That's Good Country

Rating: 7/10 (5 March 2010)

Crazy Heart is a slow painfully emotional ride across an awe-inspiring country backdrop. The weathered Jeff Bridges, artfully blown by time, uncannily resembles Kris Kristofferson, which is welcomed and from what I've read, intentional. The lofty serenity of the open Southwestern country and river scene complements well with the turbulence of the character emotions.
Is this Jeff's best performance yet? I do not know, since this is what Jeff does best. This is Jeff's forte, Jeff's comfort zone; Jeff's just the veritable man for the part for he evokes a myriad of conflicting emotions and style, and if anything, we love him for it.
Surreally, The Big Lebowski cultists would have noticed the several striking similar incidents. Notably, the bowling alley, using the phrase "jerk-off", fishing his shades out of the puke-ridden trashcan, the bum-like alcoholism, and maybe one or two others I can't recall. Were these deliberately layered over the screenplay's graveness for some esoteric laughs? Perhaps. I chuckled.
Colin Farrell as an American peaking country star also spurred a chortle. Although indeed, his Crazy Heart rendition towards the film's end was good enough to overlook his actual origins. The soundtrack lifts the film from its premise of hopelessness and reveals that inspiration comes in many forms, and often passionately surfaces from depression. Interspersed with blues, the country and western will appeal to the veteran country lover and the current alternative-country music aficionado.
Does Jeff deserve an Oscar? Well, then he probably should have bagged one for The Big Lebowski. But that's not how the Academy works. We'll just have to wait and see. Maybe his singing will bridge the gap. Until then, the Dude abides.