I think Crazy Heart is The Wrestler for country singers. It’s about a hard living, hard drinking singer who even has a neglected kid he reaches out to at one point. I don’t want to call him a has been because he still gets work, but it’s a tough life traveling the country, staying in dive motels, drinking it up. He has the love of fans and the respect of colleagues, but just can’t get his own sh*t together or maintain a healthy relationship.
Review: Crazy Heart
The business of a performer at this level is interesting. He carries a pee jug in his car because he’s just gotta drive straight through to the next gig. His budget forces him to consider a lesser whiskey, but fortunately the loving support of his fans enables him to drink the good stuff.
The larger industry stuff is interesting too. Dealing with the time allotted to opening acts at big shows is real. Just why they spend so much time dealing with a sound mix finally makes sense to me. Most importantly, the idea that you can be successful with talent and not be the headline star is a point that lots of struggling artists should consider.
The music is catchy. I won’t buy the soundtrack to this one but at least in the movie it’s a good show.
Of course the drama deals with his health. Obviously you can’t drink all the time and chain smoke, but a doctor also tells him to lose 25 pounds. Now I think Jeff Bridges looks pretty good for a drinker. At 32, I wish I had the body Jeff Bridges has at 57. If I drink two nights in a row I get bloated.
I wonder if I should do the journalist version of this story. I don’t sleep, I drink too much coffee, I date strippers because they’re the only women on the same schedule as I am. It’s a good life though.
Add to Heffee!
