Jeff Bridges excels in this lovely and moving drama gem

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2010)

The always excellent and engaging Jeff Bridges deservedly won a Best Actor Oscar for his spot-on performance as Bad Blake, a burn-out and booze-sodden washed-up country singer/songwriter whose life and career has hit the skids: Blake has hardly a dime to his name, hasn't written a song in three years, and barely manages to keep himself afloat performing in bowling alleys and seedy bars. Things perk up when Bad meets and falls in love with Jean Craddock (beautifully played with winning warmth and nuance by Maggie Gyllenhaal), a sweet single mother and aspiring reporter. Can Bad overcome his alcoholism and get his life back on track before it's too late? Writer/director Scott Cooper expertly crafts an absorbing and affecting tale of regret, failure, hope, redemption, and second chances that never resorts to either cloying sentiment or overblown histrionics; instead this low-key and subtle film trusts the credible story, authentically grimy locations, gradual pace, and thoroughly believable everyday characters to basically do their jobs all by themselves sans any needless flashy razzle-dazzle. Of course, this picture wouldn't work without Bridges' first-rate acting; he brings a totally convincing lived-in quality, scruffy charm, and mesmerizing deep weariness to the role of Bad that never rings false for a minute. Moreover, Bridges even sings a few terrific country songs in a surprisingly solid and effective twangy voice. Bridges receives sturdy support from Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell as Bad's grateful and more successful protégé Tommy Sweet, Robert Duvall as loyal friend Wayne, and Paul Herman as long-suffering agent Jack Greene. Jack Nation is simply adorable as Jean's cute four-year-old son Buddy. Kudos are also in order for Barry Markowitz's polished cinematography and the perfectly harmonic score by Stephen Bruton and T-Bone Burnett (the latter also co-wrote the superb Oscar-winning song "The Weary Kind"). Highly recommended.