Frequently compared to 'Tender Mercies', both films feature ageing, alcoholic country singers finding new love and newfound success, however, 'Crazy Heart' spins a noticeably different story. Most notably, the character of Bad Blake (played by Jeff Bridges) in 'Crazy Heart' is still an active singer at the start of the film and one who has zero interest dealing with his alcohol problem. This in turns renders Blake a more interesting character as he has to find it in himself to recognise how much alcohol is ruining his life. He also has a lot more personal growth as he becomes aware that his hedonistic lifestyle is not compatible with his newfound romance. Whatever the case, Bridges shines in the lead role which almost feels tailor-made to his sensibilities; in fact, the very first scene of the film places Bridges at a bar in a bowling alley in an obvious reference to 'The Big Lebowski' - the title character of which has some curious similarities to Blake. There were some questions raised at the time as to whether Bridges deserved to win the Oscar that year or whether it was more of a lifetime achievement award. Viewing the film though, it is hard to imagine how such concerns ever came about as this is easily one of his finest turns. The less said about also Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal the better though as her romance with Bridges never quite rings true. The film is also set back by the frequency of the musical numbers, which sometimes get in the way of the story developing. That said, the songs ARE that good with Bridges even doing his own singing.

Whether it be The Wrestler or even last year's Birdman, it seems we get a story of a middle aged man nearing the end of what was a great career in something, and is forced to try and put his life together both in and outside of his career. Crazy Heart is right up there with the aforementioned films. Focusing on Bad Blake, a country singer playing in bars and other low paying places after pissing his money away on booze and cigarettes. Played brilliantly by Jeff Bridges, who gives the character just the amount of sympathy needed without it feeling overdone. But the real noteworthy performance here is Maggie Gyllenhaal.A lot of people don't like Gyllenhaal, although I'm not sure why. She may have been a little bit annoying in The Dark Knight, but look at her performances in Donnie Darko, Crazy Heart, and most recently Frank, and tell me she isn't a proved Oscar caliber actress. She is magic when on screen with Bridges. Their relationship is fast moving, and although you don't really get a sense as to why they are so attracted to each other, it really works. This is not only an alcoholic man, but also one that doesn't shy away from his fair share of one-night-stands. So why is Gyllenhaal so different? Well perhaps because she has a son, buddy, who to Blake, is the son that he never had. Rather, the son he chose not to take care of all these years.Rounding out the main cast is Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall who do a great job in their very minor roles. But the core of the story is right there in Bad's relationship with Jean. She is the one person who just may change his bad ways, no pun intended. The film has a very heartwarming feeling throughout even in its darkest moments. I also give the film credit for getting a country music hater, like myself, to really enjoy the movie. It won't change the fact that I still believe all country songs sound the same, but I can appreciate a good film about music. So with Gyllenhaal's emotionally powerful performance and Bridges' equally as impressive portrayal of Bad, Crazy Heart is an acting led picture that succeeds on most of what it sets out to do.+Gyllenhaal's Oscar caliber performance+Bridges is always good+I don't even like country but I like this film+A lot of depth to these characters-So why are they drawn to each other?8.2/10

Amen! This frickin' great actor finally got the gold. I remember reading back in early 1987, someone saying that Oscar Win should be just around the corner for Bridges. Years later, he was voted the Oscar nominee, best deserved of a win. And if you see this win, you'll understand why he won it. Why? Because Bridges has really scratched the inside of this character. He's being, not acting. It was very natural and believable, but more so, I emphasize natural. He's a aging country singer called Bad Blake, and boy Bridges can sing too, but in the acting department, he brings it all. He has two vices, among others, that have slowly destroyed him, and we're really in the crux of his alcoholism, snubbing the advice, of experts, telling him he's on a collision with death. He smokes hard too. Among many great performances, this movie, not the first one, where he's played an alcoholic, he really makes the role his. He falls in love with a much younger woman/single mother/journalist, (a much spunky Maggie Gylenhall, really smoking up the screen) who's made many a mistake, of meeting the wrong men, and a cute, if inspiring relationship develops. Bridges really has his moments, whether funny, human, sad or pitiful, Bridges, of course the main reason, for watching this film, which I'm bloody glad I did. I'll be honest, I don't go for many of the films, Jeff Bridges does, kind of a personal conflict, when it's an actor you love. What clings to mind, in familiarity, is that of another great actor I admire, Daniel Day Lewis's, where his select movie choices are almost all ones I hated. Bridge's character really grows on you, one of such realism, which such human flaws, too real at times. He has his rude moments, early on, for us, hysterically entertaining, and his relationship with that of Gylenhall's little boy, was also cute. His relationship, with his real son, who he abandoned when a kid, we only hear in a morbid over the phone scene, is shattering as to his son's blunt response. His new found family is his salvation and his inspiration, where sadly in the end, despite Blake's turning his life around, sobering up, I really hoped Gylenhall and him stayed together. Bridges is so so, a reason to watch this, in a film I would of never seen, outside of t.v., where I caught it one night, just to see how amazing this performance was. To those who don't think he deserved this, they really can't see what great acting's about, or in other words, the closer picture. Well, look closer. Colin Farrell as a young inspired country singer, is wasted, if almost forgettable, as hardly getting screen time, where he puts the music and voice to Bridges's hit new song, inspired by his salvation duo. Robert Duvall has a nice cute role, as a bar owner, years beyond his wiseness, and good friend of Blakes. A nice character touch.

Although the film is described as drama, it's very much downbeat romantic drama, which makes the final twenty minutes a disappointment.Jeff Bridges gives a suitably unflattering performance as washed-up alcoholic country singer Bad Blake. Whilst the Oscar might be overdoing it, it's a solid performance and Bad is suitably touching in his interactions with Buddy, Bad's journist girlfriend Jean's son (Maggie Gyllenhall).There is as you might have guessed an age-gap between Bad and Jean. Whilst I could believe in his relationship with Jean in the context of her son, as a loving friendship, I found their sexual relationship a little unsavoury. It's not that it's graphic but it's just a bit unpleasant, considering Bad is not only much older than her, he's in bad shape. To be fair, she doesn't see the extent to which he is an alcoholic.As a romantic drama with some country music to reflect the bluesy nature of Bad's alcoholism, the film worked. But- and this is where the SPOILER comes in- the film falls at the final hurdle. After the moment when Bad hits his low point as he loses Jean's son, Jean tells him to sober up and not come back again. He seemingly sobers up pretty darn quickly with no real side effects and whilst I understand that this is because he needs to do it for his own health, the film implies that Jean will one day allow him back in to rebuild the relationship. Eighteen months down the line, Bad has written a nice song (naturally inspired by Jean, although lyrically not seeming to be relevant) and his career is back on track. Jean turns up and what do you know, she's engaged to a 'nice' man. We do see some character development as Bad takes the news gracefully, but seeing as she was meant to be in love with the guy, would she so readily bounce into bed with someone else? The way she says 'nice' also indicates that she's marrying him purely for the security, which makes her a pretty weak character. It would have been much better to see her doing well in her own right rather than a hasty marriage to counteract her troubled relationship with Bad.NO MORE SPOILERS: The songs are a bit samey but not unpleasant. Colin Farrell has a surprisingly good cameo as Tommy Sweet, Bad's protégé.Crazy Heart is fine if you want a gentle downbeat film; it just either needed more grit or more sweetness, rather than sweetness that sours.