Crazy Heart (R, 2009)

Other reviewers and the plot line summary are already written here. Alcoholism is addressed. The portrayal is accurate, and heart-wrenching. The concept of a mental aillness with a physical allergy isn't made strongly enough. The main character's "bottom" is plausible, his beginning in Alcholics Anonymous is shown slightly. The one "meeting" isn't true to AA, so that may create inaccurate expectations to alcoholics and non-alcoholics. But at least an attempt was made in the script. The love story is well done. Enveloped in the chaos of active drinking, we see both characters try to make contact. It is a glood feeling. The message of themovie is redemption. A new life can be begun. A heart can change. Grace and goodness can enter a broken soul and redeem all. The goodness of an alcoholic when he is sober is shown. The acting is worthy of the Oscar for Bridges. This is his master work; at least thus far in his acting career. All the supporting cast is marvelous.. All adults, and definitely aldolescents would be touched, and uplifted by this film. The parents should judge the maturity of their child since it would be boring to a mind too young to grasp the core stories. A must see movie just because you shouldn't cheat yourself out of the great pleasure of a gem of a movie.

Brilliant acting by Jeff Bridges and some solid performances by others hold up a movie that has an incoherent, low intensity albeit realistic story. The score of the movie (which is mostly country music) is also pretty good. "Crazy Heart" is not your average motivational movie with strong dialogue and high intensity drama. It follows a sober and a rather unusual romantic story. The story is loosely knit by a few incidents that follow the life of a very talented country musician who is also a raging alcoholic and a chain smoker. On one hand the lack of grandiose drama makes the story more plausible and real but at the same time some may feel that its devoid of depth or intensity. 'Crazy Heart,' which was written by Cooper from the eponymous novel by Thomas Cobb, is perhaps a bit schematic about the up-down-up trajectory of the talented loser, but it manages to be pretty realistic about the degeneration that is terminal alcoholism. Here, however, it's not a slide into hell like Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas. Though only by the skin of his teeth, and with multiple ailments a car crash reveals, Bad is surviving. So when the moment comes and he hits his bottom, he still has the strength to straighten out. Maybe the fast-forward finale is a bit too upbeat, but the memory the movie leaves is, of course, of Bridges with a bottle, a guitar, and a sad sweet song, and of some of the year's best movie acting. Crazy Heart isn't perfect, but I'm willing to go as far to say that Jeff Bridges is. I can get past the imperfections of the storyline and the slight melodramatic feel the last third of the film emanates when the film boasts a cast as good as this. This is a solid film that is a pure delight to watch. And best of all, it nabbed Jeff Bridges a long overdue Oscar win. Brilliant, pure and realistic performance by him, Maggie was good too lovely movie.

I loved this movie, there was a lot of drinking, some language, but at 17+, teens are already exposed to it. Soundtrack was amazing, and movie had a wonderful ending. Good plot, and does have some good messages. I recommend watching it.