Crazy Heart (2009)

Though many critics have damned this with faint praise, raving about Jeff Bridges' performance in a so-called so-so story, Jack and I liked everything about this tale of a faded country singer/songwriter near the end of his rope. Crisply produced songs, top notch back-up bands, gorgeous big sky vistas, and touches like the mid-century sign on a bowling alley called the Spare Room help tell a tale that is not completely predictable. If you avoid spoilers, such as this song list, which writes about songs on and off the soundtrack, you might even be surprised now and then. Of course, the big stars of the movie are the music and Jeff Bridges (I wrote about him in The Men Who Stare at Goats), who inhabits his character of Bad Blake; he will get an Oscar nomination, and likely the statue. He somehow makes us understand how a sweaty, stinky, nicotine-stained drunk manages to snag a groupie or two. Veteran music producer T-Bone Burnett (O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000), The Ladykillers (2004), Walk the Line (2005), Across the Universe (2007), musical archivist for The Big Lebowski (1998), more) has begun racking up awards with his colleague on this movie, Stephen Bruton, who died last May. The song, "The Weary Kind," by Burnett and Ryan Bingham, has won some awards already, too, and will probably be performed at the Oscars. Bingham has a cameo in the movie, as the guitarist with the bangs who begs for a rehearsal with Bad before the Spare Room gig. Bingham's version is the only one on the soundtrack, but Bridges is good at this genre, and here's him singing it (I didn't know he had recorded an album?!? Listen to it streaming from this page, but it's nothing like his music in Crazy Heart). My personal favorite song is "Hold on You," which Bridges performs for only a few seconds during the movie and full length in the credits. I previewed all the songs on the soundtrack, and it's a good one, if you like country/blues, which I do.

First-time director Scott Cooper said in this interview (no spoilers, three misspellings: Kristofferson, (Ter(r)ence) Malick, and deferential) that he prepared every shot well in advance so he could complete the movie in 24 days with locations in three states! Nice work. Another interview tells of his starting out as an actor. He will be someone to watch from here on. Also to watch will be little Jack Nation, who is the adorable Buddy. Maggie Gyllenhaal (I wrote briefly about her in Away We Go) is perfect for her role as the not-yet-disillusioned single mom, Jean. We also liked the character of Bad's agent, played by Paul Herman.

Our local theatres get to reap the benefit of this movie's being released here just as the Oscar buzz is buzzing, and we suggest you buy a ticket or two, too. You won't be sorry. Bonus at the end of the credits: Robert Duvall, who, as producer, is one of the reasons the movie got made, and has a cameo as a friend of Bad's, sings a song.