Crazy Heart (2009)

Perhaps it’s the influence of my favorite not-so-new show Nashville, but I loved Crazy Heart. Jeff Bridges can go from The Dude to Bad Blake and make an oft-told story shine.

Alcoholic country crooner Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is playing gigs across the Southwest at unknown saloons, tiny bars and even a bowling alley. With no new songs in years and his unpredictability due to his drinking, washed up Bad is living in the shadow of his former protégé Tommy Sweet, a huge star in the new wave of young Nashville.

Bad grants his first interview in years to a young, unknown writer Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal). During their interview, the chemistry is electric. Their banter is easy. They possess a comfort level unique between strangers. When Jean asks him about his four marriages and kids, the spell is broken and the interview is over. They agree to meet again the next night. The unlikely pair can’t fight the attraction. With his addiction to whiskey and her affliction for bad boys, can they forge a future?

His agent Jack (Paul Herman) presses him to write songs again and make his way back up. Jack secures him a gig headlining for Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell). It bring a crushing blow to Bad’s ego. He wants the big bucks but he can’t stand to be an opener and for the star who has surpassed him. Bad balances his life with Jean and her son Buddy, his life on the road and his drinking. He’s even inspired to write until he hits a series of snags that lead to a life-altering rock-bottom.

We don’t meet Tommy Sweet until 42 minutes in but we have heard about him so much, he deserves a drumroll advancing into the shot. The cast is an eclectic delight. The friendship between Wayne (Robert Duvall) and Bad give us perspective into the two men. Bridges as Bad comes alive on stage and provides glimpses into Bad’s past glory. (Bridges and Farrell contributed their own singing.)

Based on the eponymous novel by Thomas Cobb, the movie scored Bridges a Best Actor Oscar, Golden Globe and several other awards. Crazy Heart isn’t a new story but the writing and cast make it a worthwhile viewing. Several folks told me they liked the it despite the country music. I loved the music. If you don’t like the music, you can blame Nashville.

Co-writer/Director: Scott Cooper

Country: US

Genre: Drama

Run time: 106 minutes

Scale: 4

Fish Tank (2009)

Fish Tank is celluloid rawness. Fifteen-year-old Mia (Katie Jarvis) busts onto the screen gulping alcohol from any bottle she can get her hands on, head-butting a former friend for no apparent reason and trying to liberate a neglected horse. The moment her party-girl mom’s one-night stand catches her dancing in her council estate kitchen, Mia’s life changes.

Mia lives in a den of hostility with her younger sister Tyler (Rebecca Griffiths) and their critical mother Joanne (Kierston Wareing). The three are foul-mouthed and rage-filled. When Joanne’s new boyfriend Connor (Michael Fassbender) starts giving Mia the attention she’s starved for and encourages her dreams of being a hip-hop dancer, she puts her fury aside. She lessens her missions to chaos and destruction in lieu of the dancing, especially when a big audition comes her way. Just as it appears she’s getting on track a huge betrayal derails her. You don’t cross Mia Williams unless you are ready for her wrath. The dance scene shared by the three ladies at the end is priceless. A great movie without this scene but their connection utters the feeling they don’t state.

Brutal, cutting, unsanded—Mia is an animal I didn’t want to release. Get comfortable on the edge of your sofa for the maelstrom from which you won’t be able to turn. In the end, I was upset with Mia’s choice; I wanted her to return to school and expand upon her awakening. She’s a fighter but where will she end up? This is a genuine ending but I’m still mad at her for leaving.

Andrea Arnold also directed the brilliant Red Road (which was meant to be the first in a trilogy using the same actors).

Writer/Director: Andrea Arnold

Country: UK

Genre: Drama

Run time: 122 minutes

Scale: 5

Savage Grace (2007)

Savage Grace is an uneven and slow slog. I’d go as far as calling it boring. It shocks you over and over but in between, the unsympathetic characters provoke anything but distaste, revulsion and confirmation that people with too much money are miserable wagons.

This disturbing mess tells the alleged true story of Barbara Daly Baekeland (Julianne Moore) and Brooks Baekeland (Stephen Dillane); the latter the heir to the Bakelite plastics fortune. They have a son, Antony (Eddie Redmayne), who is doted on by his mother and ignored by his father. The family travel the world mingling with persons of high social caliber. Brooks is irritated while Barbara is in her element pushing Tony’s accomplishments onto the annoyed guests.

(Spoiler Alert: Read at Your Own Risk!)

