Crazy Heart is a nice little picture of redemption that hits all the expected beats and is solidly crafted from start to finish with a bunch of quality songs to enjoy along the way.
The story follow Bad Blake a past his prime singer songwriter who has been supplying hits for a young country superstar, Tommy Sweet, as he tours dive bars and bowling alleys poking his head into sobriety only rarely along the way. When he rolls into Santa Fe, Bad meets a journalist, Jean, that he at first tries to bed as any old groupie, but develops a stronger connection with her and her son, Buddy, and finds a bit more meaning in his life with Jean and Buddy in it. Added to this, his agent and Tommy begin really pushing him towards writing Tommy some new material and after an appearance as Tommy’s opening act at a major concert, Bad, begins to dream up some new numbers. Though the alcoholic inside him doesn’t let him stay on his high streak for long.
The film was shot for not a lot of money and first time director Scott Cooper does a nice job at getting the most out of it.  The best move he made was getting T-Bone Burnett involved who helped create the original music for the picture and it is all topnotch, and I am not even a fan of country. His small but excellent cast also does wonders for Cooper who’s script is solid but not at all ground breaking nor original. The story hits all the notes (sorry) you expect it too and actually I think it short changes itself in the third act by making some things a bit too easy. With that said, the ending itself feels right and I am glad they went the way they did and didn’t take things to darker or lighter territory; where it ends feels just right.
The actors in the film are all great in the film starting with Jeff Bridges as Bad. Bridges dives headfirst into the role and has the swagger and charm needed to sell us on the former star status of Bad and is convincing as the boozed up singer that isn’t really aware of his issues. His scenes with Jane and Buddy resonate particularly well and his stage presence and singing abilities are just as strong. Bridges voice works wonderfully with the material he has to sing and you can’t help but enjoy his presence when he is up on the stage. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Jane and is very good in the part and gets to show off her chops in probably her most successful “actors film” yet. (Dark Knight isn’t really an actor’s showcase, outside Ledger) She has been turning in great work in small films for years now and it is nice to see her getting some more mainstream notice though I did have a couple issues with her character at times but I think those issues are more based on the page then in her performance. Her chemistry with Bridges helps the picture stay above the familiarity of the plot and makes the stakes worthwhile when things go a bit south. Colin Farrell is very good as Tommy Sweet and showing his appreciation for Bad feels sincere and true. Farrell even does a bit of singing and has just as solid a stage presence as Bridges and does a great job at turning his Irish accent into southern twang. Robert Duvall also has a couple of nice scenes as a friend of Bad that helps him on his path to cleaning up and giving him a voice of reason when he can’t find any.
In the end, Crazy Heart is a fine little picture that has only a couple weak points and some great performances and music going for it. The story might be a tad familiar with few surprises but the relationships and bonds among the characters is what makes the film work and worth seeing. Bridges is great, but has been better, same for Gyllenhaal, but it is always great to see actors being great and this is quite the showcase for both of them and their unlikely romance resonates well in the picture. Check it out for the songs and the acting; just don’t expect a revolutionary story or anything to exciting to happen.
Crazy Heart is a B