Finding the right tune: Putting together Crazy Heart

Novel adaptations are typical in Hollywood, but making one that brings a different attention other than the typical fanfare is a feat in itself. First time director and writer Scott Cooper had a daunting task ahead of him, not only in creating a proper adaptation, but also to make his own mark as a filmmaker. Crazy Heart, based on the novel of the same name written by Thomas Cobb, tells the story of Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) who’s down on his luck in life finding solace only in alcohol.

Through his struggles and triumphs, Cooper gives us a clear view of the country musician and how he came to achieve it. “The themes about redemption, loss and regret we all experience on a daily basis,” states Cooper. There are many things that can easily take over our lives for better or worse, especially pertaining to particular vices, and the struggles to try and overcome or succumb to those vices tend to intrigue a lot of people. ” I felt that I understood that and felt that I could personalize the story.”

Although Scott Cooper does retain a stellar cast and Oscar buzz, that is something completely unexpected for the first time director. His career more focused in front of the camera rather than behind it, he expresses his not-so-secret love for other forms of filmmaking. ” I like to do both. I like to write, direct and act. It allows me to be more involved in the whole process.”

Actors turning into directors is not uncommon in this day and age, which is something Cooper recognizes completely. “The actors I most respond to are Sean Penn, Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thorton. They’re a bunch of guys that I’ve always liked, that I wanted to emulate. So, here we are.”

Being a director and a writer for an adaptation is juggling around the source material. There always is a complaint or two in regards to staying true, which at times can be a little more difficult that anticipated at first. ” The novel, it’s just such great source material that, it feels hard to say, but you kind of have to kill your darling. Take things out that were in the book.” Luckily for the general public, the big screen version of the Cobb novel does not stray too far away from it’s source.

The biggest talk about Crazy Heart is the performances, particularly of Jeff Bridges as the lead character Bad Blake. Scott apparently feels the same as we do when it comes to Bridges and his performance. “Well, next to Mr. (Robert) Duvall, he’s America’s finest actor. He’s a great musician and a singer so that helped.” As you may all or not know, Bridges’ character once again is a country singer so he performs with all his might on the big screen.

Cooper was clearly happy that he was not the only one to notice how stellar some of the performances came to be in his own feature. ” Maggie Gyllenhaal is one of the great female actresses. She brings out such a great performance. Also, with Jeff Bridges giving out such an incredible performance, I hope that somebody would at least notice that, and lo and behold they have!”

Being a newcomer to the film world behind the camera in the big time, the huge array of Oscar buzz could not be any more surprising. “I think for a first time for me as a writer and director that it’s something I didn’t expect.” Of course, with that, he reveals how the whole film process worked to his advantage with the sudden buzz. ” I wanted a film that was invisibly directed. that way I could get focus on the behavior and the performances. So having it be just on their performances means I’ve done my job to make it like there’s no cameras in the room. In a sense it makes it feel like you were spying on their lives.”

Crazy Heart just got released into more theaters this past Friday but is set to be spawning out into even more screens during the month of January.