Directed by: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Collin Farrell
First time director Scott Cooper understands filmmaking fairly well for a beginner: he tells a great story, gives us some fantastic shots, edits his film to make it engaging, and casts his film perfectly, from Jeff Bridges, to Maggie Gyllenhal, to Robert Duvall, to Colin Farrell. But what Cooper understands, maybe even more than filmmaking, is life. His story feels real and authentic, as much of a documentary as a movie. Sure, we know the basics of the story: the down and out individual finding inspiration and giving life a second try. But, the reality of Cooper’s tale and the truly embodied performance of Bridges transcends Crazy Heart from the cliché. We feel for Bridge's character Bad Blake, despite his numerous flaws, making the peaks and valleys of his story equally exhilarating and heartbreaking. The film strikes a perfect chord with audiences, will likely earn Bridges his first ever Academy Award, and will surely progress Scott Cooper’s career to bigger and better projects. Not bad for a beginner.
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