Sad and Undramatic Country and Western Singer not worthy of Oscar

Rating: 6/10 (26 February 2010)

Oh dear, I suspect many will disagree with me but I found this film tedious, barely entertaining (except for the songs and I am not a c/w fan) and glad to end.
No problem with the overall acting by all the main contenders which includes Colin Farrell as Tommy who was the real actor in this movie. Jeff Bridges sings well enough but not sure being a pretend alcoholic makes you an actor? Even get you an Oscar nomination.
Same feeling about this movie as Up in the Air, no real story, no drama, no dialogue, no really entertaining moment. Tommy and Bad singing a number together reminded me of Walk the Line when Phoenix sang the number with Reese Witherspoon.
overall, the film has comparison with Gerard Depardieus performance in The Singer (so much better) and the 'Son problem' with Mickey Rourkes character in The Wrestler, a middle aged American celebrity who has lost his way.
Film is certainly for lovers of country and western music, Jeff bridges fans and those who like this American way of looking at life, thank god the rest of the world does not think and behave like this.
I couldn't work out the Maggie character. She was introduced to Bad Blake but what is her real motive? Was she a fan? Was she attracted to 'bad' guys? If she was a journalist, who did she work for and what story about Bad Blake was she really writing or intending to write? Where was the father of the child? Where did the boy go when he disappeared from the Bar? If it wins Oscar for best actor, it is because the American market favours characters like the one played by Jeff Bridges. why couldn't they concentrate a balance between Bad Blake and Tommy? Colin Farrell both in this movie and also in the Imaginarium of Dr Parnissus demonstrates that he has acting skills of a wide reaching kind, unlike Jeff Bridges I am sorry to say who seems somewhat stereotyped.
Its a sad movie because clearly Bad Blake is a failing musician who wants a better life in his later years but is it too late to find that better life and come off the drink? But not sad enough because the story is not an emotional one and I feel no sympathy for Bad Blake at any time during the movie. I do not believe Maggie (Jeanne) would be so desperate at the end to do what she did.