THE MOMENT
Duane attacks Sonny
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Peter Bogdanovich’s melancholic coming-ofage classic The Last Picture Show closely observes the lives of a Texan community bound by profound ennui. And among the film’s many richly developed characters is Duane (Bridges), a strapping teen and promising athlete who’s dating the hottest girl in town, Jacy (Cybill Shepherd). Bridges’ moving portrayal of a young man struggling with impotence and disillusionment is a unique balance of brooding melancholy and electrifying charisma. His standout moment comes in the film’s most explosive scene: having left town after Jacy dumped him, Duane returns months later to discover his best friend Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) has started seeing her since he’s been away. Feeling betrayed, Duane goes to confront him, and a dig at his bedroom struggles sends Duane over the edge. He violently smashes a bottle into Sonny’s face, leaving him bloodied and near-blind. Duane’s total lack of self-awareness throughout this confrontation — and Bridges’ effortless keying into the character’s child-like impetuosity and heartfelt pain — turn a scene that could have easily felt soap opera-esque into a visceral evocation of innocence shattered. Critic Pauline Kael once suggested Bridges may be the most natural actor to have ever lived. His astonishingly mature turn here is still our most potent reminder why.