Crazy Heart – Review

There’s always been that one dramatic story that’s been retold a countless number of times. A person is down on his/her luck, drenched within the realms of once-upon-a-time fame, which is the same pertaining to Bad Blake (played by Jeff Bridges). Trying to keep his career, love life, and health afloat, we are steered through a enveloping performance along with a simple rendition of how powerful a single vice can take hold of you.

The feature length debut, written and directed film by Scott Cooper, brings us through a step-by-step process of what an alcoholic goes through. While it may seem fairly simple to convey a rendition of the Thomas Cobb novel Crazy Heart to the big screen, what captivates people the most is the whole world seen through the eyes of Bad Blake.

Jeff Bridges steps onto the stage, literally and figuratively, dawning a cowboy hat and guitar as he strums his way through the role with grace. Particular pieces like this require a strong actor to keep the entire film afloat, a task that Bridges completes fully. Between countless numbers of scenes, by himself or interacting with others, Bridges tears out Blake from paper and breathes life into him creating a fully dimensional character.

Bridges could not entirely become Blake if it was not for the simple vision of Cooper and a mainly quiet cast to bounce off of. The minor characters appear to be placed within random sections of the movie as stand ins to make us all aware that it’s not solely Blake in this country music-filled world. The only actor that actually keeps up with Bridges is Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jean Craddock, the reporter and blatant love interest.

There is a good reason why Jeff Bridges, and the film overall, has been garnering the attention that it has. This could easily be named as one of the best performances Bridges has done to date, and is a film that should be on many people’s list of features to watch during this winter season.

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