Crazy Heart

I began this weekend by going to see the film Crazy Heart, this is a film I have wanted to see for months ever since I first saw the trailer. It has recently won a number of awards such as Golden Globes, BAFTA's and Oscars, mainly for the lead performance of Jeff Bridges.

Bridges who plays the part of Otis "Bad" Blake, an aged country western musician who's career has been getting worse and worse over the years due to a back story of him teaching his ways onto someone younger and them becoming more successful. It is that bad he tours around America even playing in bowling alleys. It is not long that he is introduced to Maggie Gyllenhaal, and there is an immediate attraction between the two, (rather typical of Hollywood in my opinion). She is a single mother who's trust in men has gotten worse and worse with every guy she has gone out with but begins to think that "Bad" Blake may be different. The trouble is he's and alcoholic in denial, and a very bad one at that. This is the beginning of his troubles where it affects his life so much he finally begins to realize just how much help he needs.

This is a movie that uses no special affects but simply a good, strong story line that relies on nothing but just as strong and brilliant acting, especially from Jeff Bridges who completely deserved to win the Best Actor Award. You really do feel for him when he realizes he has to get rid of his problem, even when he does terrible and stupid things. The rest of the cast as well give strong performances, surprisingly even from Colin Farrell, who as we all know is not exactly a talented actor but I would say that with the exception of In Bruges this is his best film by far.

Another thing I would have to praise is the fact that all the singing done came actually from the actors, and what is even more surprising was that it was actually good, and there wasn't even any miming, it just added to the realism of the plot. The music in it was also really good and am about to download the album after I have finished this blog.

So I would recommend that you see this film, I really enjoyed it and would gladly buy it when it is released on DVD. This film may not be for everyone but I think that even people who do not really like the type of music in the film will enjoy it as much as me when they see it.