Jeff Bridges Tests Himself in Two New Films

For years, admiring the American Critics Have Been calling Jeff Bridges "our most unappreciated great actor."

Then they Went and won an Oscar last year for "Crazy Heart." Congrats, That description HAD To Be Retired.

"Yeah, I got stroked pretty well last year," they drawls over the phone. "The Oscars, man, that was a really great night. I was sorry my (late) parents weren't there in the flesh, But I grieve That Felt Them in the room. I Felt Them All Over The Place That Night. "

But Bridges, 61 - whose first nomination HAD come at 22, for "The Last Picture Show" - Did not take the win as a cue Thurs finally kick back. Instead, they Went into very Different, and very Difficult movies.

In the just-opened "Tron: Legacy," a much belated sequel to the 1982 sci-fi picture, they plays two parts - Including a computerized alter ego who's gone through the CGI Fountain of Youth.

And in the fun of "True Grit," opening Friday, they reteams with the Coen Brothers, 12 Years After "The Big Lebowski,"to re-create the larger-Than-Life Rooster Cogburn, the ornery marshal once iconically Played by John Wayne .

"Any time I get the chance to Work with Those guys I take the Opportunity Seriously," they says of the Coens. "But I did not Want To Have To Try Thurs imitate John Wayne. So it was a relief When They Told Me They Were really referencing the novel by Charles Portis. And "when I read the book, 'Could I see why. It's very Coenesque. "

The Western casts Bridges as a two-fisted shooter - and Drinker - WHO hires is proudly Thurs facilitate a prim 14-year-old track down the Varmint WHO murdered her father. Along the Way They Also find a grudging Respect For Each Other and, Eventually, a kind of Platonic affection.

"He Is Such an incredible guy," says Hailee Steinfeld, WHO Makes a great debut as the film's Coffee. "They is Exactly what you see, so humble and down-to-earth - you spend 10 minutes with him and you just fall in love."