An incredibly powerful performance moves this film to greatness

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2010)

Crazy Heart is simply beautiful. Its touching and heartfelt and sad and perhaps brilliantly made. 99% of this rests squarely on the shoulders of the Globe, SAG etc. winning performance by Jeff Bridges who is brilliant but I'll get to that. This is a simple story about a very complex man with a history that they unfold gradually by showing where he has arrived now. One thing I normally can't stand is when they put a young actress with old men stars like Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood etc. (three of my favorite actors mind you) and they sort of do the same in Crazy Heart but there is a major difference because somehow it fits the story. The infamous former star "Bad" Blake is a former womanizer with an oozing charm and the woman he wins over has come from a string of bad relationships and probably has some sort of "Daddy" issues so the whole dysfunction aspect works in this case. The music in the film is really the heart of the movie and very sweet. Some very original and beautiful even haunting old time country music. My Dad raved about this film and its easy to see why as he comes from the school of country of George Jones and Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and this film encompasses all of that and the new as well.
Let's talk Jeff Bridges. The man is quickly becoming, if he isn't already, an icon of acting. But this role is simply breathtaking. So far out of the Best Actor nominees this isn't even a competition. I only have two more to see and I'd be awfully surprised if anyone comes even close to Bridges. His performance is incredibly moving, emotional, sad, and brilliant. He will make you love, hate, and pity the legendary Bad Blake all while believing beyond doubt this man was a star. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Bridges' love interest, a single mother who has clearly had a tough life especially with guys. This is one of the best roles I have ever seen Gyllenhaal in and she looks great! Her and Bridges have great chemistry both romantically but also as actors play off of each other. Bridges' performance is so outstanding that it would seem hard to play against him but she holds her own. Small almost cameo roles by Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell round out the cast. Both give really great performances. I was actually very impressed with Farrell and his singing as the hot new rock/country singer. He is incredibly believable.
And this is what this film is about...believability. The story, and the characters just draw you into their lives like you're watching real life unfold before you. Bit part actor Scott Cooper has hit some kind of gold as the writer and director of Crazy Heart. His talent must lie in writing because this is just a brilliant story. I fully expected the film to end poorly given that the film is at times very nearly depressing and sad overtones throughout and instead remarkably the film ends not with a picture perfect happy ending but a very solid touching, well thought out ending. The key is that clearly Cooper put his heart and soul into this and never stopped for a moment to make things easy or entertaining but instead made the film entertaining and just a very touching movie. This is a film I could see again and again and love every time. Out of all the Academy Award films this season...Crazy Heart is an absolute must see!! 9/10