A Movie Review of Crazy Heart

"Crazy Heart" is a Fox Searchlight film that started out on just a few screens, but thanks to incredible acting by Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the movie has won critical acclaim. The movie is about a well know (fictional) country music singer who has not had a hit song in a long time. He has gone from singing in front of thousands of adoring fans, to being a 57 year-old alcoholic singing at bars and bowling allies.

Jeff Bridges plays country singer Bad Blake. His love interest in the film is the adorable Maggie Gyllenhaal who plays Jean. Jean is a writer in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the two meet when she interviews him after his show. You would think with actors who have about a 25 year age gap there might not be the sexual chemistry needed for this story. However, these two definitely have chemistry in Crazy Heart. You might at different times in the film find yourself rooting for them or against them as a couple.

Gyllenhaal plays the mother of a 4 year-old boy, and this charming little guy plays a big role in the relationship between Gyllenhaal and Bridges characters. Bad Blake's alcoholism is the big elephant in the room. Blake's alcoholism and the terrific original music score are really what dominate Crazy Heart. Will he ever get his act together? Can he be a star again or will he kill himself with his drinking and chain smoking? Those are the questions you ask while watching the movie.

There are times when Crazy Heart is slow going and you find yourself thinking, how long is this movie? (It is 1 hour and 51 minutes by the way) Then, they draw you in again and make you really want to know how Bad Blake's story will end. Can he kick the booze and will he win his woman's heart back? You go through an emotional journey with Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. His character is both completely aggravating and wonderfully charming. Watching Blake struggle with his demons and seek redemption is difficult and fulfilling for the audience.

Irish actor Colin Farrell plays the role of Bad Blake's nemesis and friend Tommy Sweet. You can't detect a hint of his Irish heritage as he does a great job of playing a country singer much like the young stars of today. Robert Duvall also has a part as Bad Blake's friend and he adds humor to Crazy Heart.

Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in this film. It was his 5^th nomination, and his first Oscar win. Maggie Gyllenhaal was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Crazy Heart. She did not win, but her work was certainly worthy of an Oscar. Crazy Heart had another Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for the haunting and moving "Weary Kind". The song was written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett. The duo won the Oscar for this wonderful song.

I give Crazy Heart 4 out of 5 stars. If you don't catch it in the theater, you should rent or buy the DVD. It's a good story, courageous acting by Bridges and Gyllenhaal and a really good music score.

Source:The author watched th movie in the theater and watched the 82nd Annual Academy Awards show.