Bridges gets gritty in engaging 'Crazy Heart'

Jeff Bridges has been nominated four times for Academy Awards and always gone home empty handed.

His performance in "Crazy Heart" should not only earn him another nomination, but finally allow him to walk off with the little golden man.

In "Crazy Heart," Bridges takes what should have been a clichd archetype — the alcoholic former country great now well past his prime — and creates a full-bodied character whom you enjoy spending time with despite his shortcomings.

This is no vanity project: Bridges goes through the film looking as if he has not bathed since the Reagan administration.

Bridges' Bad Blake travels the country in a beat-up old van performing one-night stands with pickup bands in bowling alleys and dives.

Some of the time he is too drunk to complete his sets, but he continues to forge ahead.

At a gig in Santa Fe, he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a reporter who wants to interview him, and a connection is made.

But Bad's demons continually undercut their growing relationship.

At first glance, "Crazy Heart" seems to be a cousin to "Tender Mercies," the film which won Robert Duvall a best actor Oscar.

Indeed, Duvall co-stars as a longtime friend of Bad's and also served as one of the film's producers.

"Crazy Heart," though owing a nod to the earlier feature, does go its own way.

The movie serves as a showcase for Bridges. Through his body language and demeanor, you can imagine the toll the years of wear and tear have inflicted.

Gyllenhaal also gives a nuanced performance as a young single mother who realizes that the self-destructive nature of the man she is growing to love is unhealthy for herself and her little boy.

Colin Farrell gives a sympathetic performance as Tommy Sweet, Bad's former protg who has surpassed him as a country superstar.

He is respectful and deferential to Bad, and is fond of his former mentor. it is a small, but telling part, and Farrell underplays it very nicely.

"Crazy Heart" is one of those movies that you hate to see end. you want to see more of these people because they are engaging, decent and familiar — like longtime friends.

Sure, they have their flaws, but you miss them when they are away.

In "Crazy Heart," Bridges embodies a person you probably would initially disapprove, but end up embracing.

Bloom is the movie critic and Blu-ray/DVD reviewer for the Journal & Courier. He also reviews Blu-rays and DVDs for Gannett ContentOne. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@jconline.com

Four stars out of 4

(R), strong language, sexual situations