Scott Cooper | Scott's Film Reviews-1,425 + Reviews posted so far!!!

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)

Get Low-2009

Director Aaron Schneider

Starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray

Scott’s Review #557

Reviewed December 22, 2016

Grade: B+

Get Low (2009) is an understated, gentle, sweet story set in Tennessee during the late 1930s.

The film is greatly enhanced by the stellar cast consisting of Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray.

I dislike the title of the film as, to me, it feels dull.

Despite the very slow pace and the understated feel, the film is successful as one will become engaged with the character’s lives.

It tells the story of an elderly man named Felix Bush (DuVall), who decides to plan his living funeral for the small town to attend. Felix is a hermit who lives deep in the woods of Tennessee. He is despised, yet largely unknown by the townspeople, who only have past stories they have heard about him to formulate their opinions.

He hides a long ago, dark secret, which predictably is eventually revealed.

DuVall is the standout in this movie, but Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray are also very good- unsurprising based on their string of acting credits.

Enjoyable are the exterior scenes of rural Tennessee, giving an authentic look into the lives of small-town folks of that period.

I could have gone for a quicker pace, although I love slow-moving stories, as long as a pay-off is to be received. The reveal served satisfactorily, but I could have gone for some juicer scandals and revelations.

Get Low (2009) is a simple, yet moving story about life, regret, secrets, and religion.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Supporting Male-Bill Murray, Best First Feature (won)