Crazy Heart review

Crazy Heart's familiar and somewhat formulaic story is elevated by attention to detail and a probable Oscar winning performance by Jeff Bridges. It's a tale of a country music singer's redemption very reminiscent of Tender Mercies. Up to now, writer director Scott Cooper has had what can be best described as a nondescript acting career. But as a big country music fan, he wanted to make a Merle Haggard biopic and convinced Robert Duvall to help him finance it. When he discovered that the rights to Haggard's story was going to be too expensive, he acquired the rights to Thomas Cobb's 1987 novel Crazy Heart. Though the book is about country music legend Hank Thompson, The film isn't about anyone in particular though Jeff Bridges certainly resembles Kris Kristofferson. Bridges told Cooper the only way he would do Crazy Heart is if T-Bone Burnett produced the music. Burnett is a veteran music producer best known for the music for O Brother Where Art Thou. Once Burnett agreed to do the film, Bridges agreed to do it as well. Now Bridges has a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.






Bad Blake (Bridges) is a veteran country music singer songwriter on the down side of a very long career. This is mostly due to alcoholism. The film begins with Blake going to a gig in a bowling alley in New Mexico. His manager won't allow him to run a tab at the bar but fans give him drinks anyway and he throws up during the show. His next stop is Santa Fe and he gives an interview to Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhall). This quickly turns into a relationship and Bad becomes attached to Jean and her son Buddy. His manager gets him a gig in Phoenix opening for former protege and now successful country music star Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell). Bad resents Tommy's success but he does the gig anyway. And Tommy asks Bad to write songs for his next CD. But Bad hasn't written anything in years and probably can't in his current condition. Bad falls asleep at the wheel on the way to his next show and winds up in the hospital. Jean takes him home to recover and then Bad goes home to Houston to rest. Jean and Buddy come to visit. Jean tells him not to drink in front of Buddy. But he loses Buddy on a trip to a bar. Things turn out OK but Jean ends the relationship immediately. But it's the wakeup call Bad needs to straighten out his life.






The main thing that saves Crazy Heart from being formulaic crap is the authenticity. Many actors don't want to look bad on screen. But Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake is disgusting through most of the film. Of course he has his likeable qualities too. T-Bone Burnett brings in a lot of his pals to write and perform the music and appear in the film. But Burnett is a producer, not a road warrior. So he brought in his friend Stephen Bruton. You've never heard of Bruton. He was a member of Kris Kristofferson's band for 40 years and is responsible for a lot of the road incidents you will see in Crazy Heart. His contribution was so significant that he earned a Producer credit. Sadly, Stephen Bruton died of cancer May 2009 and the film is dedicated to his memory. Also, Bridges, Farrell and Duvall do all their own singing. So if you're a fan of country music and you want to see a tour de force performance by Jeff Bridges, you should check out Crazy Heart. Normally, I would post a video of the trailer. But Ryan Bingham has won a Golden Globe and is Oscar nominated for his theme for Crazy Heart, The Weary Kind. Here's the music video for that.