I just heard from someone who gave the best review of the new Jeff Bridges movie “Crazy Heart”. I quote: “That fucking movie broke my heart!”
It’s long been an open secret that Jeff Bridges is our finest American, male actor. You can say DeNiro or Nicholson or Freeman. But it’s Bridges. Think about his effortless dissolve into the characters he portrays in films as diverse as The Last Picture Show, Starman, The Fisher King, The Big Lebowski, Fearless, Iron Man and now Crazy Heart. Noted film critic Paulene Kael wrote that he “may be the most natural and least self-conscious screen actor that has ever lived”.
Bridges’ voice isn’t dubbed, that’s him singing the songs in the role of Bad Blake. If you look at him onstage, he is dead-on early seventies Waylon Jennings. That’s as much a compliment to the costume designer as Bridges, but his stance and unaffected drawl will make the hairs stand on your forearm. In a later scene with Bridges strumming a guitar on his porch in the afternoon sun, without any help from a costume designer he looks exactly like Kris Kristopherson.
Actors have ticks, physical gestures they can’t shake. Pacino couldn’t lose that Scent Of A Woman voice for about three movies afterwards. Nicholson always sounds like the eight-ball from the previous evening hasn’t quite cleared his sinuses. But there is a scene in “Crazy Heart” where Bridges hits a register with his voice that I’ve never heard from the man. Fresh and honest, it was all Bad Blake.
Former major-league baseball player Scott Cooper directed this saga, his first screenplay and directorial debut. I’m sure he’s getting hammered with offers. Cooper says he set out to make a movie “that felt like it was straight outta the Seventies”. And he succeeded. He wanted to tell the story of our poet laureate Merle Haggard and he was able to do so through the Bad Blake character. He also wound up telling the story of Cash, Jennings, Jones, Kristopherson and Nelson. The story of country music before the genre slid down to what it’s become today; Cheez Whiz blended with 80’s glam-metal. I guess every rose does have its thorn, afterall.
In an era where movie studios believe 3D glasses and half-billion dollar, blood-thirsty space aliens are the only way to stimulate our adrenal glands, it’s nice to see a movie where a four year-old boy lost in a mall is just as terrifying. It will be interesting to see what Cooper serves up next.
The T Bone Burnett produced soundtrack is one of the best ever composed. T Bone has produced everyone from Warren Zevon to Counting Crows and played in Bob Dylan’s touring band. Last year, the collaboration he initiated between Robert Plant and Allison Krauss “Raising Sand” won the grammy for best album of the year. In “Crazy Heart” he directed Bridges’ vocals in a way that feels authentic, not like some actor affecting a southern accent or country inflections.
The film was co-produced by Bridges and Robert Duvall who has a supporting role in the film which harkens memories of Duvall’s character in “Tender Mercies” so it is fitting to see him here. Jeff Bridges has been nominated for the Oscar four times now and driven home empty-handed four times. I’m thinking this year he goes home with a new, golden friend.
It most definitely broke my heart! Guess I’m just used to the typical Hollywood ending and I would have definitely loved to see them end up together, however, it ended well with the main characters happy and healthy! Guess I’m just a hopeless romantic. The main characters were very believable for me, which heightens my viewing pleasure and gives me a greater appreciation for the film as well as the actor(s). I felt their sadness (tears were shed in the car on the way home), happiness and fear. I’m appreciative now that it did not have the Hollywood ending and I thank you for broadening my horizons regarding films. Not only did I enjoy this film, it was my trial run at visiting the theater solo. I will surely be doing this again! Keep the recommendations coming!
Haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the film yet but I think it’s worth noting that there is great interview on T Bone Bernett at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122526723 . He was the mastermind behind the music and training of Bridges for this film.
Okay, no judgement here, I’m just saying….but this picture reminds me of my piano teacher who I think fell in love with me when I was 12. Just saying…
Other than that, liked this phrase, ‘Cheez Whiz blended with 80’s glam-metal’ – I can really taste that one. Not to mention nice character description for Jeff with nice contrasts to other leading male characters.
Looks like a good chick flick, tear jerker, gives her flowers at Starbuck’s. Was this scene before or after they did it? I’m guessig before.
This was one hell of a movie. It looked simple but was anything but. When Jeff Bridges played the drunk and then the hungover parts I actually felt it in my body. When he sang not only did I feel I am inside that bar but it felt like I am on the stage too. I have never had such an experience. Years ago I loved him as the American president in “The Contender.” Mr. Bridges is one amazing actor and MUST get the Oscar this year…, not that it matters. He doesnt need one to lock in the “excellence” in his art.
Retraction of my first comment after watching the movie….if my piano teacher was Jeff Bridges I would have been all over him. Film was so well done and Jeff Bridges was so authentic in his character. I agree with Henry that he deserves an Oscar. Angle shots and lighting were done well. When he was standing at the door after she shut the door and her life from him, he ponders in grief expression captured well but I can’t figure out how they got that shot given there was a wall right there.
Story line resonated with me…one of my favorite parts is when he gets up from his AA circle and says, “Hello, I’m Bad” – delightful, bittersweet and makes you want to “pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try”…..