Battlemouth

“Funny how falling feels like flying, for a little while.” This lyric from Crazy Heart lead character Bad Blake sums this movie up beautifully.

Bad Blake (Bridges) is a country music legend on the back end of his career. Reduced to playing in bowling alleys and tiny bars to minute amounts of fans. Once at the top of the country world, Bad now floats from gig to gig in a constant drunken stupor. Broke and alone after a life time of bad decisions, things are only getting more bleak for Bad. The story takes a turn as Bad meets Jean (Gyllenhaal), a young reporter. Bad instantly falls for Jean. This small glimmer of joy mixed with the opportunity to play a large gig opening for his now famous former protege Tommy Sweet (Farrell) give Bad some much needed inspiration. With the chance to find love and a new start to his career, Bad must find a way to stop himself from ruining things as he has always done.

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This film feels very much like last years The Wrestler. A gifted performer in his twilight years dealing with a lifetime of self-destruction. However this film is not nearly as bleak as The Wrestler. There are many times where we see Bad have small victories and opportunities at real happiness. The film mixes the duality of happiness and despair beautifully. All too often it seems like we are in the real life of a man who can’t save himself from himself. The plot is filled with small moments from this man’s life. It makes everything so much more believable. Like most of us, some times it is the small things in our lives that truly define who we are. I found this to be the strength of this film’s story.

Besides the amazing story, the film is lifted to exceptional heights by the amazing cast. Jeff Bridges continues to evolve as an actor despite his age. There are many people who will say that this role is a more serious take on The Dude, but I see so much more. Where as The Dude was written to be an exceptional dullard surrounded by exceptional characters, Bad is an amazingly deep and sympathetic character. Bridges drags the audience through the highs and lows of the dimming stars life. The sadness in his eyes as he blacks out alone juxtaposed with the joy of a man in love capture your heart. This is the kind of performance where the actor disappears and we are only left with the character on the screen. Bolstering Bridges are several stellar supporting roles. While slightly melodramatic, Maggie Gyllenhaal finds a good chemistry with Bridges. Robert Duvall as Bad’s best friend and Colin Farrell as the young country star on the way up manage to steal some scenes for themselves. Also Jack Nation, as little Buddy, might be the cutest child ever on film. This cast really captures the essence of people we all know and love. I couldn’t help but think of people from my own life. This ability to relate to these characters makes the emotional moments all the more intense.

A film about a musician better damn well have a great soundtrack. Mission accomplished Crazy Heart. The songs from the film really help the narrative along. Many of the lyrics to Bad’s songs tell us so much about him as a character and his previous life we never see. In the film, Bridges is stellar in the performing scenes. The concerts (even with Farrell) seem so real. The title track from the film “The Weary Kind” is such a touching ballad. Mixed with the story of the film, I couldn’t move from my seat as it played into the credits. It even brought a tear to my eye with it’s amazingly touching lyrics.

We all can relate to making mistakes and hoping for a shot at redemption. As we watch Bad struggle with his own short comings in pursuit of happiness we can’t help but root for him. The film is an emotion-filled examination of self-destruction and redemption. As an audience I don’t think we get enough chances to enjoy a drama that can hit so close to our own lives. Both dark and reaffirming, I couldn’t have loved this movie more.

In the song “The Weary Kind” a lyric exclaims, “This aint no place to lose your mind. This aint no place to fall behind. Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try.” I couldn’t agree with the sentiments of this song and film more.

Battle Meter: