Jeff Bridges amazed me in this film. His performance is nothing less than perfect. You watch him and you see "Bad" Blake, an alcoholic country singer who was once a huge star, clearly and vividly. You forget an actor is playing him. Bridges gets absolutely lost in his character and never looks back. This is why he went on to win best actor in the 82nd Academy Awards a week ago. If anyone deserved it, it was him. Maggie Gylenhaal, who was nominated for best supporting actress, is solid as a divorced mother who falls in love with "Bad", or at least she thinks she's in love. The cast is the biggest strength of the film, as the story is nothing unique. The material would just be solid with decent performances, but because of the flawless performance from Jeff Bridges, it's worth seeing.
"Crazy Heart" is definitely not for everyone. It isn't constantly entertaining and some songs seem to drag. Nevertheless, the film is captivating as you start to care for "Bad" Blake more and more as the film goes on. Scenes that involve Blake fighting his addiction to alcohol are filled with genuine authenticity. Everything feels real. Other than that, the Jeff Bridges performance of a lifetime is worth checking out on its own. Watch him play the chords of "Bad" Blake's crazy heart. You'll be satisfied.
Rating: 3 out of 4
