Affirming life on the path of self-destruction

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2010)

Bad Blake is your typical legendary has-been. Proudly self-deluded, he is blind to the fact that all of his miseries are self-inflicted. He carries a reality-distortion field around wherever he travels, persuading everyone he meets to join in his conceit, turning a blind eye to his obvious alcoholism, narcissism, and downward spiraling existence. They are all recruited into his army of facilitators and enablers. He continually rejects the love and helpful hand of a young successful protégé, and allows his drinking to destroy the one relationship in his life that means the most to him. A potentially fatal truck accident, accompanied by the frank admonishment of the attending physician, he ignores completely. It takes a monstrous near tragedy involving his fiancée's 4-year-old son to finally wake him up and get him sober, but it's too late for his hopes of happiness and family. Pipe dreams of connecting with his neglected son of over 20 years evaporate as he realizes how deluded he has been throughout his prodigal life. But he stays sober, finding solace and success in turning to his music and friends who still love him and will stand by him to the end. Jeff Bridges in his finest hour, in a film that offers hope to the hopeless, sight to the blind, and real meaning within the context of life's triumphs and tragedies.