Awesome, five-time Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges (including one for this role at the 2010 Academy Awards) stars as hard drinkin', country singin' anti-hero, Bad Blake, in Scott Cooper's directorial debut.
Bad Blake is a broken down country music singer who’s had too many marriages, too many years on the road and one too many drinks. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician.
Jeff Bridges has always been a fine actor but in Crazy Heart he surpasses the job description. As the actor dissolves, Bad Blake emerges. He’s a country star who has arrived at the gates of old age with little more than a bottle of his favourite liquor and a few dollars in the bank. The character’s hard-living history is virtually burned into Bridges’ performance in every gruff aside and heartfelt ballad. And he ain’t a bad singer.
As his talented backing band breathes life into a dusty old bowling alley it’s hard to believe the singer and his music are a work of fiction. Penned by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Lucinda Williams and Buck Owen, the soundtrack – including the Oscar-nominated song The Weary Kind – should bring out the country fan in all who see the film. The chain-smoking, ponytail-wearing Colin Farrell as Blake’s big-shot country compadre is also fun to watch, his bling tour buses the antithesis to Blake’s crappy truck.
With little background music to prompt the emotions and frequent use of handheld camera, it’s easy to slip out of the movie theatre and into Blake’s life. The only small blue note is his relationship with Jean, played by an otherwise impressive Maggie Gyllenhaal as an emotionally bruised single mother and aspiring music journalist. World-weary and maternal, it would have been nice to see her play harder to get. Instead the love affair comes on faster than a whiskey shot.
But both the leads deserve a shot at the Oscars they are nominated for. This is a gem of a story with a big crazy heart.
By Rebecca Barry Hill, Flicks.co.nz
great movie great story.i just love jeff bridges he is so talented and sooo sexy 10/10 i just love country & western music
Very boring movie indeed. We got it because we loved 'Walk the Line', but nothing actually happens in this movie at all. What a waste of time.
A good take on an old theme, very well acted.
Being a dad at home I had some anxious moments during Crazy Heart because it hit the parenting storylines right on the head. Jeff was great as a near-has-been and Colin Farrell better than I thought he'd be. Maggie Gynanhaal and the little boy who plays her son are well matched
Never got out of first gear. Storyline was predictable and an apart from Jeff Bridges acting out his character rather well it was wasted in an overly long meandering yawn. Shame.
Jeff Bridges is a virtual certainty to win his first Oscar, after four nominations.
A phenomenal, heart-breaking performance from Jeff Bridges powers this simple but affecting redemption story.
A hokey story about a washed-up country singer is rescued by a wonderful performance by Jeff Bridges
Crazy Heart lacks that spark of originality. So what Fox Searchlight has salvaged essentially is a highly watchable performance by Bridges, one of many he has furnished throughout a long career.
On a par with Bridges' acting, and a sine qua non for Crazy Heart's success, is the excellent music he sings.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 25th Feb 2010.
Release date: February 25th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
