Bridges Best Since Lebowski

Rating: 8/10 (24 May 2019)

Cooper has helmed a masterpiece. This film has excellent direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing, acting and soundtrack. Bridges, Duvall, Gyllenhaal and Farrell deliver top notch performances. Bridges was born to play this character and delivers one of the finest portrayals of his career. He delivers a sensational emotive performance and was finally awarded a long overdue Oscar for Best Actor. The plot revolves around a former country music star, Bad Blake who has now become the proverbial down on his luck alcoholic. He is reduced to playing gigs half wasted in seedy joints across the country. Eventually he runs into a reporter, Jean Craddock in one of the towns he stops in who has an interest in his life story. That interest eventually blooms into a love interest on both ends. Eventually sobering up the singer is on the rise again and comes to a crossroads in his life. He is given an opportunity by his once protege Tommy Sweet. The plot is surreal, intense, realistic, heart wrenching, redeeming and has a cathartic ending. The film examines relationships and at what cost redemption can be achieved. It almost questions whether the cost and sacrifice is worth absolution. The love story along with the accompanying music is one for the ages. This is a true work of art. I look forward to Cooper's next effort. This film is at the very top in the drama genre.