Crazy Heart [Blu-ray] DVD ~ Jeff Bridges

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely brilliant movie anchored by a great star performance, January 24, 2010 CRAZY HEART is one of the finest movies that I have seen in the past year and will almost definitely win Jeff Bridges his first Oscar. Even in a year where Bridges had strong competition, I think he would take home the award. Over the course of forty years Bridges has been one of the most reliable actors in America, putting together a string of extraordinary performances. He has not gained quite the star stature of a DeNiro or Pacino, despite appearing in as many interesting roles as either. But he has one the one hand abjured the kinds of roles that would make him more of a box office sensation and on the other refused to play the same kind of role twice. There is no “typical” Jeff Bridges role. Here he plays a closed-to-burned-out country singer, an old school performer along the lines of a Waylon Jennings or Guy Clark, and he does it convincingly. In fact, the last time I saw an actor portray an old, burned out country singer so well was Robert Duvall in TENDER MERCIES. And as Jeff Bridges will in CRAZY HEART, Duvall an actor for Best Actor.

Although the strongest thing in CRAZY HEART is Jeff Bridges’s performance, it is far from the only fine thing in it. The songs are amazing (and the film will definitely take home one or two Oscars for music) and all sound like classics you should have known from the past, but don’t be cause they were written by Stephen Bruton and T-Bone Burnett, who also produced the album. Jeff Bridges does a very credible job performing the songs, as does Colin Farrell as hot country performer Tommy Sweet. Maggie Gyllenhaal has always been fascinating to me. Sometimes she is amazing and is quite cute. Other times she is bland and fairly plain looking. But in this film she was quietly compelling in a very difficult role and was quite fetching. Her role was difficult for the same reason that Ginger Rogers’s roles with Fred Astaire were so tough. No, it isn’t the old quip about her doing the same thing that Fred did only in high hills and backwards. Fred’s dancing was on a completely different plane than Ginger’s, but where she excelled was making the audience believe that she found Fred so appealing. Now, Bad Barton (Bridges’s character) is not a very sexy or appealing guy. Well, to be honest, he is repulsive. But Gyllenhaal makes us believe he has qualities that a woman might find appealing. We don’t see it in Bad; we see it in Gyllenhaal’s face. This is why she should also get an Oscar nomination. The cinematography is up to the standards of the music and acting and the writing should definitely snag an Oscar nomination.

This is simply a flat out great movie. I think the Oscar can pretty much be handed over to AVATAR this year, but if there is a dark horse that might sneak in and steal it, it might well be CRAZY HEART. This is a rare, special film that I think anyone who loves movies — as opposed to blockbuster special effects flicks — will adore. I have no explanation for the two previous reviews. I don’t think either makes any sense whatsoever or will be the reaction of the vast majority of viewers. Certainly the film is getting great, great reviews and has won a shelf full of awards, mainly for Best Actor, Best Music, and Best Song. I think this is one of those beautiful, moving films that people will enjoy and treasure. And it is definitely my favorite film made in 2009 (though I have not yet seen AVATAR, though I’ve seen all the other award contenders from the past year). Trust me, if you love movies and love great acting, you will love this movie.

Robert Moore reviewed: