CRAZY HEART
US, 2009, 111 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Jack Nation.
Directed by Scott Cooper.
For decades, Jeff Bridges has been an impressive performer. He is still seen as The Dude from the Big Lebowski. However, his performance here as an alcoholic singer who is struggling at 57 to keep his career going, whose inspiration for writing songs has dried up (or been drowned by his drinking) and who has never settled down (four divorces all told) has received many awards and an Oscar nomination. He deserves them.
Bridges' character, Bad Blake, always turns up to his gigs but his performances are sometimes perfunctory or cut short – and he is glancing around to find his female fans. We see him singing in bowling alleys or in hotels and then moving on through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
But, he gets a chance when he meets the niece of his piano-player in Santa Fe, a local journalist, divorced with a four year old son. She is played with both a genial tone and some determination by Maggie Gylenhaal, also Oscar-nominated. They hit it off and Bad takes an interest in her and relates well to her son. Could this be a turn around in his life?
He has been a mentor and composed songs for a successful young singer but tries to avoid him. However, when he has to agree to open a Phoenix concert for him and the younger man not only shows respect but joins him on stage for a duet, he has to re-appraise his opinion of him.
But, Bad's life was not meant to be easy and he makes a big mistake which demands that he confront his alcoholism, his relationships and his lack of responsibility.
Perhaps not the most original of stories and Robert Duvall's appearance later in the film as a reformed alcoholic reminds us that for his role as a singer in need of some kind of saving, Duvall received his Oscar for Tender Mercies.
However, it is Bridges' film, and he does his own singing of T Bone Burnett's country songs. So does Colin Farrell who is very good as the young singer.
Not a great film but satisfying - and its has some fine performances and a great one by Jeff Bridges.
1.A piece of Americana? American music? The south? The burnt-out cases?
2.Awards and nominations? Praise for Jeff Bridges’ performance?
3.The New Mexico, Texas and Arizona settings? The light, the landscapes? Cities, towns? Bars, venues? The open road? Realism?
4.The music of T- Bone Burnett, the songs, the background score? The singers, Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell singing? The bands? The songs throughout the film? The lyrics? Reflecting Bad Blake’s experience?
5.The portrait of Bad Blake, fifty-seven, alcoholic, four marriages, not seeing his son for twenty-four years, on the road, womanising? His dependence on his agend and clashes with him? The phone calls? Friends – or not? His attitude towards Tommy Sweet and his success, being a mentor? His career, albums, the past compositions, the present gigs, drunk and sick, but never missing? Low self-esteem?
6.His arrival at the bowling alley, pouring out the urine in the parking area, the bowling alley and its regulations, no smoking, the owner welcoming him, the fans, the band meeting him, his staying in the motel room? The preparation, the performance, his being sick, the fans and their disappointment, approving when he reappeared? His spending the night with the eager fan?
7.The world of motels, alone, drinking, arguing with his agent?
8.Santa Fe, driving, the owner, the band and the pianist, the interview with Jean, alone, eating? Jean and her questions? Their talk, personal questions off-limit? The audience liking him, the gig? Jean taking the photos? The later discussions, the relationship, falling in love, change? His date with Anna and her being a fan?
9.Jean and her age, marriage and divorce, Buddy aged four, meeting Bad, working for the newspaper, the interview, the night with Bad, at home, making the biscuits, his relating well with Buddy? The possibilities for them both? His going to Phoenix?
10.Phoenix, the large venue, the agent doing the deal, the discussions with the sound engineer and Bad being determined to have his way, the rehearsals? Talking with Tommy, memories of the past, the offer for the duet, the effect? Tommy coming on stage during the performance, their duets?
11.Phoning Jean, driving, going to sleep, crashing, in hospital, Jean coming to help him? The recovery? The doctor and the serious warnings about his health?
12.Going to Houston, friendship with Wayne, singing, going fishing, the possibility of composing again? Wayne and his straight talk? Supporting, based on his own experience of being alcoholic?
13.Jean and Buddy coming to Houston, settling in, the outing, Bad wanting a drink, losing Buddy, the desperate search, Jean upset, their leaving, the phone calls?
14.Bad going to AA, the meetings, Wayne’s support?
15.The sixteen months passing, writing the songs, Tommy singing them, Jean’s visit, her being married, their talking, Bad giving her the cheque for Buddy when he was eighteen? Last seeing them doing the interview?
16.Themes of redemption, friendship, love, change for each of the characters?
