Gail sees a movie: Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges gives a brilliant and captivating performance as Bad Blake, and makes us really care about this washed up country musician. The story is not new, but Bridges makes it feel fresh. The concert scenes are exciting, the story is engaging and the milieu feels authentic. It is not a great film, but it sure is good.
Country musician Bad Blake has loads of talent, but he is a lifelong alcoholic with several failed marriages behind him. He is at odds with his former protégé Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell). Sweet is playing big stadium concerts, while Blake lives in his car as he plays bars and bowling alleys in small towns across the country. He has the chance to make some money writing songs for Sweet, but resentment, alcohol and writer’s block get in his way. But Blake’s hopeless and lonely life changes when he becomes involved with reporter Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her 4-year-old son Buddy (Jack Nation). Soon Blake gets a gig as the opening act for Sweet and he starts writing songs. But will love and a little success be enough to combat a lifetime of alcoholism?
Bridges infuses Blake with charm and vulnerability, and makes us root for a character that could be annoying in lesser hands. When Blake walks into a liquor store with little money in his pocket, the store owner recognizes him and buys him a bottle of his favorite liquor. He then asks Blake to dedicate a song to him and his wife. Blake learns their names and repeats, “Bill and Beverly,” with enthusiasm. His smile is warm and genuine, and his obvious gratitude at the free booze is a little heartbreaking. Blake’s embarrassment at not being dressed when meeting Jean reads as charming. The flirting glances Bridges and Gyllenhaal exchange at their first meeting make the romance between Blake and Jean believable, despite the ridiculous more than 20 year age difference. When Jean asks Bad Blake about his real name, he answers with pride mixed with self deprecation, “I was born Bad. When I die my tombstone will have my real name on it. Till then, I’m just gonna stay Bad.” Bridges pitches his voice lower than usual and affects country accents and intonations. Combined with his lumbering gait, grey beard and heavier frame, he is utterly convincing and completely charming as Bad Blake. Bridges is somewhat musically inclined and worked with a vocal coach for his singing in the film. He looks natural and confident during the performance scenes and his country vocals are strong enough to make the performing scenes both convincing and enjoyable.
Crazy Heart boasts a strong soundtrack, with original music by Stephen Bruton and T-Bone Burnett. The big stadium concert scenes are exciting, but even more enjoyable are the performances in bowling alleys and bars. Director Scott Cooper gives these scenes an intimacy and an authenticity that are not only moving, but also reveal the importance of music to Blake, as well as his connection to the audience. The screenplay, also by Cooper and based on the novel by Thomas Cobb, is sincere but predictable. The film contains the expected scenes of Blake vomiting, crashing his car and experiencing romantic problems due to alcohol abuse. Blake’s journey to recovery and a rejuvenated career are a bit too pat and quick, but Bridges, the music and the story are still engaging.
People are comparing this film unfavorably to 2008’s The Wrestler, and it is an unfair comparison. There are some surface similarities, but Bad Blake and Bridges are much more likable than Mickey Rourke‘s Randy. Yes, Crazy Heart lacks some of the grittiness and emotional depth of The Wrestler, but Crazy Heart is a more hopeful film, and easier to watch. I enjoyed it while I watched it, and felt good leaving the theater. These days, that is saying a lot.
Crazy Heart. Directed by Scott Cooper. Jeff Bridges (Bad Blake) Maggie Gyllenhaal ( Jean Craddock), Colin Farrell (Tommy Sweet), Robert Duvall (Wayne) and Jack Nation (Buddy). Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2009.
Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.
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I loved this movie. I didn’t think I was going to find the relationship between Bridges and Gyllenhaal believable, not so much because the age difference, but he was such a mess in the beginning. However, they made it work, and it seemed very genuine and loving.
Thanks for your comment, Louisa. I thinkk that because Bridges made Bad a sweet and loving guy, despite his problems, the relationship worked.
I didn’t know T-Bone Burnett did the music. Maybe I’ll see it after all. I’m still bitter that Zombieland had nothing to do with the T-Bone Burnett song of the same name.