Crazy Heart (2009)
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An aging, alcoholic country music legend attempts to reclaim his life and sobriety after forming a connection with a young journalist.
The story
Otis "Bad" Blake is a 57-year-old alcoholic singer-songwriter who was once a country music star but now earns a modest living performing in small-town bars across the southwestern United States. While traveling alone, he meets Jean Craddock, a young journalist, who begins to interview him. As they become close and enter into a relationship, Jean and her young son become a catalyst for Blake to attempt to get his life back on track. This includes renewing a professional relationship with a successful country music star he once mentored, despite his initial wounded pride.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Otis "Bad" Blake, a 57-year-old alcoholic country music legend, lives a nomadic life in a 1978 Chevrolet Suburban, performing in small bars. In Santa Fe, he meets journalist Jean Craddock, a divorced mother of four. Their relationship inspires Blake to seek sobriety and professional redemption. He begins working with his former student, Tommy Sweet, writing songs for him. However, Blake's drinking leads to a car accident, and a doctor warns him he is dying. After learning his ex-wife has died, Blake enters a rehab center and successfully achieves sobriety. Although Jean breaks up with him to protect her son, Blake continues to write, eventually creating his best song, "The Weary Kind." Sixteen months later, Blake receives royalties for the song. He meets Jean again, who is now a writer for a music publication. He gives her the royalty money for her son's 18th birthday, and they part ways on friendly terms.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 112
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Scott Cooper
- Writers
- Scott Cooper · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jeff Bridges · Otis "Bad" Blake; Maggie Gyllenhaal · Jean Craddock; Colin Farrell · Tommy Sweet; Robert Duvall · Wayne Kramer; Paul Herman · Jack Greene; Jack Nation · Buddy, Jean's son; Ryan Bingham · Tony of Tony and the Renegades, backup group at bowling alley; Rick Dial · Wesley Barnes, Jean's uncle, Santa Fe piano player
- Genres
- drama; musical
- Themes
- alcoholism; redemption; aging; artistic legacy
- Tone and mood
- melancholic; captivating
- Premise and plot tags
- musical drama; biographical inspiration; road movie
- Source material / true-story basis
- The 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb.
- Reception
- The film was met with critical acclaim, particularly for Jeff Bridges' performance, which was praised for elevating the story. It received universal acclaim on Metacritic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.40 · scale: 10 · review count: 212; Metacritic · score: 83 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor · Win; Academy Award · Best Original Song · Win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination; Grammy Award · Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media · Win; Grammy Award · Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media · Win; Golden Globe · Best Actor · Win; Golden Globe · Best Original Song · Win
- Production trivia
- The nickname 'Bad' came from a sentence in the novel: 'Bad's got the sweats again.'; The film was originally acquired by Paramount Vantage for a direct-to-video release before being purchased by Fox Searchlight Pictures.; The film was dedicated to Stephen Bruton, who died the same year the film was made.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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