Crazy Heart (Scott Cooper, 2009)

[Dillard]

This looks real good based on the trailer. First timer Scott Cooper directs Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall in this film about a down-and-out country singer named Bad Blake (Bridges). T-Bone Burnett's doing the music.

Trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/crazyheart/)

[number8]

I like how Colin Farrell is no longer bankable enough to even mention.

[B-side]

I like the cast. Bridges looks great. Film itself looks a bit too by-the-numbers, though.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Do you think I'd make the cover of the DVD if I posted a blog entry entitled "Crazy Trite"? How about "Crazy Cliched"? Perhaps "Crazy Tired"?

Yeah, this movie sucked. One dull moment after the next, each more predictable than the next. Performances were bland, Bridges included (and I'm a big fan). I'm going to try to forget I ever saw this. The only thing it had going for it was the fantastic music. Despite how much I disliked the film, I'm buying the soundtrack.

[baby doll]

Thoroughly mediocre. It gives shameless Oscar-bait a bad name.

[balmakboor]

Oscar-bait to be sure and I'm sure they'll be biting.

But I'm not going to be disappointed when Bridges wins though. The movie is routine, but his performance is terrific.

[chrisnu]

To anyone who's seen this and A Single Man: does Bridges give a better performance than Firth? I find that difficult to believe.

[Ezee E]

Do you think I'd make the cover of the DVD if I posted a blog entry entitled "Crazy Trite"? How about "Crazy Cliched"? Perhaps "Crazy Tired"?

Yeah, this movie sucked. One dull moment after the next, each more predictable than the next. Performances were bland, Bridges included (and I'm a big fan). I'm going to try to forget I ever saw this. The only thing it had going for it was the fantastic music. Despite how much I disliked the film, I'm buying the soundtrack.
Remember what I said?

I initially gave it two and a half I think. It's gone to about two stars now, because it isn't exactly bad, just completely run of the mill. All that matters is the music and Jeff Bridges basically being Kris Kristofferson.

[eternity]

To anyone who's seen this and A Single Man: does Bridges give a better performance than Firth? I find that difficult to believe.Oh, absolutely not. Ezee basically said it; it's Bridges playing Kristofferson. Which...Jeff Bridges is awesome and always will be, so he can go ahead and win and nobody would or could complain about it. But Colin Firth in A Single Man <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[Derek]

To anyone who's seen this and A Single Man: does Bridges give a better performance than Firth? I find that difficult to believe.

They're both good performances in bland, forgettable films.

[Ezee E]

The instant that Crazy Heart went from pretty/good to really/pretty bad was:

Kid gets lost in mall. Wait, before that, he settles down with journalist

Ugh, why couldn't we just watch him tour for the whole movie?

[ledfloyd]

The instant that Crazy Heart went from pretty/good to really/pretty bad was:

the car crash/doctor telling him he was killing himself causing him to settle down
hackneyed.

[Kurosawa Fan]

hackneyed.

This word describes every moment in this film. The more I think about it, the more I dislike it. The music was its only saving grace.

[ledfloyd]

This word describes every moment in this film. The more I think about it, the more I dislike it. The music was its only saving grace.
indeed. even bridges performance, it was good don't get me wrong, but i don't get the praise. i easily saw 10 better male performances this year.

[baby doll]

To anyone who's seen this and A Single Man: does Bridges give a better performance than Firth? I find that difficult to believe.Heavens, no! Bridges does what he can with the material, but he's no Firthster. He's just so f---ing debonaire! (I totally second Eternity's ♥♥♥♥♥ for Firth.)

[baby doll]

i easily saw 10 better male performances this year.That's a good challenge:

Nicolas Cage, The Bad Lieutenant—Port of Call: New Orleans
Alfredo Castro, Tony Manero
Willem Dafoe, Antichrist
Alex Descas, 35 rhums
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Johannes Krisch, Revanche
Joaquin Pheonix, Two Lovers
Sam Rockwell, Moon
Michael Stulhbarg, A Serious Man
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

[ledfloyd]

That's a good challenge:

Nicolas Cage, The Bad Lieutenant—Port of Call: New Orleans
Alfredo Castro, Tony Manero
Willem Dafoe, Antichrist
Alex Descas, 35 rhums
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Johannes Krisch, Revanche
Joaquin Pheonix, Two Lovers
Sam Rockwell, Moon
Michael Stulhbarg, A Serious Man
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
i haven't seen tony manero or a single man but i agree with the rest, maybe with the exception of dafoe.

[Boner M]

The possibility that "The Weary Kind" was written about the experience of watching this film is its most interesting facet. Bland, hackneyed, predictable, rote, etc.

[Boner M]

The instant that Crazy Heart went from pretty/good to really/pretty bad was:
I dunno why, but
The moment where Bridges get shut out by Gyllenhaal, and then we cut to him weeding his garden. Just seemed to perfectly encapsulate everything wrong with the script's comically by-the-numbers approach to characterisation.

Actually, I thought the early scenes were pretty good. At least there was more space for Bridges to breathe in that section... then it all basically goes to shit.

[Henry Gale]

Similar to An Education for me: I was with it for maybe first hour, then it just sort of lost me.

Enjoyed the music a fair bit, especially Farrell's version of "The Weary Kind" (which doesn't seem to exist as a recording outside of the movie), loved the look of it (from the driving montages to the dark daytime shots of Blake's house), and see no faults in the performances, and now quite like the idea of Bridges having an Oscar even if it's for this; it's just that the strengths in each of those things seem to be overplayed throughout the film. I wish there were more than just the few songs used over and over, more meat to the story and characters to play towards justifying the rich locations and acting.

