MOVIE REVIEW: CRAZY HEART
Crazy Heart
Director: Scott Cooper
Screenplay: Scott Cooper
TRT: 111 Minutes (R) for language and brief sexuality
Cast
Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jean Craddock
Robert Duvall as Wayne
Peacock Feathers (3 1/2 out of 5)
By Marcus Thorpe
The Dude goes country? At first I was a little skeptical about Jeff Bridges taking to the stage and belting out some country music, but he hits the right note, even if the film is just a little off-key.
Crazy Heart is a simple concept, very much like a country song. It is a little cliché too, music star was on top, falls off the star, loses the girl, turns to drinking, tries to make a comeback, must conquer demons. Front and center for the entire film is Bad Blake (Bridges). He was the country music act, but is a bit removed from his musical glory. In fact, he is down and nearly out. Booked to play in seedy clubs, and bowling alleys, this once mighty voice in the business, is being drowned out by younger, new country, and drowning himself in booze. One of those rising to the top, Bad’s former protégé and background singer (A very uneven Colin Farrell). At one of Bad’s stops, he gets to meet a young reporter trying to get her foot in the door of writing about music is Jean Craddock (Strong performance from Maggie Gyllenhall). She has a dream to get to the top, but she won’t get their alone, she wants to bring her 4 year old son Buddy. There is a very predictable relationship that doesn’t feel right at the beginning for the audience between the two, but it actually won me over. There are obvious problems these two must work through to make it work, it thrives and struggles during the exact same scenes, but the actors have obvious talent and shine during some very tender moments between the two.
As for the acting overall, Bridges slides into a cowboy hat and boots like he’s been wearing them all his life. He stumbles through drunkenness, shines when he is sober, makes you feel for him, even root for him to turn things around, it is a great performance. Gylenhall is vulnerable, strong for her son; she plays “real” very well, trading in the makeup and glamour for the grit that will certainly get her some Oscar buzz. There are a few small parts for a pair of big actors. Farell plays the hot young star, and doesn’t seem too comfortable ditching the Irish accent for a southern drawl. Robert Duvall plays a bar owner who is an old friend to Bad Blake, his performance really isn’t anything special, but this is Robert Duvall, so its hard to say too many bad things about him!
Direction for the film is where I think this film could use some pep. Scott Cooper brings the story around like a slow drink of whisky. It never really moves, Cooper is just fine taking his time through Bad’s life and times. He uses several boom camera shots where the camera whips around the performers on stage, he pans from scenic views to trucks on the road, and it just drags a bit.
This is really a one man show. Bridges gives a strong performance, one that sure to have him in the race for best actor on Oscar night. But I stack this movie up to what 2008’s “The Wrestler” set out to be. Mickey Rourke may have met his match when it comes to acting, but the movie would get the leg drop from the top rope if you put them side by side.
MT
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Posted by
on 02/03 at 05:07 PM
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Comments
I remember Jeff Bridges from the days of the Dude in the Big Lebowksi, I bet this will be a great movie. I’m a big fan of Bridges and think he will pull of being a country singer just right. I really can’t wait to see the movie!
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