Jeff Bridges is not falling down! The Dude country rocks!

Rating: 9/10 (3 February 2010)

"Crazy Heart" is all about building Bridges (as in Jeff) to his long awaited well-deserved Best Actor Oscar? Well, maybe but that is not all of it. Jeff Bridges' exemplary starring performance as former country star legend Bad Blake was not (to say the least) half bad. In fact it was one of the best orchestrated by an actor in this country this year. The "Crazy Heart" narrative tic-tock focuses on Blake's struggles to make a country living; in not being the country crooner he used to be. He is not known by the present country fan generation, and quasi-followed by longtime country fans. Moreover, the bad about Bad is that he now plays in rinky-dink bars across the country instead of sold-out stadiums as he did during his heyday. Blake also plays that bottle like there is no tomorrow, he is bad to the liver bone; but somehow is able to perform satisfactorily at his small-time gigs. Blake lives day-by-day in the hierarchy of survival, even though on the back of his mind he knows that his hardcore alcohol & nicotine habits will end his country life in the near future. Bad does take in some good southern comfort in a beautiful & wholesome music reporter named Jean Craddock who wants it real bad from Bad. OK, that was bad! I meant to say was that Jean falls for Bad. Blake, who has been divorced four times, takes a liking to his "I Dream of Jeanie" country gal; even though she is twenty years younger than him. First time Writer-Director Scott Cooper does a nice job in his vision & scribe of this small tale about an aging country star in the melancholy twilight of his career; sporadically it reminded me of Darren Aronofsky's wondrous small film "The Wrestler". My only sour note to Cooper is that the whole age-gap romance between Bad & Jean somehow did not seem authentic, and at times a bit country creepy. "Crazy Heart" also had thespian heart from its supporting players: Maggie Gyllenhaal was commendable as Jean (but not exactly Oscar-worthy), Colin Farrell marveled as country star & Blake disciple Tommy Sweet, and Robert Duvall was once again scene-stealing as bar owner & Bad pal Wayne. T-Bone Burnett's music of "Crazy Heart" was a t-bone well done! But now to helming more Bridges, Bridges, Bridges. Not only was his starring performance off the country charts, but Jeff also croons many of the tunes of the film. So have a heart, and see this infamous actor dude named Jeff Bridges do his badass acting thang in "Crazy Heart". **** Good