In theaters. Rated R, 109 minutes. Trailer.
Forget that everybody says that Crazy Heart isn't much more than just another version of The Wrestler. New writer/director/producer Scott Cooper's collaboration with the star of the film, Jeff Bridges (as 'Bad' Blake) and co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal features great performances, realistic dramatic arcs, beautiful scenery (not to mention solid supporting work from Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell) and more emotional gravity than any other film this year. Bad is an alcoholic, broke and charming has-been country music star touring the Southwest's worst venues (bowling alleys and the like) when he meets burgeoning young (but world-weary) reporter Jane (Gyllenhaal). Click below for more on Crazy Heart:
Bad and Jane click immediately despite their age difference and her 4 year old son. As he continues on the road, he keeps thinking about her and they forge an unlikely romance. He also works through a troubled relationship with country mega-star Tommy Sweet (Farrell), whom he 'taught everything he knows' and engages in a quasi father/son relationship with Robert Duvall. The relationship with Jane takes a refreshingly honest course after a major error by Bad, and their final scene was one of my favorite of the year, a real 'payoff pitch'.
The director utilizes lots of close-ups to really feel the characters' emotions, and this worked superbly. Both Bridges and Gyllenhaal give great performances - Bridges channelling years of pain and intelligence and Gyllenhaal loving and loathing all at once with her eyes. The story is good, but could have been meatier. I was a bit of a sucker for the film because Bad is a composite of pretty much all of my older relatives (minus the drinking). I can't really understand why this isn't getting more talk as a Best Picture nominee.
As compared to the Wrestler, this film is less gritty (of course), much more watchable, and not quite as affecting. I related more to it because of its locations and language. Doc - watch for lots of Houston landmarks in the last third of the film.
Worth your time. #2 this year.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Crazy Heart - A-
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2 comments:
I felt like The Wrestler was a better done version of the last Rocky movie.
I really wish this was playing closer to me. Thrilled to see that Bridges just might get his overdue Oscar. It's even better that, by most accounts, he actually deserves it. For the first time, I'm glad Clooney beat Giamatti for supporting in 2005 so no one feels obligated to vote for him again. Both Clooney and Bridges were pretty great at the SAG awards over the weekend.
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