Crazy Heart
Directed by Scott Cooper
- drama
- music
- romance
The story
When reporter Jean Craddock interviews Bad Blake—an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend—they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son.
What it’s like
Warm, dusty and unhurried, with the wide-open look of American small towns: sun-bleached motel parking lots, cramped tour buses, dim bowling alleys and honky-tonks lit by amber bar light, all shot with a soft, natural texture that feels lived-in rather than polished. Long takes let the camera sit with faces and guitars, and the country and blues songs, often performed live and played loose, carry much of the emotional weight. The vibe is bittersweet and quietly tender, a melancholy warmed by humour and by the open road. The rhythm is loose and conversational, with long quiet stretches between performances and conversations. The emotional register is wistful and gently sad, and the arc follows a weathered, self-destructive man slowly, haltingly reaching toward someone who might steady him. Its drinking is constant and its tone sometimes rough: alcoholism and its damage are shown plainly, with some heavy drinking, a car crash, and a few sharp, brief flashes of anger, but there is no graphic gore and little sustained violence. Best for people who want a grown-up, character-driven music drama on a slow evening, especially those who love great singing and tender, unglamorous love stories.
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