Award Season Series: “Crazy Heart” (2009)
- Matt Palmer
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
Initial release date: December 19, 2009
Streaming service: various PVOD services
“Crazy Heart” is a 2009 film based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb, which the novel’s story was inspired by country singer Hank Thompson.
With too many years of hazy days and boozy nights, former country music legend Bad Blake is reduced to playing at dive bars and bowling alleys. In town for his latest gig, Blake meets Jean Craddock, a sympathetic reporter who has come to do a story on him.
He unexpectedly warms to her and a romance begins, then the singer finds himself at a crossroads that may threaten his last shot of happiness.
The 2009 film “Crazy Heart” brings us an incredible performance from Jeff Bridges that’s deeply authentic and vulnerable. Now, while the film’s overall story is familiar and simple, it serves as a touching, emotionally resonant character study. In fact, after listening to the film’s entire soundtrack on Spotify, I grew to enjoy both the film’s soundtrack and country music in general a bit more.
Jeff Bridges’ performance as washed up country singer “Bad” Blake is easily one of the best highlights of this film. Despite portraying a character who is at his lowest point - struggling with alcoholism - Bridges’ provides the Bad Blake role with wit and humanity, which also prevents the character from becoming a caricature. The very talented acting legend also performs the songs in the film, which is also another major highlight of the film.
While this entire film is extremely memorable and worth watching, there is a pivotal moment where Bad Blake loses Jean’s young son (Buddy) in a mall while intoxicated (and the subsequent fallout) was a major emotional turning point for not only the film
but also for the character as he decides to get sober not long after this incident.
The music we hear throughout the film is really incredible and fans of country music will truly enjoy this soundtrack. There’s a scene where Bad Blake and his protege, Tommy Sweet (played by Colin Farrell), play an impromptu duet of the original song “Fallin’ and Flyin’” is also incredible as it represents the redemptive power of music and the reconciliation between those two characters.
There’s also a defining moment in the final scene where Tommy Sweet performs “The Weary Kind,” which serves as the film’s main track and also the new song that Bad Blake has written (which also brings him back to the top of his game). From listening to the song and watching the final moments, you can easily see that this scene not only provides a lot of emotional depth but is also a great end to Bad Blake’s story.
The 2009 film “Crazy Heart” is a critically acclaimed, character-driven drama highlighted by the amazing performance by Jeff Bridges. While the overall story is familiar and formulaic, the film is elevated by authentic country music, strong supporting performances, and a slow-burn, realistic and emotional tone.
This 2009 film was a major award season contender, primarily recognized for Jeff Bridges’ career-defining performance and its original music. “Crazy Heart” won two out of the three Oscar nominations it has received - Best Actor (Bridges) and Best Original Song (The Weary Kind). “Crazy Heart” also garnered numerous accolades from the Golden Globes, the Grammys, the Independent Spirit Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards, among many others.
MPA: Rated R for language and brief sexuality (runtime 112 minutes)
Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell did their own singing in this film, with the assistance of voice coach Roger Love.
In preparation for the climactic concert scene, writer and director Scott Cooper approached country singer Toby Keith about filming a live segment of his film during Keith's half-time break in Albuquerque's Journal Pavilion. He is thanked in the credits.
The production had ten minutes in which to film Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell performing in front of five cameras and an audience of 12,000 fans. Cooper's insistence on an element of surprise paid off when the audience went ballistic upon discovering the unexpected "star" guest spot. Farrell's appearance on stage further fueled the mass hysteria as cell phone cameras lit up the auditorium. The whole extravaganza was up on YouTube within a matter of a few hours.
Jeff Bridges has always been musically inclined. In 2000, he released an album called "Be Here Soon".
T Bone Burnett composed the song "The Weary Kind" with Ryan Bingham, which Jeff Bridges performs in the film. Burnett was the musical archivist of The Big Lebowski (1998), in which Bridges also starred.
Jeff Bridges only agreed to play the role if his music producer friend T Bone Burnett agreed to contribute a track for Bad to play on-screen.
Jeff Bridges initially turned down the script because it contained no music. Friend T Bone Burnett convinced him to do it.
Writer and director Scott Cooper told Jeff Bridges that if his character, Bad Blake, had been a real-life musician, he would have been the fifth member of "The Highwaymen", alongside Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash.
Jeff Bridges won his first Academy Award for this film. Robert Duvall (Wayne) received a Best Actor Oscar for Tender Mercies (1983), in which he played a broken-down country singer.
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