More than its story or co-stars, the main reason to see “Crazy Heart” is for the strong performance Jeff Bridges gives as a veteran country and western singer on the down side of his career. Reminiscent of “The Wrestler,” Bridges is Bad Blake, an alcoholic who has fallen so far down the entertainment ladder that he finds himself performing in bowling alleys. Bad is too proud and stubborn to accept the helping hand Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) extends. Tommy sees Bad as a mentor, but Bad views Tommy as an ungrateful upstart who left him behind on his way to the top. And Bad’s love life consists of a string of one-night stands until he meets Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhall), a journalist in Santa Fe. For some inexplicable reason, Jean is attracted to him, giving Bad the opportunity to interact with an intelligent woman. Jean has a four-year-old son, Buddy (Jack Nation), who is the age that Bad’s son was when the singer abandoned his family some 25 years ago. Although Bad enjoys spending time with Buddy, you know his alcoholic tendencies are going to cause him to make mistakes, perhaps fatal ones.
Daniel Day-Lewis is known for immersing himself in his roles, but the same can be said for Bridges. He is Bad Blake and this is Bridges’ movie. He gets everything right, from the slow, shuffling gait of someone who has given up to the dead look in his eyes. Yet when he picks up a guitar, you see vestiges of the man he once was. And luckily Bridges can sing. Don’t be surprised when Jeff Bridges receives his fifth Oscar nomination and second as a leading man (he was previously recognized for his performance in 1985 for “Starman.”) This is the best performance by an actor for 2009. 12/21/09
This is Jeff Bridges finest hour and he gives us the portrayal of a lifetime. His "Bad Blake" will leave an indelible memory with us and should win an Oscar for his performance. Maggie Gyllenhall does a fine job as the female lead in this gritty motion picture. I give it 4 guitar strings out of a possible five.
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