A Few Notes on "Crazy Heart"

• "Crazy Heart" follows Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) , a washed up country singer, as he tries to mend his life back together. Along the way, he meets a music journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and slowly falls for her southern charm. Jean is single parent and has a little boy who also enjoys Blake's company.


• Exceptional performances from both Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Bridges feels completely authentic in his character. A tremendous physical and emotional performance. His faces conveys such warmth and texture. Gyllenhaal emotes well and fully understands the maternal nature of her character. She is trying to protect her son, but she is also trying to protect herself.


• The film captures the South with reverence. Feels like one of the first "true" representations of southern life rid of any film cliches or caricatures.


• Narratively, the film feels unfocused. It cannot quite decide which story it wants to tell - Bad Blake's relationship with Jean, Blake reuniting with a fellow musician (Colin Farrell), or Blake's attempt to resurrect his own career.


• Consequently, the film's ending is rather unsatifying. Unfortunately, the filmmakers didn't have the guts to end on a downbeat. Instead, they opted for a neat, happier ending lacking in realism.


• B-