Crazy Heart-2009

Director Scott Cooper

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Scott’s Review #571

Reviewed December 29, 2016

Grade: A-

Crazy Heart (2009) is a film that is perfectly crafted for Jeff Bridge’s talents as an actor and the role seems written specifically for him.

To that end, it is a showcase for the actor, and as proof, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar.

He plays surly, grizzled, and rode-hard to the hilt. His chemistry with co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal is fantastic- despite her character being much younger than his.

The first directorial effort by Scott Cooper, who does an outstanding job.

Gyllenhaal plays a reporter, Jean Craddock, who becomes attached and fascinated by Bad Blake (Bridges), a former country-western star turned alcoholic and now a washed-up old man.

He has mentored an upstart played by Colin Farrell, who has since usurped Bad Blake in popularity, leading Blake to depression and alcohol to relieve his pain. He still performs, but in dirty hotels or bowling alleys, for peanuts.

Bridge’s character reminds me so much of Mickey Rourke’s character “Randy the Ram” in The Wrestler, from 2008, so anyone who enjoyed the latter will enjoy the former.

One might watch the two exceptional films in tandem- and in both, there appears a younger female character who meshes well with the stories.

The story portrayed in Crazy Heart is gritty and depressing, yet also heartwarming and sentimental. We root for Blake and Jean to succeed, battling Blake’s many demons.

Crazy Heart is very well-acted and genuine.

The film is nice as it is a character-driven film instead of a story-dictated one.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Actor-Jeff Bridges (won), Best Supporting Actress-Maggie Gyllenhaal, Best Original Song-“The Weary Kind” (won)

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Male Lead-Jeff Bridges (won), Best First Screenplay, Best First Feature (won)