Crazy Heart (B or 3/4 stars)
'Crazy Heart', directed by newcomer Scott Cooper, has been described as a character study. I would strip it down even further than that - simply, it is a clinic in great American acting. And the sole reason to see this film is for Jeff Bridges' awesome portrayal as a washed-up, broken-down, hard-living 57 yr. old country music singer named Bad Blake. Bad Blake's life has been defined by an estranged son, too many marriages, too many one-night stands, too many miles clocked on the road, too much chain-smokin', & way too much booze. A former A-lister, Bad now travels in his beat-up 1978 Chevy Suburban from state to state, half-empty roadhouse to half-empty roadhouse, bowling alley to bowling alley, bar to bar. Bad goes through the motions; no matter where he stops. He cares not for perks; just wants to earn enough $$ to continue his bad habits. In one instance, Bad stumbles off stage to a back door to throw up in a garbage can.
But everything starts to change for him when performing in Santa Fe; and he agrees to be interviewed by local journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Jean is a single mom in her early 30's who admits to Bad that she, too, has made some mistakes in her young life. So while there is a large age gap, & a general odd match-up at hand, she is able to find the real man behind the facade of the broken musician. Against all odds, they are drawn to each other; finding something in each other that the other seems to lack. And the fact that Jean has a 4 yr. old boy (the age of Bad's son when he deserted him) gives Bad a 2nd chance to 'act-as-father'. But it's very hard to change a hardened man; & it certainly doesn't happen overnight. Bad's alcoholism rears its ugly head at a critical point in their relationship. And Jean wonders if it's worth hanging around him for the long haul. Can Bad redeem himself? Filled with regret, can his crazy heart recover?
'Crazy Heart' is, by all accounts, fairly ordinary. Unspectacular. The characters & situations have been done before (alcoholic coming to terms with addiction & facing his past). In fact, aside from Bad's drinking & a lost-child-in-the-mall segment, the film is conflict-free! In other words, the movie is Bad Blake & his interactions; little else. But 'CH' executes its cliched storyline very well. Maggie Gyllenhaal is impressive as Jean. I believed in her. Though, Gyllenhaal's voice - as Jean - bugged me throughout. Its whisper/thinness got under my skin. Still, very nice performance. Robert Duvall is great as Bad's much older buddy; loved a fishing scene btwn. the 2 of them. And Colin Farrell really impressed me as Tommy Sweet, a hot young country star who views Bad as a mentor; while Bad sees him as a upstart who's riding on the heels of his past successes. Farrell & Bridges share some very nice moments. And who knew Farrell could sing!?
But the beating heart of 'Crazy Heart' is Jeff Bridges' soul-bearing performance. I've seen the actor in dozens of movies over the years. And I think this is his finest performance. Bridges becomes Bad Blake; showing us vulnerability in his mushy, grizzled physicality, as well as drawing us deep inside his emotions. There's a quiet, nuanced intensity to everything he does in this role. It's worth noting that Bridges can sing really well, too. And it makes the portrayal all the more authentic & riveting. I did not particularly like how the movie ends (nothing manipulative, sweet, or catastrophic); it just felt inauthentic in a movie full of authentic moments. But overall, though it lacks any originality, & has its rough spots, this small, gentle film is salvaged by individual bouts of brilliance, & a "can't miss" performance from Bridges. And regarding the music (by Stephen Bruton & T-Bone Burnett) - I'm no country fan, but I really dug a lot of the original songs.
But everything starts to change for him when performing in Santa Fe; and he agrees to be interviewed by local journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Jean is a single mom in her early 30's who admits to Bad that she, too, has made some mistakes in her young life. So while there is a large age gap, & a general odd match-up at hand, she is able to find the real man behind the facade of the broken musician. Against all odds, they are drawn to each other; finding something in each other that the other seems to lack. And the fact that Jean has a 4 yr. old boy (the age of Bad's son when he deserted him) gives Bad a 2nd chance to 'act-as-father'. But it's very hard to change a hardened man; & it certainly doesn't happen overnight. Bad's alcoholism rears its ugly head at a critical point in their relationship. And Jean wonders if it's worth hanging around him for the long haul. Can Bad redeem himself? Filled with regret, can his crazy heart recover?
'Crazy Heart' is, by all accounts, fairly ordinary. Unspectacular. The characters & situations have been done before (alcoholic coming to terms with addiction & facing his past). In fact, aside from Bad's drinking & a lost-child-in-the-mall segment, the film is conflict-free! In other words, the movie is Bad Blake & his interactions; little else. But 'CH' executes its cliched storyline very well. Maggie Gyllenhaal is impressive as Jean. I believed in her. Though, Gyllenhaal's voice - as Jean - bugged me throughout. Its whisper/thinness got under my skin. Still, very nice performance. Robert Duvall is great as Bad's much older buddy; loved a fishing scene btwn. the 2 of them. And Colin Farrell really impressed me as Tommy Sweet, a hot young country star who views Bad as a mentor; while Bad sees him as a upstart who's riding on the heels of his past successes. Farrell & Bridges share some very nice moments. And who knew Farrell could sing!?
But the beating heart of 'Crazy Heart' is Jeff Bridges' soul-bearing performance. I've seen the actor in dozens of movies over the years. And I think this is his finest performance. Bridges becomes Bad Blake; showing us vulnerability in his mushy, grizzled physicality, as well as drawing us deep inside his emotions. There's a quiet, nuanced intensity to everything he does in this role. It's worth noting that Bridges can sing really well, too. And it makes the portrayal all the more authentic & riveting. I did not particularly like how the movie ends (nothing manipulative, sweet, or catastrophic); it just felt inauthentic in a movie full of authentic moments. But overall, though it lacks any originality, & has its rough spots, this small, gentle film is salvaged by individual bouts of brilliance, & a "can't miss" performance from Bridges. And regarding the music (by Stephen Bruton & T-Bone Burnett) - I'm no country fan, but I really dug a lot of the original songs.