Bridges, who plays Bill Django, head of the military’s psychic division, took part in experiments with isolation tanks during the seventies.
Isolation tanks are like small enclosed bathtubs, in which the participant floats in total silence and darkness. The sensory deprivation was supposed to help foster inner awareness.
John Lilly, the inventor of the isolation tank, was a friend of Jeff Bridges during the seventies and invited Bridges to participate in experiments testing communication between humans and dolphins.
“I was actually a guinea pig for [Lilly]. I am in books that he has written about it … and it’s fascinating,” said Bridges.
On the topic of psychic abilities, Bridges left the door open.
“I think that what is going on is much farther out than what we believe is going on … I am certain of that,” said Bridges.
Staring at Goats
The Men Who Stare at Goats stars Ewan McGregor as journalist Bob Wilton, who stumbles into a military psychic spy, Lyn Cassidy, played by George Clooney.
Cassidy begins to divulge to Wilton the history of the military’s psychic division, which leads him on a trail of unimaginable and hilariously unexpected twists and turns, including experiments where Cassidy attempts to kill goats by staring at them.
Bridges’ character, Bill Django, is a Vietnam veteran who is hired by the U.S. military to head up the military’s psychic division and train soldiers to become, what is referred to in the film as “Jedi Warriors.”
The cast also includes Kevin Spacey and Robert Patrick. The Men Who Stare at Goats opens nationally on Nov. 6.
