Talkie Zoo: CRAZY HEART

If you are looking for fast-paced adventure and a lot of action, then look someplace else. Crazy Heart (2009; R) is slower than that, but it's still a good watch. It's the story of a highly-talented country music singer (Bad Blake played by Jeff Bridges) who is also an alcoholic and a chain smoker. He lives hard and plays all kinds of dives, bowling alleys, and cheezy clubs while his protege Tommy Sweet (Collin Ferral) is making it in the 'big time".

Women everywhere throw themselves at Bad, and some of them he accepts their offer. Then he meets a single mother of a sweet son and forms a real attachment to them. Bridges does very well in the part, looking pretty scruffy and worn during the whole thing. Yet, the character also has a gentleness about him that is buried beneath the rough exterior. It shows from time to time during the story, though, which makes him very likeable. I found myself cheering him on in his quest to finally find some peace of mind and that one true love.

I had to wonder if he took a slimming pill to get ready for this role since he appeared so drawn in some scenes while in others he appeared healthily plump.