ScreenWize

What a treat to see and feel an independent American movie that sifts gently across the Western landscape with a heartfelt touch – albeit dusted over with a hazy drift of nostalgia. Based on the novel by Thomas Cobb, actor-turned director Scott Cooper shows a deft hand at focusing on the intimate nature of alcoholic country singer Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges). Eeking out a living on the road between tiny towns, and throwing up between playing the songs of his much-loved old repertoire to small and ageing groups of fans, Bad is a grimy washed up drunk who has left several marriages and most of his talent well and truly behind him. Ahead is only another town and another bottle or whisky, until he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) a single mum with a young son.

With her own problems, Jean can see through Bad to the charisma and charm that must have been there twenty years earlier and, as Bad has to deal with his professionally rivalry with ex-band member Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), he comes to see Jean as a turning point that might just bring him back to the land of the living.

Bridges smokes and groans, cusses and cares his way through this extraordinary role – and will surely have no competition at next month’s Academy Awards for his nomination for Best Actor. He is in every scene of the film, and he can sing too – his thick and weathered voice pouring out songs that have come “from life”. Indeed the film has all the feeling of a classic country ballad – wistful and melancholic with a sense of dusty honesty . Supported by Robert Duvall - who plays Bad’s buddy Wayne – this is an actors film above all else: a small and tender story of a weary life somewhere on the road to Nashville.

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon