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Visitors Review

Violet Weed 2012-05-25 04:18:38

another sloppy movie about a drunk with a sloppy actor

I don't get why Jeff Bridges keeps doing these movies about sloppypeople. I thought it stunk. He could do movies about people who CAREabout their lives, how short life is, the meaning of life, the innategoodness of people, but no, he keeps doing sloppy movies about sloppypeople who sloppily meander through life. Pretending that there is someredeeming quality to this movie is just that -- a pretense. The musicwas third-rate, heck, I can sing better than that in the shower. Eventhe guitar playing was 'average high schooler'. What was the point ofthis movie? It was depressing. I think that Mr. Bridges probably has apretty good life so he doesn't realize that the goal of Hollywoodshould be to ENTERTAIN not to depress. He makes hopeless movies justlike Steven King writes hopeless books.

Rickie331 2012-05-24 19:46:50

Jeff Bridges Oscar performance!

Crazy Heart is bluesy, superb deep country music, heart felt, true to life for a storyline of what alcoholism can do to a love affair and what eventual sobriety can do to turn a person around, and just plain wonderful! I went not sure what to expect. Jeff Bridge's performance and his female lead steal the show, they are the show! This is not a twing twangy film, it is a simple real life based true to form story with all the ups and downs that go with. Take tissue and enjoy this Oscar material film!

Mark R. Leeper 2012-05-23 22:33:35

Some good country music and some people you care about make this film likable if nothing flashy. But Bridges's characterization is first rate.

deacon_blues-3 2012-05-23 14:50:31

Affirming life on the path of self-destruction

Bad Blake is your typical legendary has-been. Proudly self-deluded, heis blind to the fact that all of his miseries are self-inflicted. Hecarries a reality-distortion field around wherever he travels,persuading everyone he meets to join in his conceit, turning a blindeye to his obvious alcoholism, narcissism, and downward spiralingexistence. They are all recruited into his army of facilitators andenablers. He continually rejects the love and helpful hand of a youngsuccessful protégé, and allows his drinking to destroy the onerelationship in his life that means the most to him. A potentiallyfatal truck accident, accompanied by the frank admonishment of theattending physician, he ignores completely. It takes a monstrous neartragedy involving his fiancée's 4-year-old son to finally wake him upand get him sober, but it's too late for his hopes of happiness andfamily. Pipe dreams of connecting with his neglected son of over 20years evaporate as he realizes how deluded he has been throughout hisprodigal life. But he stays sober, finding solace and success inturning to his music and friends who still love him and will stand byhim to the end. Jeff Bridges in his finest hour, in a film that offershope to the hopeless, sight to the blind, and real meaning within thecontext of life's triumphs and tragedies.

Phil Hall 2012-05-19 03:50:03

Often feels like a half-hearted, half-assed remake of Tender Mercies.

Michael Dequina 2012-05-18 22:38:50

Formidable acting talent aside, this is routine self-destruction-and-recovery TV movie material.

2012-05-15 01:16:18

Take a chance on this heart

I will not take up space writing the description for the movie as many others have done a fine job. I just want to write about the things that I loved about this film.The music of the film is fantastic and the actors themselves have sung it, which is amazing.The landscape of the movie complements the mood of the movie which has been shot in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Texas. The outdoor photography is simply marvelous.The actors are all simply superb. Collin Farell was in my opinion the weakest link because he looks and acted all wooden but he is overshadowed by the strength of the movie so this did not make such a difference. Maggie Gyllenhal was a revelation as a single mom, trying to succeed and doing the right thing for her child. Robert Duvall, who has produced this movie is superb in a very brief role. Rising above the rest of the cast is Jeff Bridges, who is superb as the alcoholic who attempts the rocky road to recovery. He conveys self pity with such a pride. Crazy heart is a great film, with a screenplay that has been attempted before in a different form but the treatment of this tired story by the director Scott Copper is such that it may well become one of your favorite movies this year. 4 stars. 11/22/10

dickklip 2012-05-14 14:08:13

The Dude Goes Country

Take the Dude, Jeff Bridges character in the "Big Lebowski", arguablyhis best ever, subtract the constant confusion, and add a jaundicedview of life, and you have Bad Blake, a down-on-his-luck, broken,middle aged country singer, who's now playing bowling alleys, and smalllounges, while he drinks and smokes too much, and shacks up withwhatever woman is left at the bar that night. While Crazy Heart is a good movie, it could have been so much better.It's a great character study in Blake, and really takes you through histormented life, capped by now having to play as an opening act for oneof his former backup band members, and at the same time trying toestablish a relationship with a young reporter (Maggie Gyllenhaal),after four failed marriages. The music and musicians were excellent--I just there was more of it,like T-Bone Burnette did in "Brother, Where art Thou". But other than afew complete songs, we get mostly bits and pieces of the songs, and thecreative process. What isn't so good is the lengthy dialogue, much ofwhich is overdone, and too many romantic pointless romantic scenes,which are hardly believable given the age difference of the primaryactors. (I mean really, do you think a girl like her would ever go fora guy like him?). It would have been better if there were more music, less talk, and anolder woman playing opposite Bridges, who could really make us believeshe is as flawed as his character. It's a good movie, still worth the watch, but too slow, and not asmusical as it should have been. I just expected more. However, without revealing any spoilers, I can tell all you Bridgesfans out there, that in the end, the Dude still abides!

Chris Knipp 2012-05-09 18:13:38

Stumbling toward salvation, one day at a time

'Crazy Heart' is a simple but emotionally resonant movie about a57-year-old alcoholic country singer whose career is on the skids.There's not much to the story, but not much is necessary with JeffBridges as the singer, Bad Blake; Colin Farrell as Tommy Sweet, hishandsome acolyte, now a big country music star; Maggie Gyllenhaal asJean Craddock, a small-time New Mexico journalist with a four-year-oldboy who has lousy luck with men, and falls for Bad; and Robert Duvallas Wayne, the singer's clean-and-sober bartender-protector.Bridges, Gyllenhaal and Farrell have never been better, and Duvall isalways pure gold. This movie is Bridges' chance to give a master classin acting, and he does not disappoint for a minute, but he's not alonein the spotlight, and the depth of support he gets is what makes CrazyHeart worth watching.A lifelong musician and many-talented artist (painting, photography,ceramics) whose thespian preeminence in Hollywood has yet to win him anOscar, Jeff Bridges inhabits the songs he sings on screen asconvincingly and seamlessly as he fits into the shambles of a life andmess of a body that is the film's protagonist. This musical integrityis important because Bad Blake is one of those disintegratingperformers whose art has not faltered, though his life has. The songshe sings are his own, and when he's on stage, he's alive. The rest ofthe time he's lying, deceiving, or numbing out. A great line is whenhe's asked by Jean where his songs come from and he replies simply,"Life, unfortunately." A parallel to Bridges' work in 'Crazy Heart' is the similarly lived-inand authentic performance as a waning dance hall singer by GérardDepardieu in Xavier Giannoli's 'The Singer'/'Quand j'étais chanteur,' arichly atmospheric little film released but barely seen in the US. Butthe milieu here is very different, and as American as 'The Singer's' isFrench. First time director Scott Cooper has said this movie tells"Merle Haggard's' story and Kris Kristofferson's and Waylon Jennings'.As Bad Blake, Jeff moves like Waylon, he has Merle Haggard'ssongwriting ability and Kris Kristofferson's charisma." Of courseBridges looks a lot like Kristofferson, and Bad Blake puts his hardtimes into his felt, authentic compositions as Waylon and Merle did.The songs are composed by T Bone Burnett, and are fine; moreauthenticity is added through other songs such as Townes Van Zandt's"If I Needed You" and Waylon Jennings' "Are You Sure Hank Done It ThisWay." Burnett composed the songs with the late Stephen Bruton; and theclosing ballad, "The Losing Kind," with Ryan Bingham. Farrell as wellas Bridges does his own singing, and his Irishness merges fairlyconvincingly into a slick country style. Just as Bad Blake is thementor of Tommy Sweet, in real life Robert Duvall has become a mentorof the actor-writer-director, so his presence anchors the film andpresides over it. Bridges knew of the movie but held off fromcommitting to it till he learned his friend Burnett was in, so this isproject that must have felt right, ultimately, for all concerned.Bridges' Bad Blake is so authentically blousy and pathetic he's hard tolook at sometimes. He's always drunk and at an opening gig at a Pueblo,Coloradi bowling rink, throws up in a back alley between songs, whilethe young pickup band he's saddled with has to fill in. In Santa FeJean shows up to do an interview, and a May-December romance developsas Bad woos Jean against her better judgment and plies her little boywith homemade pancakes (the boy is hungry for a man in his life and Badoozes charm, when he's conscious). Gyllenhaal, who played a characterstruggling with addiction and recovery herself in 'SherryBaby,' gives aperformance as a women warring inside with loneliness and need. Herscenes with Bridges are central to the movie, and the chemistry isstrong between them.Blake hasn't written songs for some years, but when he meets up withTommy prior to a date opening for him to an audience of 12,00 inDenver, Tommy begs him to write some for him. In this way thescreenplay manages to steer a course, perhaps a bit too easily, betweensuccess and failure. Clearly Bad Blake is still working, even if it'sat lousy venues, and to prove it he's always on the phone to ahard-nosed Manager (James Keane) who's finding him the best gigs hecan. This eventually leads to a contract to compose songs for an albumwith Tommy.'Crazy Heart,' which was written by Cooper from the eponymous novel byThomas Cobb, is perhaps a bit schematic about the up-down-up trajectoryof the talented loser, but it manages to be pretty realistic about thedegeneration that is terminal alcoholism. Here, however, it's not aslide into hell like Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas. Though only by theskin of his teeth, and with multiple ailments a car crash reveals, Badis surviving. So when the moment comes and he hits his bottom, he stillhas the strength to straighten out. Maybe the fast-forward finale is abit too upbeat, but the memory the movie leaves is, of course, ofBridges with a bottle, a guitar, and a sad sweet song, and of some ofthe year's best movie acting.

Kyle Smith 2012-05-09 10:10:40

It's one of the year's best, most deeply felt films.

Christopher Long 2012-05-09 17:51:43

(Bridges) just slips into the faded leather boots of a sad, lost soul, a man we all know even though weve never met him.

Kit Bowen 2012-05-09 11:45:05

While it showcases Jeff Bridges' extraordinary talents and delivers a couple of decent country music tunes, Crazy Heart is basically a retread that doesn't leave much of a lasting impression.

Leo 2012-05-04 20:31:33

Bitter sweet movie

Very realistic story of the ups and downs of a country singer and his battle with alcohol. Not the lives happily ever after story but got his life back on track.

2012-05-04 01:36:20

Bridges Mesmerizes

This review is from: Crazy Heart (DVD) Jeff Bridges' style of acting, as demonstrated by his long wait for Oscar gold, is deliberately low-key and can easily be taken for granted. His work here as a broken down alcoholic country singer is no exception. These type of roles bring out the ham in some actors but Bridges' Bad Blake mostly suffers in silence. Bad has been down so long that when they deny him a bar tab at a bowling alley gig he just lights a cigarette in knowing recognition. "Crazy Heart" is a personal journey for Bad from downtrodedness no some form of personal redemption. It's not a pleasant journey but it is a fascinating one. Besides Bridges the film's cast is terrific starting with Maggie Gyllenhaal's sympathetic girlfriend, Colin Farrell as a former protogee of Bad's whose made the big time, and the irrepressible Robert Duvall as an old friend of Bad's who demonstrates the tough love that others are unable to give. If Bridges' work here reminded me of anything it was Duvall's in "Tender Mercies" back in 1983. Don't get me wrong because this is a work unique to Bridges but he knows how to give props to another masterful actor. Unarguably "Crazy Heart" is one of the best pictures that came out last year.

Daniel 2012-05-03 05:11:53

The performance of the year and of a lifetime.

After many, many solumn years of not receiving an Oscar, Jeff Bridges finally is awarded. This time around, his performance in Crazy Heart is exactly that of Mickey Rourke's in 2008's The Wrestler. Bridges receiving the Oscar makes up for Mickey's loss, but never-the-less, this is a great movie as well. Crazy Heart is a sad journey that doesn't really turn out how you'd expect, but has a warm feeling in your heart once the last, Oscar winning songs begins to play. Jeff Bridges is always likeable. From The Big Lebowski to Iron Man to Crazy Heart. Each of his performance are rendering and comical depending on the movie. Maggie Gyllenhaal was actually good in this movie. The nomination is well deserved and Robert DuVall's cameo-ish performance was just what this movie needed. And would you look at that, another brilliant actor Collin Farrel was also outstanding within the little time he was given. All and all, nothing seems empty in this movie. A well written story, a magnificent main actor with talent and voice, and a few Oscars. Seems a fair win. Crazy Heart: *** stars. 8.5/10.rated R for language and brief sexuality. about 20 F-words and a brief sex scene.

David Ansen 2012-05-03 00:14:18

Crazy Heart gets to you like a good country song -- not because it tells you something new, but because it tells it well. It's the singer, not the song.

dug_nichols 2012-05-02 01:55:13

Drink - Drank - Sing - Sung

The acting was well done, too bad the story has been overdone. I am abit surprised they could not get one of the more seasoned countrysingers to act this part - with the exception of Willie Nelson since healready did the same story, 'Honeysuckle Rose' which had plenty of goodmusic and everything else was awful. Well yeehaw I wandered off-topic.Let me jingle-jangle back to this movie. It hit the trail-a-blazin' butsomewhere along the way that darned story line was hornswoggled andstruggled to make it to the barn. (As you can tell I am attempting towrite Hollywood-Western-Speech - too many westerns I'm thinking.)Talking' about struggling to finish it is almost like no one knew howto corral the herd (i.e. plot) and just shot the poor thing. Pardner Iam not complaining, but this here movie ended all-of-a-sudden-like. Italmost was like hopping off a rock into a creek and smacking your headon a log – not what I would expect. Now if them writing fellas had donethe whole movie like this – it would have made me as happy as a turkeyin a rainstorm. (Hmmmm, that don't sound quite right – I may have tocome up with something else but I think 'happy as a bull in a dairyfarm' might be too happy.) I guess I am just too hard on this movie. Igotta tell ya'all there were things I liked about this flick. A'kin toJeff's swell acting I really liked the fact the lights were out in thethe-a-tor so I could take a real good nap; the popcorn was reallybuttery and tasty, and the soda was all full of bubbles and sugar,kind-a-the way I like it. The singer's granddaughter was real prettytoo…oh wait….that was his girlfriend…oops…forgot that this was aHollywood movie. Anyways…the scenery was good and the honkytonkexperience was pretty cool. Now that I have mastered the dialect…I mayto do 'Deliverence' this way. Mediocre at best

Greg Yolen 2012-05-01 04:04:44

CRAZY HEART, or 'Lebowski 2: The Dude Gets Sober'

There's just not much to say about CRAZY HEART that you probablywouldn't infer from its trailer, or anticipate from your still-freshmemories of THE WRESTLER. That film was a peek behind the veil ofpro-wrestling, a revelation of the sensitive men behind their violentpersonae. Country music, however, isn't defined by a veiling of emotion– quite the opposite. Country is, almost by its nature, baldlyconfessional music. So sadly, CRAZY HEART never supplies thevoyeuristic thrill of THE WRESTLER, because unlike the character ofRandy "The Ram" as juxtaposed in and out of the ring, there's nothingabout Bad Blake that's not perfectly presented in the songs he performsthroughout this film – just as James Mangold's WALK THE LINE didn'treally add anything to the story of Johnny Cash that listening to 'AtFolsom Prison' hadn't already told you about the man.Read my full review (and more) at STEVENSPIELBLOG.COM ...-Greg

2012-04-27 06:14:07

this was just a good all around movie

My wife was wanting to see this and I was like, okay, thats fine. I wasn't expecting much as it seemed like a tired old storyline. But Jeff Bridges really brought the character out in this. There's some singing in the movie, but not a lot really. There's a lot of old singers roaming around the country and you can catch them in your local bar once in awhile. This movie showed the hardships of such a life and how drinking makes things worse for someone. Maggie Gyllenhaal did a good job, she was probably a little too good looking to connect with an old singer like this, but thats Hollywood and its not uncommon to see a woman with an older man. Overall though it gives a good picture of the life of an old country star. It was very entertaining and I give it 5 stars because there wasn't much they could have done to make the movie better. I guess if I had to change something I would pick a real country singer to play Colin Farrell's character. He didn't impress me in this movie.

2012-04-26 21:48:10

Thank Goodness for Fast Forward

This was OK at best. There are plenty of good stories that aren't fiction in the country business. They should have just bio'ed a real character, because this was a bit unbelievable. It got very slow in some places too. Jeff Bridges' acting was pretty good, but it seems the academy was in the same mood as some republican conventions and giving things to people who'd payed their dues.