Review of Crazy Heart (2009) by Hatem A — 17 Dec 2010

3.5/4.0.

Crazy Heart" is a powerful heartfelt movie on how salvation comes when you least expect it. It is a worthy (semi-) debut from writer-director Scott Cooper (who adapted the movie from the 1987 novel by Thomas Cobb) and makes one admire country music even if you are not a fan. I am not the biggest fan of country music but I simply fell in love with the movie's anthem "The Weary Kind" that deservedly won the Best Original Song Oscar.

Hype has focused on Jeff Bridges' performance (for which he won an Oscar) and yes it actually is worth the hype. Bridges bares it all in this performance as ailing country star Bad Blake. This is one of those rare performances where you totally forget that this is an actor.

Blake was once a big-time country star whose protégé (Colin Farrell in a brief but different role) is now much more famous than he is. Blake is an alcoholic with no money and now performs in lowdown bars and balling alleys. He encounters Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a single mom reporter wanting to write a story on him but they end up falling for each other. She lets out the best in a seemingly very repulsive character and provides him a ticket for redemption. The relationship thankfully doesn't succumb to conventional love story dynamics and the way it wraps up is pitch perfect. Gyllenhaal gives a career best performance (that also got her an Oscar nomination) but fades in comparison to Bridges' greatness.