Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal & Colin Farrell
The story of Crazy Heart maybe one seen before many times, but Crazy Heart itself is still a very satisfying film helped by a laid back approach to it’s characters and a great performance by Jeff Bridges in the lead role of Bad Blake.
Crazy Heart’s tale of an aging musician down on his luck do to alcoholism but finding new inspiration in loved ones to rise above and become great again is the kind of rags to riches story that has been told many times by Hollywood, often in biopics of musicians like Ray Charles (Ray), Johnny Cash (Walk the Line) and not limited to musicians or even real people as Rocky and Rocky Balboa have demonstrated with it’s infamous boxer or 2009’s The Wrestler. That these tales continue to be made and often become well received is usually down to audiences’ love to see someone triumph over adversity, especially those self inflicted, and also because such tales attract strong actors looking to test their abilities as actors in such roles. So comes Crazy Heart, the tale of fictional Country Music star Bad Blake and again it is a story worth watching thanks to the wonderful performance by Jeff Bridges in the lead role.
Once a big Country Music star but now an out of luck, near penniless, drunken shell of his former self accepting gigs at bowling alleys for cash, Bad Blake (Bridges) has seen better days and has little drive left to get himself together, write new songs or reconcile with his former protégé Tommy Sweet (Farrell). However, an encounter with a young reporter, and single mother, Jean (Gyllenhaal) leads to an unexpected romance for Blake who begins to find new inspiration to better himself, get back into performing and writing music and perhaps build a life with Jean but doing so means finding the inner strength to overcome his alcoholism and accept more responsibility for actions and mistakes both past and present.
Crazy Heart may tell a story told many times before, but it is still a very satisfying film. Much like its lead character Bad Blake, it has a laidback approach to its story with director Cooper, content to often let us just spend time with Blake to get to know his charms and his flaws with little rush to get to its inevitable conclusion. Beautifully shot, capturing the wonderful outback of New Mexico, with its characters speaking with words of wisdom in a lyrical style unsurprising of characters who are musicians, Crazy Heart has a strong feeling of romance for the world of music. The film comes alive every time a song is performed during one of Blake, or Tommy’s, gigs with the audience dragged into the atmosphere of the room and seeing the wonders characters like Blake are capable of achieving when they want to and while there are often obstacles along the way to expose Blake’s flaws, some perhaps hard to forgive, the film nevertheless keeps you rooting for its star to find some kind of redemption and happiness. Not everything works in Crazy Heart however, as a beautiful scene shared between Bridges’ Blake and his friend played by Duvall on a fishing boat hints at deeper friendships and relationships that have a history that is barely explored and therefore disappoints slightly when they are not but these are somewhat minor issues.
Jeff Bridges, an infamously underappreciated actor, is excellent as Bad Blake. When other actors perform roles like that of Blake they may be impressive but the performances often give the feeling of great efforts being made by the actor. Bridges however, gives an equally impressive performance but does so in a way that feels very natural for Bridges who is an actor whose persona is one of natural talent, laidback and not forced. Bridges is a perfect fit then for Blake giving ever line and movement the satisfying reassurance that this is a man who seen it all. Maggie Gyllenhaal is strong as Blake’s potential love interest Jean, who gives her role more vulnerability and strength in her performance than the script sometimes allows and more than some other actresses could achieve while Colin Farrell is quietly impressive as Blake’s former protégé Tommy giving Tommy magnetism on stage and showing respect and love for the man who taught him everything he now knows which, while words to that affect are delivered in a manner that feels routine, Farrell’s movements and expressions reveal Tommy’s belief in them underneath. Robert Duvall is likeable too but criminally underused and developed.
With a strong, enjoyable performance from Jeff Bridges in the lead role and from the supporting cast, the performances and Scott Cooper’s laidback direction, makes Crazy Heart a much more likeable and satisfying film than its familiar tale might deserve but nevertheless, Crazy Heart is an enjoyable film.
Rating: 4/5
