Too contrived but OK

Rating: 6/10 (15 February 2010)

The acting particularly Jeff Bridges was awesome. Kris Kristofferson, Nick Nolte be damned lol. When you see the film you will know what I am talking about, or if you saw the film, you already understand. Besides Mr. Bridges awesome performance,as a drunk, he sang some CW numbers as well.. Very impressive indeed. Maggie Gylenhaal was fine and material overall was fine. A statuesque journalist with a little boy , inspiring a has been CW star. I particularly liked the screen play with the various settings , sprinkled over the Southwestern states and the rest of the supporting cast, Duvall and Farrel in particular were mighty fine. Now for my problem. As I have said the storyline was good, ranging from losing a boy to Bad Blake trying to reconnect with his 'now', adult son. Some tears , some laughs and holding ones interest. I rambled now heres my BUT. I thought this film was cheapened by having Bad Blake having a sexual relationship with Jean Craddock. At this point the film became a caricature , a cliché if you will of many other films. This film could have been very special , if the relationship between Jean and Bad was simply one of platonic friends. I do not understand why film makers/book writers feel they have to make every main relationship of a film into a sexual and/or love relationship. This film would have stood on its own without the hanky panky and that is the saddest part of this.