It's basically a bland, country-music rewrite of The Wrestler, with much less emotional intensity and grit to make it feel like the actual life of a person at the center, coming to grips with their mortality and how their mistakes, past and present, effect the people they care about. It's just not a strong enough film as an experience for me have clear feelings about either way.

** (or a "C")

[NickGlass]

Crazy Heart math!

Ostensibly "method" acting x 2 handles of Evan Williams whiskey - any kind of spontaneity whiskey often brings about + 1 carton of Marlboro reds - 1 hospital trip where Bad is told to clean up his act + 1 cute kid - 4 manipulative moments with cute kid x 4 narrative shortcuts + 1 trip to rehab + 7 "I always fall for the bad ones--every time" = oh, who the fuck cares?

[Spinal]

I liked it a lot. I have no trouble with Bridges winning the Oscar. Gyllenhaal was equally fantastic. The script might have been slight, but this one is all about the acting, which is extraordinary. Thought Farrell and Duvall were great too.

[Spinal]

Crazy Heart math!

Ostensibly "method" acting x 2 handles of Evan Williams whiskey - any kind of spontaneity whiskey often brings about + 1 carton of Marlboro reds - 1 hospital trip where Bad is told to clean up his act + 1 cute kid - 4 manipulative moments with cute kid x 4 narrative shortcuts + 1 trip to rehab + 7 "I always fall for the bad ones--every time" = oh, who the fuck cares?

This is why math should never be applied to evaluating movies. Because sometimes what is valuable about a film lies between the basic elements which hold it together.

[MadMan]

This movie was merely solid at best, if only because the script was a bit formulaic. However, Jeff Bridges was fantastic as was the rest of the cast-I liked Duvell and Farrell in their bit roles, and Gyllenhaal was decent, I suppose. The soundtrack is excellent, sure, but I think in time I'll forget about this one. Did Bridges deserve best actor? I donno, as I didn't see enough male peformances from last year-so far I actually prefer Jermeny Renner and Sam Rockwell somewhat-but I really don't have a problem with him getting the Oscar. Its all about getting an award years after you've already given your best performance or made your best movie already, isn't? Sadly, that's usually the case.

[Boner M]

I thought Farrell was terrible, singing aside. Very few roles I can tolerate him in (Tigerland and The New World I suppose are the exceptions).

[Boner M]

This is why math should never be applied to evaluating movies. Because sometimes what is valuable about a film lies between the basic elements which hold it together.
(Nick's equation) - value between basic elements which hold it together = Crazy Heart

:D

[MadMan]

I for one think that Farrell is a good actor who will one day get a truly amazing role. So far, I've liked him best in Phone Booth, The New World, and In Bruges.

[baby doll]

I for one think that Farrell is a good actor who will one day get a truly amazing role. So far, I've liked him best in Phone Booth, The New World, and In Bruges."They're filming midgets!"

[Spinal]

I realize now that this was the first time I had seen Farrell in a movie knowing who he was. Apparently he was in Minority Report, but I don't remember him.

[Raiders]

I realize now that this was the first time I had seen Farrell in a movie knowing who he was. Apparently he was in Minority Report, but I don't remember him.

Really? He was a pretty main character, and it is still the performance I most associate with him.

I like him well enough. Neither stellar nor bad.

[BrianCan't]

I love Bridges, but I was really not interested in it. The plot seems like something which I already knew the beginning, middle and end of, before I even finished the trailer. Besides, the thought of Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal in a romantic relationship makes me cringe, even in the far out depths of movie world. I'll rent it on netflix most likely.

I like Farrell, but he needs roles which truly utilize his talent (The New World, Tigerland, In Bruges, etc.).

[Spinal]

I don't know, I thought this film used Farrell's talent pretty well. It's a small but very memorable role.

[Watashi]

I don't think he's topped Minority Report.

[Winston*]

He's hilarious in In Bruges. Great comic timing, he should do more comedies.

[Ezee E]

He's hilarious in In Bruges. Great comic timing, he should do more comedies.
Great performance there, and he's pretty great in Cassandra's Dream, A Home at the End of the World, and Phone Booth. I think he's pretty great actually, and good to see he's distanced himself from alcohol.

[MadMan]

"They're filming midgets!"Hah, yep. "Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent in fucking Bruges."-is probably one of my favorite lines from the film, as well.

[kopello]

Great performance there, and he's pretty great in Cassandra's Dream, A Home at the End of the World, and Phone Booth. I think he's pretty great actually, and good to see he's distanced himself from alcohol.

I thought both Farrell and McGregor were amazing in an otherwise meh movie (Cassandra's Dream), especially Farrell, it was then I realized how great an actor he is.

Of course he was good in Minority Report as well but when I first saw it I had no idea who he was.

[baby doll]

I thought both Farrell and McGregor were amazing in an otherwise meh movie (Cassandra's Dream), especially Farrell, it was then I realized how great an actor he is.

Of course he was good in Minority Report as well but when I first saw it I had no idea who he was.Sweet Veronika Voss avatar.

[Mal]

I don't know, I thought this film used Farrell's talent pretty well. It's a small but very memorable role.

Yeah, I wanted an entire movie about his character. There was something about him that kinda intrigued me ... might have just been the smooth sexy voice and him being a rather attractive version of Errol Flynn meets Tim McGraw- either way, good acting by Colin.