Crazy Heart (directed by Scott Cooper, 2009)

As was the case with an earlier review of Harry Brown, there is little if anything original about Crazy Heart but as with Harry Brown, lack of originality should not be taken as a source of criticism. Some plot formulas are used again and again because they work and clearly the template of the once great individual looking for redemption and battling demons is one of them. It works because a fear of aging 0and/or failure is a very basic and real fear for most people.

In the simplest of terms, you could say that Crazy Heart is merely The Wrestler set to the back drop of country music. For better or worse in the eyes of my generation Jeff Bridges will always be known as “The Dude” but thanks to Crazy Heart, “Bad” Blake may contend for a close second. “Bad” Blake is a past his prime country singer struggling with alcoholism and bitter feelings about the success of his long time protégé Tommy Sweet (played surprisingly convincingly by the very Irish Colin Farrell). As you may have guessed, Bad finds a new start in the form of Jane (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her young son and attempts to turn his life around.

What keeps this movie from becoming bland is its use of music. While not purely a musical, Crazy Heart would not survive without it’s soundtrack of soul-filled country tunes (a few of which are sang by Farrell and Bridges themselves). The brains behind the movie’s musical program are those of T. Bone Burnett best known for his work on O Brother Where Art Thou. Burnett may be more responsible for the film’s success than that as it was reported that Jeff Bridges would not sign on until Burnett did. Again if you don’t like country music Crazy Heart may not do it for you but these songs are the type that stay with you.

The acting in this movie was solid all around including an under-rated performance by Robert Duvall in his small but powerful role. My only major problem with the story was that the romance between Bridges and Gyllenhaal never really seemed all that believable to me which took a little away from an otherwise very real story. Crazy Heart makes you want to hug Jeff Bridges and drive across the Southwest plains while drinking warm beer and listening to Hank Williams.