20th Century Fox
Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell
I really enjoyed this movie. I have been anxious for it to arrive on DVD since I heard about it at the Oscar’s last year. I wasn’t disappointed. Jeff Bridges isn’t always on top of his game, but he did an amazing job in this movie. Heartwarming, it was very “A Star is Born“ish in a way, and all the way through Jeff reminds me of Kris Kristofferson in a lot of ways. But the story is very complex. I loved the way Colin Farrell played his character. He should have been very stuck up, proud of what he was, and eager to step on poor Bad (Jeff Bridges) on the way up, but he wasn’t. He appreciated, and he cared, and he was a genuine nice guy. This makes you get angry with Bad, but watching him struggle, you turn from disliking him to pitying him, to rooting for him.
Jeff and Colin did the singing in the movie, with the help of a singing coach, and they did a way better than expected job of singing the music in the film. It was quite believable and it was a nice touch that they did their own. The music was good, especially if you have a hankering for horsey tunes in the first place. It’s good country. But my wife who is NOT a country fan, still loved the movie because of the strength of the story.
It’s a story that’s been done before, and done very well, but this one is a bit unique, and really gives a feel for how hard it is to give up you life to live on the road driving from town to town to simply sing your old songs with a pick up band of local kids. It’s got to be a hard life that many musicians know.
I recommend this movie as one of the best rentals I’ve had in a while!
Movie Review - Crazy Heart (2009),
