Dave and I saw this movie in a limited opening engagement last Friday night.
As you may remember, my most favorite theme movies are redeeming movies.
In "Crazy Heart" the Jeff Bridges character, Bad Blake, gets redeemed. That's right. He gets saved.
No, not in the big way Jesus saves and gives us eternal life. And not like in the Old Testament when Boaz buys back Ruth and becomes her "Redeemer."
But Bad Blake gets a second chance at life here on earth. Other people help him but he has to do the work himself. And that's a pretty cool thing.
Because his life is a real mess. Even though the actor is that dreamy Jeff Bridges, I could hardly stand to look at this washed up, boozy country singer.
Some people might see the movie and think that the Maggie Gyllenhaal character "redeems" him. I don't think so. But, in a weird way, they were good for each other. And, in the end, she is redeemed as well.
But not before she leaves her four year old son in the hands of an old drunk and discovers how messed up she, herself, is.
The movie is sweet, funny, grisly, sad, beautiful, ugly and disgusting. With a happy, realistic ending - even though it's not the one you're hoping for.
The pure, old country western music (sung by Jeff Bridges himself) is fantastic. Dave bought me the CD today.
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