Crazy Heart

"Crazy Heart"
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gylenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall
Grade: B

61 year old Jeff Bridges is on his way to Oscar gold after his honest portrayal of country legend Bad Blake. The film directed by first time film-maker Scott Cooper is a nostalgic and familiar path traveled by recent films such as 2008's The Wrestler, and just about every other film that tells the tales of a broken down legend on the last leg of their career journey.

It's Bridges whom gives the story juice, as it's no secret that the script alone wouldn't suffice. This is no knock on Cooper who also wrote the film, Crazy Heart has a recognizable tone and mood all of its own. Bridges has had a long, successful career, many may even say that he's gone unnoticed by his peers. Well, not this time around, Bridges delivers what may go down as his best performance, a true through and through ballad of a faded chain-smokin, boozin country legend. It's a shame that it took someone this long to write a layered character for Bridges to plays. He possesses the weathered posture, and broken down, but never too late mindset that makes Bad such a likable guy.

Bad Blake is broke, and has played in to many bars with to many pick up bands over the years. He's been married four times, and has his own close relationship with the bottle. As he travels he's surely recognized, he usually beds the token  female fan who can't help but request a certain song for Bad to play. He's broke, alone, but mostly gets by on his routine gigs in bars and even bowling alleys.

Bad is pressed by his agent to open for his long time protege, turned country god Tommy Sweet, played by Colin Farrell in an effective role. Bad and Tommy apparently have had a rocky history, but are willing to let the past fade since each can make money for another by Bad writing Tommy some songs to record. A female reporter also enters Bad's life. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Jean, a good hearted Santa Fe mother looking to write a nice story, maybe even shed some light on Bad's faded career and current state. Jean is 20 years younger, but is easily charmed, the two start seeing one another. Bad is playful and humorous enough of a guy to enjoy the company of Jean's young son Buddy, this too must also attract her to him.

Crazy Heart focuses on the most important thing it can, which is Bridges performance. As the film progresses, it's not hard for one to guess what may come next. It's all routine, just like Bad's sad life. He has a son, but hasn't seen him since the boy was four. The great Robert Duvall even shows up halfway through the film as Blake's dad, a bar owner who treasures and understands his son.The two share some good moments in the film, which at times gives us a break from Gyllenhaal's character.

The film was shot in 24 days, it has the appropriate feel and pace that you'd expect . It doesn't linger too long on themes of regret, sentiment, and past mistakes, but the script is certainly dipped into each one of those ideas. Crazy Heart glides along on a wave of admiration and comfortable presence , it's such a joy to observe the in the moment honesty of Bridges' performance. Farrell, Gyllenhaal and Duvall all turn in nice work that rounds out the picture . It's a nice little film that doesn't overstay its welcome, it sails off just as its lead character heads toward another journey.