Crazy Heart
In his directorial debut, Scott Cooper tells the story of a down but
not quite out country singer Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges). The film relies
heavily on the actor’s interpretative skills and the performances he
receives are outstanding throughout, especially Bridges who delivers a
career-defining role.
Bereft of luck and reduced to playing in bowling alleys and coffee
shops, Bad Blake is in the twilight of his career and barely holding
on. His alcoholic and stubborn ways have prevented him from enjoying
the gilded life that many of his contemporaries are enjoying. This
includes one of his earlier writing and performing partners, Tommy Sweet
(Colin Farrell).
The film’s believability is greatly aided by the fact that Jeff Bridges
can actually play and sing. The songs in the film are also quite
affecting and even if you are not a country music fan, their emotional
impact will still be felt. Farrell also sings his own songs and has a
surprisingly good singing voice. Maggie Gyllenhaal as single mom Jean
Craddock is also very convincing even if the motivations for her
romantic interest in Blake aren’t.
Throughout the film you get the sense that things are heading to a
tragic finale and it’s to the filmmakers credit that they come up with
an end that satisfies without being completely unbelievable, if fact
the way that the end mirrors real life gives the film its most lasting
impact. Rob Hudson www.foxsearchlight.com
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