"Crazy Heart" tells the story of a washed out Bad Blake, played by Jeff Bridges, struggling with love, age, and alcoholism. Director Scott Cooper makes no attempts to glorify the alcoholic, showing Bridges as a sweaty, vomiting, shirtless mess.
This repulsive view of Blake, though true to the image of an alcoholic, makes the romantic relationship between Bad Blake and Jean Craddock, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, unbelievable. Gyllenhaal, although somewhat unattractive, is still presented in stark contrast to Blake as a young, successful reporter often clad in camisoles to reveal part of her bra. This polarity makes for awkward chemistry between the two that creates an overall uncomfortable feel.
Blake's interactions with Jean's son, Buddy, however, are more genuine. Bad Blake plays cards with Buddy, teaches him how to play paper football, and even pushes him on the swing with a crutch after a recent accident.
However, cliché shows its head when Blake takes Buddy to a bar and loses him. Gyllenhaal's reaction, though not exactly calm and collected, comes across as much less panicked and angry than expected of a mother proving Gyllenhaal's inability to play anything other than a teary, timorous woman.
The film is riddled with various unrealistic and cliché scenes, including a car crash from falling asleep at the wheel and most of Blake's recovery from alcoholism. Just as blatantly as Blake's doctor tells him, "You're an alcoholic," Blake tells his friend Wayne, "I want to get sober." Not only does Blake get into recovery immediately, but afterward, he shows no sign of relapse, unlikely for a newly recovered alcoholic. Although Blake's alcoholism was showed realistically, his recovery is questionable.
The film redeems itself through the original music performed both by Bridges and Colin Farrell, playing Tommy Sweet. Winning an Oscar, the songs like "Falling and Flying" and "The Weary Kind" were some of the only original parts of the film.
Tommy Sweet, the country music star guided by Blake some time ago, now overshadows Blake in the country music world. The relationship between the two is, once again, unoriginal: Sweet asks Blake to open for his show, and Blake as the obviously more talented artist grudgingly accepts. In a restaurant, a man asks Tommy Sweet for his autograph and though he accepts, Sweet tells the man that Blake's signature is worth more.
Farrell's character, though meant to introduce more complexities into Bad Blake's life, only muddles it.
"Crazy Heart" as a whole is unoriginal and forgettable, but Jeff Bridge's acting, winning him an Oscar, saves the movie but cannot make it great.
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