CRAZY HEART (USA 2009) ***1/2
Directed by Scott Cooper

CRAZY HEART is the story of a loser who makes good – or almost!  A kind of a reversal of THE WRESTLER in which everything goes downhill, here, the has-been country singer does relatively well.

The protagonist is Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), an alcoholic, a smoker but a talented country and western singer who still has too much pride for his won good.  But his songs, singing and wit are still around.  His meeting with reporter Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) forces him to come to terms with his past.

A familiar story no doubt, even down to clichéd territory of guy having to charm kid to win woman (like the recent THE SPY NEXT DOOR and numerous other films) but forgiveable as Cooper’s film achieves accolades in all departments.

Acting is top notch, especially Jeff Bridges.  Cooper’s camera makes this tall daunting man (consider Bridges’ past films like THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS and THE LAST PICTURE SHOW where he was a sex symbol) look fat, short and unattractive.  Bridges won the Golden Globe and deserves at least an Oscar nomination at that.  Gyllenhaal, as his love interest makes the romance convincing and heartfelt.  Robert Duvall plays Blake’s dad amicably.  Cooper himself wrote the script based on the novel written by Thomas Cobb.  The songs are wonderfully performed with “The Weary Kind’ winning the Golden Globe for best original song.

Cooper has moments in the film where surprises take the audience to a soaring high.  One of these involves a duet by Bridges and a sudden appearance of Colin Farrell as Tommy Sweet.  Though basically a story of hardship and losers, Cooper’s film contains many moments of tenderness such as support given to Blake by his dad and Jean.

CRAZY HEART is clearly a labour of love by all parties.  Duvall and Bridges produced the film.  Music and original songs are great.  This is one movie where the heart has gone into the filmmaking and it clearly shows!