This will sound like I am trying to make my friends and readers feel bad, but yesterday it was cloudy, and cool (fifty-nine degrees) in the desert. The skies threatened rain, blocked the warmth of the sun, and promoted depression. To offset the mood, Peggy and I went to the show. Why waste a cloudy day? There are seven movies on our “to see,” list. We have seen three of them already. It was my turn to pick, and I chose to see Crazy Heart, with Jeff Bridges. I was not disappointed. The drama was there. The actors were the characters. The story, although fiction, was so real it seemed to be a true story.
I would have liked more country music but it would have detracted. The film left me thirsting for more. I heard undertones of Waylon Jennings in some places, and Willie Nelson in others. Jeff Bridges actually sang some of the songs and did a credible job. He sounded like a broken down fifty-seven year old country western singer. It was exactly his part in the film.
The main character Bad Blake is an alcoholic. Bridges plays the part so well, that it evoked the memory of my alcoholic Uncle Mike; except that my Uncle was a stupid drunk. He became a complete ass when drunk out of his mind. Bridges’ character was semi-functional, and only partly stupid. Jeff Bridges was very accurate in his portrayal. We drove home with me telling Peggy stories about Uncle Mike’s toots.
White haired seniors filled Arrowhead 18-Theater to capacity for the 2:20 p.m. showing. At the end, everyone remained. The movie ended, but we wanted to see more. We wanted the story to continue. Bad Blake is a character that deserves another chapter, and the writer Scott Cooper could easily write a sequel that would be just as compelling as the first.
Jeff Bridges, co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the song The Weary Kind have been nominated for Academy Awards. All of them have my vote; they are that good.
Lyrics to The Weary Kind by Ryan Bingham
Your heart’s on the loose
You rolled them seven’s with nothing lose
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
You called all your shots
Shooting 8 ball at the corner truck stop
Somehow this don’t feel like home anymore
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your body aches
Playing your guitar and sweating out the hate
The days and the nights all feel the same
Whiskey has been a thorn in your side
and it doesn’t forget
the highway that calls for your heart inside
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your lovers won’t kiss
It’s too damn far from your fingertips
You are the man that ruined her world
Your heart’s on the loose
You rolled them seven’s with nothing lose
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
Filed under: Funk, Memories, Movie Review, Music, Theater, Uncategorized | Tagged: Academy Awards, Alcoholic, Alcoholism, Arrowhead 18, CountryWestern, Harkins Theaters, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Ryan Bingham, Scott Cooper, The Weary Kind, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson | Leave a comment »
