Jeff Bridges shines in a role about a self destructive yet likable human being, that thru hard living earns a second chance at redemption.

Rating: 8/10 (10 February 2010)

Even if your not a big country music fan, and I know many in the movie going community aren't I'm really hit and miss with country music, anyway this picture "Crazy Heart" is a must see for any movie watcher. As expected since the theme relates to country music it shows plenty of sorrow, hard living, and road traveling whiskey drinking. Still it's message shows that even though one does hard living that thru love and courage a chance at redemption can be found. And most of all it's special due to the acting talent of Jeff Bridges as his motions, look and dialect of an outlaw country singer makes this film even seem more believable. And his singing during the film proves he also has special talent.
Jeff Bridges(in the performance of a lifetime)is Bad Blake a hard living, chain smoking, whiskey drinking past his prime country music singer who's now down in the dumps. As with age and time fame passes so many by as Bad has found out and the hard living is making Blake show his age and he's also cash strapped nearly broke. He now finds himself having to work and play in front of small crowds across the southwest and western united states. And these crowds are in the form of bowling alleys, rundown beer joints and local small town club circuits. And from joint to joint Bad Blake as expected burns and lives it up hard.
It's on his journey to play in Santa Fe, New Mexico he meets a small town newspaper journalists named Jean Craddock(played so sweet and innocently at the same time sexy by Maggie Gyllenhaal). Jean discovers he's a complex and hard lonely man who's been divorced four times and Bad has a grown son back in Texas that he's never seen. Only sparks and a rugged connection of love is found between Jean and Bad as when getting to know Jean, Bad is attached to her young son, something that makes him feel young again and it's fitting as this feels like this is the son that Bad never had. And the flames and sparks of passion fly between both as Blake feels like a new man making love to Jean.
Aside from the passion Blake still burns hard at both ends leading to an automobile accident that shakes his life up. Also as he tours he meets up with the now up and coming new generation of country music stars like Tommy Sweet(Colin Farrell)which is tough for Bad to juggle. Thru this all combined with his relationship and hard living Bad comes to realize he has to change before it's to late as he has to step aside so another younger generation can develop. A good supporting turn is also found in veteran legend Robert Duvall who stars as one of Blake's old buddies in Texas named Wayne a bartender who helps Bad in his transformation.
Overall great film showing the highs and lows of the life of a country music star, and it's filled with enough emotion, passion, and redemption finding to make it a watch even for those who don't like country music. As Scott Cooper really scores a hit here as both writer and director. The chemistry between Bridges and Gyllenhaal is great even though the sparks of romance doesn't last as it wasn't meant. Most enjoyable is Jeff Bridges with his hard and brash yet believable turn proving that he can take on any role. As the films message is true especially that in country music life is hard living, whiskey drinking, and full of heartbreaks, and a lot of disappointments. However those who live the hardest end up redeeming themselves.