Tony’s interest is mildly peaked when he meets hot Spaniard Blanca (Elena Anaya) but that doesn’t stop him from sexing it up with his male buddy (see picture). Barbara pushes Tony and Blanca to sleep together, but soon Brooks runs away with Blanca leaving wife and son behind never to look back. Tony is crushed by his dad’s abandonment and his “inheriting” his mother, her depression and her suicidal tendencies.

Many lurid events follow: Barbara takes up with a gay man. They  engage in a ménage à trois with Tony. Tony is numb as his mother’s keeper, confidante and sometimes lover. I wasn’t expecting the final scene where Barbara mounts her son, has sex with him and asks him if he came. When he says no, she gives him a hand job. Once done, they get up and contemplate what to order for dinner. Tony stabs and kills her. After nearly eight years in a psychiatric hospital, Tony is released and moves in with his maternal grandmother. Within a week, he stabs her. She survives but Tony goes to Rikers Island where within the year he’s dead by suffocation with a plastic bag (it was uncertain if it was a suicide or murder).

A fucking mess.

Director: Tom Kalin

Country: USA

Genre: Drama

Run time: 97 minutes

Scale: 2

Kráska v nesnázích (Beauty in Trouble) (2006)

Tattooed hot mom Marcela (Anna Geislerová) and her husband Jarda (Roman Luknár) are barely managing after devastating floods in Prague destroy their home. The ordeal forces them and their two children to live in a chop shop where Jarda is now running his business. Their marriage strikes a critical point and Marcela leaves, taking the kids and moving in with her mother Zdena (Jana Brejchová) and stepfather Riöa (Jirí Schmitzer). Riöa is a conniving bastard who’s jealous of any attention Zdena squanders on anyone but him.

When Jarda is busted stealing a car, he lands in the pokey. Marcela has a chance meeting with the victim, Mr. Benes (Josef Abrhám), and BANG! First, they’re meeting for sushi. Next, she’s travelling to Tuscany with him, seeing what a stable life with this gentleman twice her age would be like. Therein lies the theme…does Marcela chose a life with a calm and boring but rich suitor or stay with her good-for-nothing bad-boy husband who possesses carnal skills that always more than hit her mark? Worthy of note is that this is post-Cold War and folks now have options, but does that change things for Marcela?

Riöa is a scene-stealer (possibly the entire movie). He’s sadistic and vengeful, but with a twist of dark humor you cannot deny. Another terrific performance comes from Kuba (Adam Misík)--Marcela and Jarda’s son--especially in his scenes with Riöa. Jarda’s mother, Libuse (Emília Vásáryová), is another standout. She’s devoted to her  son and to her church. Unbeknownst to her, her church is led by a crooked man who is trying to screw Benes out of land and money.

I didn’t love Beauty in Trouble, but it was beloved and received high  marks from ‘the critics’ (Rotten Tomato gave it an 85!). I cannot agree. It’s slow and uneven. Too many of the main characters are unlikeable. Much of the music (were they songs from Once?) was ill suited and manipulative. They should have added more of the lively accordion numbers.

Director: Jan Hrebejk

Country: Czech Republic

Genre: Drama

Run time: 110 minutes

Scale: 3.5

Just Go with It / Pretend Wife (2011)

Adam Sandler is overrated and continues to disappoint. Jennifer Aniston, please get a new agent.

This dumb plot revolves around Danny (old man Sandler) being struck by lust at first sight by Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), a much younger woman. When she catches him in a stupid lie, he convinces his doormat assistant Katherine (Aniston) to fake it as his soon-to-be ex-wife. Her two kids ends up part of the package. Soon they’re all on a weekend trip to Hawaii where the lies continue to reproduce.

Palmer is hot with the brain of a pet rock. Her character must suspend all reality to allow any of the plot twists to occur (big sign of a weak storyline). The shenanigans are ridiculous. There’s over-the-top Eddie (Nick Swardson), Katherine’s fake-German-accented boyfriend with thick glasses (ripping off from Seinfeld in the scene with the sheep) and an embarrassing coconut tie-breaker game. Danny beats the unfunny jokes to discomfort (even Aniston looks annoyed). The two kids, Maggie (Bailee Madison) and Michael (Griffin Gluck), are the most enjoyable and they serve only an occasional chuckle. The professional relationship between Danny and Katherine is idiotic: unprofessional banter in front of clients go way too long and too far. And, guess what? Nicole Kidman appears in this rubbish. No wonder you didn’t see her in trailers. Before Oscars’ season, she didn’t want to be associated with this mess. And, Dave Matthews as her closeted husband? I don’t understand. Don’t waste your time, money or brain cells.

Director: Dennis Dugan

Country: USA

Genre: Romantic comedy

Run time: 115 very long minutes

Scale: 1