Those With A Crazy Heart Do Well

Rating: 9/10 (6 February 2010)

I'm not a big fan of country music. In my own family I'm known as the black sheep when it comes to the worlds of music, but with the film Crazy Heart, it doesn't matter whether you're a fan of country music or not, Crazy Heart is an extremely good film.
Crazy Heart is the story of a washed up country singer named Bad Blake, whose best days are behind him. He used to be a top-selling country music artist, but now he has spiraled down due to his alcoholism and has been relegated to playing in small town bars and bowling alleys. But Bad Blake's time for redemption comes when he falls for a small town reporter half his age, who has a four-year-old son.
The film was subtly directed by first time director Scott Cooper. While it isn't the most visually intriguing film I've ever seen, it is competently directed and filled with marvelous performance. Seriously, this film is really an actor's showcase.
The film stars Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, and he gives a fascinating performance filled with charisma and charm. Even though Bad Blake is a sloppy mess, Bridges is just so likable at the end of the day, you can't dislike Bad Blake. Whilst you can't necessarily say it's his career's best (because he's done so many greats) he delivers a solid award's worthy performance and will win him his first Oscar.
Bridge's gets support from Maggie Gyllenhaal, who portrays Bridge's love interest, the small town reporter. I will boldly say that this is her greatest performance of her entire career, it is so heartfelt, I wish it could win her an Oscar, but I don't think that will happen. Finally, rounding out the cast are two fun performances from Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall, both do a lot with their small roles. I just have one question, who knew Farrell and Bridges could sing this well?
Now there is a ton of music in this film and the music really mirrors the narrative perfectly, T Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham did fantastic work, in particular "The Weary Kind" is a marvelous song. "The Weary Kind" is the song that tells what the film is all about. The film is about one old man's downward journey into his own obscurity. He's not the man he used to be, and this film is about his finding his way back through some really tough tumbles down life's expressway.
In the end the film has a pseudo-uplifitng ending, depending upon whether or not you want him to end up with the girl, but I personally found it a satisfying ending that actually made me happy. Bad Blake's tale is a common one for these types of older artists who have been eclipsed by the young guns, and it's all about Bad Blake finding his way back and learning how he can return to the world in which he cares for.
I give Crazy Heart a 9 out of 10!