Movie Review: Crazy Heart

by Justin Velasquez

February 18, 2010

There is an air of familiarity in veiwing the feature Crazy Heart.  It is a very common, yet compelling film that deals with the always reliable theme of redemption.  Crazy Heart is written and directed by newcomer Scott Cooper and is based on the 1987 Thomas Cobb novel of the same name. 

Crazy Heart is a drama that follows the winding music career of Bad Blake (played exquisitely by Jeff Bridges), a country singer who's down in the dumps.  At one time a star, Bad is now relegated to playing shows at various bowling alleys and bars.  Bad seeks to make a comeback but doesn't have an idea how to accomplish that task.

Bad travels the road alone, desperately rushing to get to his next show.  He has a grown son but hasn't had contact with him or his son's mother in years.  He has little cash and any cash he does have goes towards buying alcohol.  His habit is troublesome and it's obvious that his alcoholism will rear its ugly head throughout - it's just a matter of how much it's going to affect him and those around him.  Bad is also bitter because country's biggest star at the moment, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), is a former prodigy of his.  All of this comes swirling back uncontrollably as he tries to pick up the pieces of his trainwreck life.

A glimmer of hope shines through the dark clouds when he meets Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).  Jean is a young journalist looking to interview Bad.  During one of his stops they get to know each other before, after and during one of his shows.  Jean sees past all of Bad's difficulties and finds beneath it a sincere man who wants to be wanted.  The attraction grows, and their relationship is the one positive that may be enough to get Bad's life back together.

Any of this seem familiar?  It should since Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke made a film last year called The Wrestler, which contains within it the same theme of redemption and desperation.  Rourke is a washed-up pro wrestler, Bridges is a washed-up country singer.  They are both loners because of their emotional detachments.  They both are motivated to become better men thanks to love of a woman. 

Bridges, for over four decades, has been the most incredible of actors - his role as Bad Blake is every bit as impressive as any of his past performances, maybe his best.  Rourke followed a different path and his real-life comeback mirrored the comeback his Randy "The Ram" Robinson tried to make.  The Wrestler, honestly, is a much better film that's more moving and emotional, but Crazy Heart has something that The Wrestler doesn't - Jeff Bridges.

Bridges is the number one reason to see this film.  It's not a statement denouncing Crazy Heart as poor - it's a declaration of the incredible performance that Bridges puts forth in it.  His performance is so good that he elevated a decent film and made it memorable.  He is truly unforgettable here and his forlorn, failure of a man shines brightly on the screen.  You feel sorry for him and can't help but root for him to make good.

Bridges, in case you're wondering has never won an Oscar. Not one.  With his recent best actor nomination for this role, this is fifth official invite to the big party.  His performance here is more than enough to win and he should win, unless the Academy lacks a heart.

Crazy Heart is moving, romantic and sad and its results are quite an accomplishment for writer-director Scott Cooper.  This film had to leap through many hoops just to make it to the big screen.  Its resiliency is a testament of the quality performances emanating from it.  Besides Bridges and Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart features solid, but very small performances from Academy Award winner Robert Duvall and Farrell.  Add to that some great music and Crazy Heart is worth checking out.

Three out of Four Stars