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| Movie Review: Crazy Heart Alternate Title: The Dude Goes Country
Story: I did not want this movie
to end. Now how often have you heard me say that before? This fine piece
of celluloid delight was directed and written by first time director
Scott Cooper and based on the novel by Thomas
Cobb. Bad Blake is a 57 year old washed-up,
boozed up, has been of a country western singer/songwriter is now relegated
to playing in bowling alleys and small blue highway bars. He is broke,
an alcoholic and has no future to look towards. Four time married Blake
meets a much younger woman and the love bug strikes him again. Will
he change? Can he change? Will he ever be able to write those great
songs again? You think that you have seen this story before
but it is handled with the touch of a director who possesses an artist's
eye. Just when you think the film is going to a place that is film weary,
it takes a slow turn to somewhere else. Little surprises, authentic
detail, slow camera shots, a fine script, wonderful music and outstanding
acting make this a must see film. The film is unforced, easy on the eye, ear and
intimate. I will also always root for a film that has the possibility
of redemption as one of its themes. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0349E7kFEM Acting: Four time Academy Award nominee Jeff
Bridges as Bad Blake was sensational. Bridges is so comfortable
i his own skin that he brings tears to one's eyes. If he does not walk
away with his Oscar this year I will be very pissed. Maggie
Gyllenhaal as Jean Craddock was lovely. She has a willowy,
grace that fills the screen. Robert Duvall as Wayne,
brings home the bacon in a small, pivotal role. Colin Farrell
as Tommy Sweet was not over the top as he tends to be at times
and he, like Bridges, did his own singing. Trivia: Jeff Bridges' performance as Jeffrey "The
Dude" Lebowski in The Big Lebowski (1998) is ranked #90 on Premiere
Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006) and is ranked
#55 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
He is well known for his liberal political views. He is good friends
with Nick Nolte and Gary Busey. Maggie Gyllenhaal is
the older sister of Jake Gyllenhaal. Her mother is a Golden Globe-winning,
Oscar-nominated scriptwriter. Her father is an Emmy-nominated director,
her grandmother is a doctor and Eric Foner, her mother's first husband,
is an acclaimed historian at Columbia, the college she attended. She
is of Swedish (noble) and Russian-Jewish descent.
Predilection: I like Jeff Bridges.
Critters: Lots of fish in a a scene in the Houston
Aquarium.
Food: Biscuits.
Soundtrack: Wonderful music by Stephen Bruton
and T Bone Burnett . Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell
do their own singing.
Opening Titles: Other than the title all credits
are at the end.
Visual Art: Masterful landscapes of the southwest.
Theater Audience: Opening day saw a large crowd of
admiring dudes and dudetttes.
Weather: Sunny
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I did not drift for a second.
Predictability Level: Moderate.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Oh my YES
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Jeff
Bridges is one of my all time favorites. Here are some of my
favorite films of his and some of the awards he has been nominated for
in the past: The Last Picture Show — Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actor, The Last American Hero, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot — Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actor, Cutter's Way, Against All Odds, Starman
- Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor and Nominated —
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, Jagged Edge, Tucker: The Man and
His Dream, See You in the Morning, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Fisher
King, American Heart, The Big Lebowski, Arlington Road, The Contender
- Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and Nominated
— Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, Seabiscuit, The
Door in the Floor, Crazy Heart, Alliance of Women Film Journalists Eda
Award for Best Actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for
Best Actor, Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor –
Motion Picture Drama, Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association
Award for Best Actor, Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association
Award for Best Actor, Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for
Best Male Lead, Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion
Picture Drama, Nominated — St Louis Gateway Film Critics Association
Award for Best Actor
Length: Under two hours
LOBO HOWLS: 9.25
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