Just stellar acting

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2011)

This is one of the movies that could end up really bad, or really good, depending on the actors and actresses in it. But with Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal, supported by Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall among others, it really never could go wrong, could it? Even with the expectations from all the high praise that comes with Crazy Heart, it still manages to surprise me. Not with any surprising plot twists, but with how heartfelt the story is. Simply put, how good it is.
Jeff Bridges plays the ageing country star Bad Blake. But his career has stalled, well, hit rock bottom is more like it. The former star is now playing bowling alleys, while the big stage is set for younger talents like Tommy Sweet. His personal life is pretty much rock bottom too. He's alone, alcoholic, and quite grumpy and bitter. But a chance meeting with a younger woman, a struggling reporter, Jean, might be the turnaround.
Bridges performance is just stellar. He needs to carry the story on his shoulders, and he does it so well. He got an intensity that I haven't seen before from him. He is perfectly cast as Bad Blake and makes this could be unpleasant character instead very human. I really got to care about him. Bridges is very well deserving of his Oscar.
I think Maggie Gyllenhaal is well deserving of an Oscar for her performance as well. She is really good in roles such as these and makes Jean come through as the strong single mother and at the same time the very vulnerable and searching woman. Colin Farrell surprises with a small but nice role as Tommy as well. A little surprisingly Tommy is not the hot shot ungrateful diva. On the contrary, Tommy cares very much for his old mentor and tries his best to support the old star. Farrell also surprises with a quite good singing voice.
This is a movie that should be watched for the actors, and their performances. The story is good, and got some uniqueness of its own. Perhaps best is that it got its own version of the happy ending. But the story would have been nothing without the acting.
8 crazy hearts out of 10.