That Odious Weight Tied to Bad Blake

It was pretty painful, but somewhat healing in a way, for me to attend a local screening of the latest Jeff Bridges film Crazy Heart . Jeff Bridges has played some pretty decent roles in movies like The Fisher King and The Big Lebowski . And as a kid I was a big Sea Hunt fan, a TV series that starred his father Lloyd, with little Jeff showing up a few times right along with his brother Beau. I've followed Jeff's career and have seen most of his films, and not many of them were remarkable in any way except the two I mentioned previously. Jeff just seems consistent in his acting abilities, and I like that about him. In his latest film, Crazy Heart , Jeff proves he deserves his hooks on that Oscar that he might just win. He was more than remarkable in his portrayal of Bad Blake, and I have spent some time thinking who could have played the character better. Nobody comes to mind. I think it is because of the nuances Mr. Bridges personally added to the role.

The film opens with Bad Blake driving his old pickup through the typically lonely and boring West and pulling up to a dive bowling alley. I suppose it was my intuition but when Bad got out of that truck, his pants undone and with a traveling piss-jug needing emptying, I knew in that moment I was about to witness a spectacular performance. And consistently he made good on that opening promise. From the truck Bad makes his way toward the entrance of the bowling alley and even his walk, the shape and speed of it, the age of it, was something to behold. The acting prowess of Jeff Bridges was a perfect compliment to the movie's pretty good theme song The Weary Kind written by Ryan Bingham.

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart has acted his most honest role ever in this character Bad Blake. The facial expressions, the tone of his voice, his ease at letting his own physical appearance let him down, all added to the authenticity of this film. From the sweat and vomit that covered his chest to his, what looked to me as, polyester pants that stood up to the same tests this road weary singer subjected himself to all added to the genuine feel of the movie. There were quick cutting glances such as the one he directed to the adoring older female fan between sets who had offered him dinner after the show and what else you may imagine. And that other great backwards look he gave another time as he escaped from his motel room looking back at the aged and none-too-attractive woman he had left in his bed, obviously questioning himself, and not for the first time either, over why he chooses to routinely do this sort of thing to himself and others. it is my belief that the film was subconsciously preparing me for some truth that had to be told.

When the character Wayne played by Robert Duvall arrives to pick up Blake after completing his first stint in rehab it was also refreshing to see more of this movie truth be told. Here was Wayne arriving upbeat and positive and Bad greeting him exclaiming how he had this alcohol and drug thing beaten now, and Wayne telling him to hold on a second partner because maybe he did, maybe he did, but more likely there would be rough roads ahead after this initial euphoria runs its course. And then almost as an afterthought Wayne quickly adds, but maybe not, maybe not, maybe it will last, but if it doesn't he would be there for him and that would be his job to help him through the hard times sober.

I liked also that the ending of the film was not your typical Hollywood gruel. I read where the novel actually ended on a down note and the novelist knew the movie version would have to end on a higher note because that is what these Hollywood people like to do. But it didn't. It didn't end up, it ended sideways, which is good because that is how life is, sideways. Bad Blake obviously learned in therapy to ask for one hundred percent of what he wanted. And he practiced it. But the big difference, unlike Hollywood's, is that Bad Blake got little out of his asking. Rather he got more and more lessons about who he was, and less of what he thought he always wanted. So it's always good to ask. It's a large part of staying sober. Of staying alive in the world. It helps an alcoholic accept the way life is. It makes life more.

The weakest link in the film was Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance. Although I do like Maggie, I think she was miscast. Bad of course would have liked her, he would have thought she was cute and smart, and would have enjoyed doing the interview with her, but really, Bad would have probably fallen in love with a more made-up woman. You know, some fake tits perhaps, a little bit more color and flash, and probably a woman closer to his own age. I just couldn't believe in the love they supposedly had for each other. Bad could have easily failed his redemption with several other ladies who would have suited his character better. I don't think Maggie was all that important to the film, but the woman she played certainly was. Too bad as this hurt the film when it comes to calling it simply a good film or something really great.

One of the most tender scenes for me was when Bad Blake and his old friend Wayne went fishing. There they were, two old and experienced actors, in the boat fishing. I can imagine Robert Duvall as producer suggesting, begging if he had to, that the director Scott Cooper let these two talented actors ad lib in that boat together, try each other on for size. You know, Scott, let's see where it can go. I felt the scene was beautiful in many respects. The ending of that same scene was really something when Wayne burst into song, almost in a fade-away, but a poignant message to all of us to write our own song.