Claim: Maggie Gyllenhaal performed in "Crazy Heart".

Crazy Heart is a 2009 American drama film , written and directed by Scott Cooper and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb . Jeff Bridges plays a down-and-out country music singer-songwriter who tries to turn his life around after beginning a relationship with a young journalist portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal . Other supporting roles are played by Colin Farrell , Robert Duvall , and child actor Jack Nation . Bridges , Farrell , and Duvall also sing in the film .   The novel on which the film was based was inspired by country singer Hank Thompson . Bridges earned the 2009 Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film .   Filming took place during 2008 in New Mexico -LRB- Albuquerque , Española , Galisteo , Santa Fe -RRB- , in Houston , Texas , and in Los Angeles , California . Original music for the film was composed by T Bone Burnett , Stephen Bruton , Ryan Bingham and others . Bingham and Burnett received the 2009 Academy Award for Best Original Song for co-writing `` The Weary Kind '' , which Bingham also performed .   The film was produced for $ 7 million by Country Music Television , and was originally acquired by Paramount Vantage for a direct-to-video release , but was later purchased for theatrical distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures . It opened in limited release in the U.S. on December 16 , 2009 . From its meager budget it amassed domestic earnings of $ 39.5 million plus $ 7.9 international for worldwide total of $ 47.4 million .