he’s been in the industry for most of his life, the decision to lead in a series was probably not necessary. Necessary or not however, fans are sure to be glad that he chose to do so. The Old Man is a new FX show that is slowly but surely grabbing the attention of audiences everywhere, and Jeff Bridges is the headliner. Thus far, there’s not much to complain about.

The Old Man is an action thriller for the ages with Jeff Bridges giving audiences the pinnacle performance of his long career

Bridges is the ‘old man’ in The Old Man; fitting title for a show about a man who probably doesn’t have much longer in this life. Bridges plays Dan Chase, a retired CIA asset who has been living a quiet existence for roughly thirty years. When an attempt on his life is made one random evening, Chase’s instincts tell him that this isn’t likely to be the last time. Using his knowledge and training, Chase leaves his home and sets out to insure his safety and the safety of those who are close to him. Based on the novel written by Thomas Perry, The Old Man is an action thriller for the ages with Jeff Bridges giving audiences the pinnacle performance of his long career.

FX and their creative team seem to be making a hard step towards realism. The fight scenes shy away from any sort of complex choreography or over exaggeration of events. The action scenes are raw, gritty, and designed with the intent to convey the realistic chaos of true hand to hand combat. Jeff Bridges accommodates these directing choices succinctly, and his age actually serves as an added benefit when considering how hard it would for someone that old to fight for their survival. Bridges also carries the brunt of the acting load as well, though he is aided by the prowess of John Lithgow who is in a much different role than he used to playing. Bridges’ objectives are obvious and executed transparently, but Lithgow’s performance as FBI agent Harold Harper plays his cards closer to the chest. His ambitions are initially mysterious, but are steadily and gradually revealed as the story moves forward. The only real relevant criticism to be made is in the pacing of the series, which is somewhat slow, so viewers with attention issues should be advised beforehand.

Regardless of how quickly The Old Man moves, the payoff is there for each episode. Each new release provides a key piece of information that further explains what is happening with Chase. The series has yet to conclude its first season, but all signs point to a climactic conclusion to what is already proving to be an incredibly engrossing tale. The current feedback has been so impressive it’s already been renewed for a second season despite it having not even finished the first. If that’s not incentive to try it out, then no other argument will be convincing enough.