At the Movies with Fatwayne

Everyone makes his or her own bed and eventually has to sleep in it. That is the case with Otis “Bad” Blake (Jeff Bridges) but we still want everything to turn out right for him despite his destructive lifestyle. You see, Bad is a lovable fellow but an indulgent one also. He drinks way too much, smokes way too much and marries way too much. He is a four-time looser on the marriage front and a has-been country singer/songwriter who travels the roads trying to squeeze out a living singing at bowling alleys and cheap bars. It is completely understandable if Bad doesn’t sound too lovable to you. It is the magical acting of Jeff Bridges that manages to bring his character into our hearts (crazy, huh!)

There were times during the movie when I thought I could almost smell the whiskey and tobacco wafting from the big screen. Gloom and doom seem to be Bad’s partners in life. He is a lonely man in search of nothing in particular except his next drink. Luckily for him, he meets a much younger reporter, Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is divorced herself and has a four-year-old son. She interviews Bad and over time begins to see the man behind the musician and his obsessions. Their relationship begins to flourish and it is warming to see Bad develop a nurturing bond with Jean’s young son, Buddy. This was probably my favorite part of the film and served to illustrate the loving nature of Bad and the kind of man he could have been.

Things, but not all of them, begin to work out for Bad after he takes control of his life and enters Alcoholics Anonymous in an attempt to get sober. He also gets back to song writing, a talent that he has in abundance. Now, with a clearer head, he can try to mend some fences that he literally knocked down over the years. Unfortunately, not all hurts can be soothed but, all in all, Bad comes out OK.

One of my favorite actors is in this movie, Robert Duvall as Wayne Kramer. It seems to me that he just gets better with age. Duvall plays a bar owner and old friend of Bad. We even get to hear him croon a little! This was special and I am hopeful that he will be around a long time keeping us entertained with his superb acting ability. Also appearing is Colin Farrell as country star Tommy Sweet. His role is pivotal and I was delighted to see him reconcile with his former mentor, Bad.

Look, much of the movie is on the depressing side but it has fine acting and country music going for it. One thing for sure, I left the theater feeling pretty good and, that is how I judge a movie.

Quotes from Crazy Heart

Rated – R -

Fatwayne’s Rating – -