In 'Reading Life' Dwight Garner says of “Crazy Heart” the novel, “it’s got a deep kind of weatherbeaten charm that can’t be faked, and the love story at its core is genuinely moving. I was sorry when the thing was over.” Genuine,weather beaten charm was the most notable element of the 2010 movie version “Crazy Heart,” starring Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake. Writer/Director Scott Cooper who never went to film school and has no commercial directing experience, developed Blake's role the screenplay specifically for Jeff Bridges. In an interview with Nell Minow Cooper said, “I wanted the pacing of the film, the look of the film, everything to have the feeling of an old George Jones song, "He Stopped Loving Her Today." You have to really listen closely and let the song develop.” Cooper also mentioned that the film has a third less cuts, and a more languid pace than most of its contemporaries.
The languid pace, does not have a negative impact, nor is it difficult to adjust to. It fits. Cooper's unflinching attention to detail and pace are what allow the predictable story-line and regular characters their captivating charm. There are several movies about country music stars and they all seem to contain some sort of bottoming out followed by redemption with varying degrees of success, and a hopeless love story— or several.
Coopers delicate development of the small characters creates a very important sense of context that provides necessary balance for expansive mountain shots and long takes of a pick-up barreling down the empty dust-covered high way. Take for example, the small town women that Blake is in and out of bed with; Cooper never shies away from sagging cleavage, gap teeth, or their sadness, but he doesn't mock it either. They provide an interesting, appropriate contrast for the shallow hugeness of Blake's protege Tommy, played by Colin Farrell, and the kind-of sad, but determined journalist that Blake falls for, a young mom played by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The love story between Blake and Gyllenhaal is incredibly flawed, and that is the best thing about it. The flaws allow for the cliché shared smiles, blushing, and tender moments to hit their mark. Gyllenhaal, though a strong actress with a great accent, gave the impression of a woman who could have been Blake's daughter which detracted from the performance. Her role seemed to demand a little more age, if not more maturity.
“Crazy Heart” doesn't feel remotely original, but the familiarity of the story, and the authenticity of the characters give us something to relate to, and an opportunity to just feel life happening without having to think too hard about it.
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