Bridges puts his heart into 'Crazy'

There are quite a few similarities between the mostly satisfying drama "Crazy Heart" and last year's independently released hit "The Wrestler."

Both films are dramas about broken-down, middle-age professionals who experience revivals in both their professional and personal lives.

And both movies' stars probably don't get enough credit for their body of work.

In the case of "Crazy Heart" it's Jeff Bridges, who was nominted for a best actor Academy Award for this role.

Like Mickey Rourke of "The Wrestler," Bridges is deserving of that praise — though it's hard to remember any role Bridges has ever done where he didn't give it his all.

He stars as Bad Blake, a veteran country music singer/songwriter who's seen better days. He's now touring bowling alleys and bars and is slowly drinking himself to death.

The one positive in Blake's life is Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a single mother and would-be journalist who interviews him for the local paper. Jean offers Blake one last hope for love and redemption. Gyllenhaal is nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar.

As fate would have it, good things happen to Blake once these two start seeing each other — his former songwriting partner, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), even asks Blake to be the opening act on his tour.

Screenwriter/director Scott Cooper's adaptation of the Thomas Cobb novel is a bit predictable, but it benefits from the casting of Bridges as the self-destructive lead.

Despite his various and sundry faults, our sympathies are with the character. (Bridges is even likable as this broken-down wreck of a man.)

However, Gyllenhaal seems a little noncommittal and aloof. It's unclear whether she felt that was a trait of the character or whether she was unable to fake chemistry with Bridges.

By the way, both Bridges and Farrell sing songs in the movie and the soundtrack — catchy numbers that were composed by ace producer T-Bone Burnett and musician Stephen Bruton. (Sadly, Bruton died before the film was released.)

As for Bridges' and Farrell's singing abilities, they acquit themselves pretty well on these songs, though it's Robert Duvall — in a brief supporting role as Blake's longtime friend and "enabler" — who really has the best singing voice of the bunch.

"Crazy Heart" is rated R and features strong sexual language (profanity, vulgar slang and others suggestive talk), simulated sex and other sexual contact, brief violent content and imagery (an automotive mishap, as well as child-in-peril elements), brief drug content and references (painkillers and so-called "recreational drugs"), other substance abuse (alcohol), derogatory language and slurs, and some brief bloody imagery. Running time: 112 minutes.

e-mail: jeff@desnews.com