Crazy Heart

In the movie Crazy Heart Jeff Bridges plays a washed up country singer named Bad Blake who has seen better days for himself and his career. An alcoholic, Blake has toured stadiums in the past, but now he is making the rounds at the local bars and bowling allies. Washed up and unwilling to change, Blake meets a young journalist named Jean Craddock, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, during his travels and sees something more in her than in his usual after show one night stands. Jean has also made some mistakes in her life and is very weary of making more. She has a four year old son named Buddy and she too sees something in Blake that is different from the run of the mill guy. For the first time, in a long time, Bad has found a reason to change his ways and make a better life for himself. But, while visiting Blake in Houston, Bad loses Jean’s son while on an outing and she realizes the risks in loving Blake are just too great. After being left again, Blake decides to sober up and show Jean he is worthy on her love.

Jeff Bridges won the best actor Oscar for this role and he truly embodies the has-been country singer. Just like his name, Blake is bad but somehow he becomes the unlikely hero that everyone roots for. Bridges performs all of his songs in this movie and this adds the extra bit of feeling to know he is really singing his heart out. The stunning Maggie Gyllenhaal is perfection as the young mother with a weary heart. The two together are a very unlikely couple, but grow into lovers that seem made for each other. Sometimes the pitch-perfect scenes seem to only be minor parts of the movie by being separated by the performance of the songs. The music is beautifully well written and is almost a character all on its own. The theme song Crazy Heart also won a gold statue for best original song. Colin Firth has a small but noteworthy performance as Blake’s former protégé Tommy Sweet and even steps up to the microphone for two songs.

Crazy Heart follows the lyrics in so many country songs and gives a real life look into the inspiration for so many troubadours. It embodies the heartbreaking theme in most of country music: a tear in the whiskey and a love affair gone wrong. The character development and acting is some of the best of the year and Jeff Bridges proves he absolutely deserved the Academy Award. Viewers only interested in a fast joke or loud explosions will not want to see this dramatic movie but fans of truly fine acting will be enthralled by the performances and touching story. As the song says, “this ain’t no place for the weary kind, this ain’t no place to fall behind, pick up crazy heart and give it one more try”.