Review of Crazy Heart (2009) by Teri I — 14 Jan 2011
Take Mickey Rourke in 'The Wrestler', make him a country singer, and make the screenplay much worse, and you have 'Crazy Heart'. After all the awards Jeff Bridges won for his fat, drunk, old, past-his-prime country singer, you'd expect a better movie.
Not a practical remake of Darren Aronofsky's Oscar-worthy drama. Parellels between the two: has-been star now long faded away, damaged relationship with long-lost only child, falls in love with a younger single mother, miserable lifestyle, told to quit by doctor after an accident caused by age.
Although Colin Farrell's character, a successful former student to Bridges who now towers over him, doesn't have a 'Wrestler' counterpart, he's still far from original. Gyllenhaal's performance has been praised and Oscar-nominated, but seeing beyond the surface talent, it's obvious she retains her commonly detectable Maggie Gyllenhaal-isms.
With sluggish pace and an unsatisfying ending that doesn't even compare to that of 'The Wrestler'. B-.
This review of Crazy Heart (2009) was written by Teri I on 14 Jan 2011.
Crazy Heart has generally received very positive reviews.
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