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Cinema Enthusiast - by Catherine Stebbins

Why I do not give a shit about Crazy Heart



Fox Searchlight’s push of the year has begun. Their Oscar hopeful Amelia was a disaster flop both critically and financially. 500 Days of Summer lacks the convenient release date or the oomph to push its way into any serious awards consideration. What does this leave them with this year? After the success of Little Miss Sunshine, Juno and the culmination of their recent efforts, Slumdog Millionaire, the studio has chosen a film of theirs called Crazy Heart and is focusing its attentions on getting Jeff Bridges a Best Actor Oscar. This is a step down in ambition from having 2 Best Picture nominees in a row and last year having one of their films’ take home the statue. They do not seem to be focusing their efforts on a Best Picture nomination or win but they are full force pushing the Bridges’ performance.

I recently watched the praise filled trailer for Crazy Heart and was not impressed in the slightest. I have seen this film before…it is called The Wrestler. I acknowledge that The Wrestler is far far away from being the first of its kind but it did the job so well, was such a short time ago and it had that weird actor mirroring character thing going on which made everything about the film even more meanginful. Crazy Heart looks like The Wrestler with a past his prime country music star replacing a past his prime wrestler. I have also already seen this film before this year. The documentary called Anvil: The Story of Anvil depicts the present trials and tribulations of a metal band whose brief stint of fame in the 80’s has left them spending 30 years trying to regain that status. The film has a lot of Wrestler like qualities about it especially in the scenes when we see singer “Lips” doing his day job. The film is pretty incredible so forgive me if I have already seen an incredible fictional tale that depicts this sort of story last year and an incredible documentary that depicts this sort of story this year. Crazy Heart looks like it lacks the raw quality and astutely observational filmmaking that Darren Aronofsky brought to the table with The Wrestler. If I was bored by the trailer, how am I going to sit through this film which I will undoubtedly have to in my goals to see as many nominated films as I can? Do not get me wrong; I love Jeff Bridges. I really do. I think he is one of the most reliable actors working today and has been for almost 30 years and I am sure his performance will be fantastic. Still though, does this performance look like it is going to surprise me? Show me something new from him? No. I know he can do this role. It looks like he can do it in his sleep. There have been a lot of rumblings in recent years about how ridiculous it is that Jeff Bridges has not won an Oscar yet. The trailer alludes to his being a 4 time nominee. Count on Fox Searchlight banging this drum to death. He will be the Kate Winslet of this year. Last year it was all about getting her due. This year Jeff Bridges will fill that spot.

Can I also just mention the entirely predictable casting of Robert Duvall in this film? Fuck I saw him coming from miles away before I even knew he was in it. I do not want to go into Crazy Heart ready to hate it. I am just really underwhelmed by the trailer. I cannot fault the film for not having “me” written on it anywhere but I can fault it for seeming like it is bringing absolutely nothing new to the table. Just look at the title; Crazy Heart? You have got to be kidding me. Forgive me for not giving a shit.
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November 19th 2009 @ 20:32

Posted By: Catherine Stebbins - Category: No Category

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