Bridges and the music are the reasons to see it.

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2010)

Despite the Academy Award winning performance of Jeff Bridges, and some fine country music, the rest of Crazy Heart is solid, yet unspectacular. This film looks great and most of the actors hit the right notes with their characters, but something kept nagging at me the whole way through. I've seen this movie before. Maybe with some different actors and locations, but if you've seen Tender Mercies or Honeysuckle Rose, then you pretty much know what to expect. Jeff Bridges' Bad Blake character is not much different from the protagonists in those other films. Heck, Robert Duvall is even on hand both as supporting actor and producer. Is there any doubt he had Tender Mercies on the brain the whole way through? Jeff Bridges plays a man named Bad Blake. And we can see early on that any success he may have had as a country singer has not stuck. He is driving from town to town in a 1978 Chevy Suburban, not even stopping to pee until he dumps out his urine jug once he reaches his destination. In the true tradition of all washed up country singers, Bad is an alcoholic and looks like he hasn't shaved or bathed in many moons. Bridges in this film looks like a cross between Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr.. Maybe with a bit of Waylon Jennings thrown in. He slurs. He sleeps with geriatric groupies. He leaves the stage in the middle of songs to go out back and puke. Things turn around when a keyboard player in one of his backing bands introduces him to his niece who is a writer looking for and interview with this legendary singer. Sparks seem to instantly and inexplicably fly between these two, and the next thing we know... Bad is in love. The rest of the film deals with their relationship, Bad's attempt at sobriety, Bad's relationship with his young former protégé who is now a star, etc... Its a nice, watchable character study buoyed by great music and the scenery of New Mexico and Houston.
Bridges earned his trophy, but the script and casting have some issues. Maggie Gyllenhaal who was not pretty enough to be the female lead in The Dark Knight, is too pretty for this role. There is really no reason we the audience believe she could fall for this old crooner, other than the screenplay says she must. And how about her enormous house in the desert? Either she makes a fortune with her local beat, or she got one heck of a settlement from her divorce. Colin Farrell as a country singer? Well, Keith Urban is a star in real life so I guess anything is possible. Nice touch having Bad play his first gig in a bowling alley. It was even a nicer touch having the proprietor offer endless free bowling to him before the show. The Dude would definitely abide. But the Hound knows a silly self-referential moment when he sees one. 7 of 10 stars.
The Hound.