Still catching up on the award bait from last year, this week we’re taking a look at the Jeff Bridges vehicle, Crazy Heart (R). In the film Bridges plays a washed-up country and western music star (Bad Blake) who’s trying to recapture the fame of his past. Maggie Gyllenhaal co-stars as an aspiring journalist who falls in love with the troubled balladeer. Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall also costar in the film. Scott Cooper directs.
Ryan: Maybe it’s not completely fair but in some circles Crazy Heart is being sold as this year’s The Wrestler. Ultimately that’s a smart (The Wrestler was one of the best films of 2008) and accurate depiction (as it follows the template of that film of a "has-been" star trying to recapture fame while putting his life back together). But to me that’s where the similarities end. The Wrestler was a great film whereas Crazy Heart is simply a pretty good movie.
Andy: While certainly not as good as The Wrestler, Crazy Heart does work artistically in the same way that film did. It very convincingly shows Bridges’s Bad Blake as a decaying star on the verge of either an unlikely comeback or a predictable breakdown. There are two major differences here, with the first being that Blake is indeed bad. His character is much more despicable than The Wrestler, even if he does carry around a convincing amount of country charm. The second is that the focus on country music allows for some pretty solid old-style Nashville tunes, a significant advantage that makes up for some of the movie’s shortcomings.
Ryan: The biggest strength of the movie is the actual music used in the movie and the presentation of that music. There’s clearly an authenticity with regard to the music that enhances Crazy Heart. Not only do the actors (Bridges and Farrell) perform most of the music in the movie but the original songs in the film are smoothly integrated into the (fictional) story of Bad Blake. When it comes down to it, the theme song to Crazy Heart (written and performed by Ryan Bingham) will get nominated and probably (should) win an Oscar for Best Song.
Andy: Having solid original music is a must for a movie like this, and Crazy Heart does a great job. There are some country classics mixed in with the flawlessly executed originals, which were used with surprising restraint by director Scott Cooper. Ryan’s right about "Crazy Heart" being the obvious choice for the Oscar, but for my money "Fallin’ & Flyin’" is the essential track.
Ryan: Speaking of the Oscars, Jeff Bridges is a lock for an Oscar nod for Best Actor. He’s already won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award so consequently there’s no question that he’s the odds on favorite to win his first Oscar. While it’s hard to believe that Bridges has never won an Oscar, I found his performance good but not transcendent (although much of that could be attributed to the made-for-TV-esque material that he's working with). No question, Bridges looks, acts and sounds like a genuine country music singer and he delivers a noteworthy performance. I’m just not sold on him being the front-runner when looking at his competition (Clooney, Firth and Renner). Ultimately, it was a good performance that lifted the movie to above average. Final grade: C+.
Andy: I found Bridges performance to be the most convincing I’ve seen this year. He makes you root for a character that should be unlikable, and carries a bunch of great songs around with him for good measure. The film itself may not be a revelation, but it is well executed on just about every level. If this is made-for-TV movie material, then I should start watching more made-for-TV movies. Bridges, Gyllenhaal, the music, and the directing are all top notch, earning Crazy Heart a B+.
Entertainment
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Lorey Sebastian/Courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures/MCT
Critics Not Too ‘Crazy’ Over Bridges’ Country Music Flick
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