Movies

When you go to see an Oscar-nominated film, you expect quality all round: quality directing, quality performances, quality script. "Crazy Heart" is quality alright, but unfortunately it's still kind of boring. Jeff Bridges is spot on as Bad Blake, a washed-up alcoholic country music star who's well past his heyday. Now reduced to playing in bowling alleys, and puking in back alleys, Bad would have us believe that he's given up on life all together, until he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a sassy and enchanting reporter/single mum. This is where it gets a bit unbelievable. Jeff Bridges is okay looking for an old guy, but his character is an unshaven, chain-smoking, pot-bellied alcoholic who sweats like Barry White and throws up halfway through songs. And Maggie Gyllenhaal is into him? Basically you've seen this film before. It's the classic story of the washed-up musician/sportsman trying to make a comeback (think, "The Wrestler"), and the hot single mum falling for the ancient bitter old man (think, "As Good as it Gets"), with a little bit of hard hitting "Leaving Las Vegas" alcoholism thrown in for shock value. It might not be original, but it is damn well played out. Bridges and Gyllenhaal are both totally deserving of their Oscar nominations, and T-Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham's 'The Weary Kind' is a worthy front runner for best song. If you're into country music, appreciate good performances and don't mind a plot that moves so slowly that sometimes you think it's stopped all together, then this could be your thing. But if the thought of getting cornered in a bar for a two-hour chat with a charismatic but barely intelligible old alco sounds like your worst nightmare (because that's how this film can make you feel) you might want to give this one a miss.