Plot: Alcoholic country singer Otis "Bad" Blake (Jeff Bridges) has seen better days. The fifty-seven year old former country star has resigned himself to touring various bowling alleys and bars in his '78 Suburban. Broke, alone, and feeling betrayed by his former protege Tommy Sweet, (Colin Farrell) Blake's life is living up to his nickname. But when a chance encounter with reporter Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhall) stirs the creative spirit "Bad" thought he lost, Blake discovers that, like the adage says, sometimes "the older the violin, the sweeter the music."
Review: The concept of a washed-up, alcoholic, and broke country singer seems almost cliche nowadays. I mean the whole idea sounds like...well...a country song. Yet somehow director Scott Cooper's film adaptation of the 1987 Thomas Cobb novel breathes new life into an oft tried theme. Bridges is remarkable as "Bad" Blake, a role for which he won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Actor. And in case anyone thinks that golden statue might be a lifetime achievement award, think again. Bridges delivers a dynamite performance. Left in the hands of a less capable actor, we might have ended up with a very pedestrian character. Instead we get to see many sides of "Bad"; alcoholic, musical genius, charmer, user, absent father, friend, and lover. Often times the most memorable characters are the ones who we root for in spite of their flaws. "Bad" is one of those characters. He's often crass and cowardly but he's also kind and loving. You laugh when you see "Bad" curse out his agent and feel for "Bad" when he tells Wayne (Robert Duvall) he wants to get sober. All of that is solely because of Jeff Bridges. This is his best role since The Big Lebowski. Not to be outdone is Bridges's co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays Blake's love interest Jean. Easily her best role to date (she also received an Oscar nomination for Crazy Heart) Gyllenhaal delivers a powerful performance. Although the character of a "single mother with trust issues" has also been done ad nauseum, Gyllenhaal succeeds in Crazy Heart. Her intense love of "Bad" and her son Buddy is just as passionate and powerful as her love of writing. In Crazy Heart Gyllenhaal proves why she's not just Jake Gyllenhaal's sister anymore. Although the chemistry sizzles between Gyllenhaal and Bridges, the same can not be said for Bridges and Farrell. I never quite believed the strained relationship between "Bad" and his protege Tommy Sweet. The Irish born actor seemed out of place in this film. Additionally, the relationship between Blake and Wayne was severely underdeveloped. It just seemed strange for an actor of Robert Duvall's caliber to have such a throw away, minor role. Aside from Bridges's and Gyllenhaal's performances, the two elements of Crazy Heart that really brought the film together were its cinematography and music. Barry Markowitz's visual depiction of the American southwest are as rich and vivid as Blake's music. The music of Stephen Bruton, T-Bone Burnett, and Ryan Bingham crystallizes this character study in a way few other soundtracks have before. The movie's signature song "The Weary Kind" is particularly memorable. (And trust me this is saying a lot coming from me who aside from "The Charlie Daniels Band" and Johnny Cash hates country music.) Aside from Bridges and Gyllenhaal, I have to commend director Scott Cooper for his amazing work. Crazy Heart could have easily turned into a "Bubba Shot the Jukebox." Instead it's a "The Devil Went Down To Georgia." That's how ya do it son.
My rating: 9/10
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