Hollywood’s Texas Ranger

Hell or High Water is the sleeper movie hit of the summer; Jeff Bridges’ portrayal of Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton might nab him a second Oscar. Tellingly, Bridges’ performance is a matured echo of Nick Nolte’s acting, nearly 30 years earlier, as Ranger Jack Benteen in 1987’s Extreme Prejudice. Both characters share the same steely gaze, the white Resistol hats and dark Western shirts buttoned to the top, the stiff-shouldered amble, the raspy back-of-the-throat speech. Not surprising, s