Review of Crazy Heart

The fifty-seven year old washed out and alcoholic country music singer Otis "Bad" Blake (Jeff Bridges) is totally broken, singing in bowling alleys, bars and clubs for small audiences. Bad Blake is a self- destructive man and is drunkard, inveterate smoker, overweight and with an untreated cancer and despite the advice of a doctor, he does not change his lifestyle. He feels bitterness towards his former partner, the successful country singer Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), who started his career and was trained by Blake. While in a tour through Santa Fe, Bad Blake is interviewed by the Sun Scene journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and they fall in love with each other and Blake befriends her four year-old son Buddy (Jack Nation). Sooner Blake needs to return to Houston and Jean and Buddy spend one weekend with him. While walking with the boy, Blake brings Buddy to drink in a bar and the boy vanishes. Jean does not forgive Blake and he feels that he needs to treat his addiction.

"Crazy Heart" is a bitter and slow-paced romance, with a predictable story and great performances of Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The story is moralist and conservative and does not present any surprise or emotion. For those that like country-music, Jeff Bridges shows a great resemblance with Kris Kristofferson and sings very well many songs. This film is not original or deeper and gloomy like Billy Wilder's "Lost Weekend" or Blake Edwards' "Days of the Wine and Roses", but entertains. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Coração Louco" ("Crazy Heart")