Crazy Heart

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Plot: Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) an old washed-up drunken country singer hooks up with much younger woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and sings.

Review:  Who cares about this old singer? Why did the cute reporter want to hook up with him? Jeff Bridges sings pretty well, and managed to look either play guitar or look like he did.

I don't think that Bad Blake is a realistic character or a great American archetype, and for that reason  a movie celebrating him just seems pointless. I appreciate that the story might be good enough for country music fans to get a dose of their favorite music. I'm not a country fan and after the first hour, I found all the singing tedious.

Jeff Bridges is a favorite for a best actor Oscar, and I can't figure out why. His acting is good enough, and the dialog is snappy and realistic, but I did not think the performance was exceptional. The Wrestler was a much better movie about a washed up old loser. Mickey Rouke's performance was better, and the character was more interesting.

The photography was good especially the outdoor scenes.


Cast: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Directed by: Scott Cooper

Rating: 2.0 flasks, which is a generous rating.


More:  One of the oldest audiences I have ever seen a movie with--even older than Whatever Works. Worse, the ticket seller gave me a senior citizen's discount :-(

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