Jeff Bridges won the Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of fictional country western singer Bad Blake. And bad is not overstating his condition at the film's opening. He is driving his 1978 Suburban from bowling alleys to bars across the Southwest, staying in Super 8 Motel kind of accomodations, drinking throughout the days and nights, and sleeping with aging groupies. It has a ways to go to get up to seedy. But amazingly likable, considering.
There are two things that happen to turn him around. The first is that he meets a woman who he is interested in. The second is that he gets a break from a younger singer who owes Blake. Colin Ferrell plays Blake's mentee, and he is terrific. This will probably not sound like a compliment to a movie star, but he could be an excellent country western singer. The movie is a bittersweet tale. Bridges is gritty, and the most like the Big Lebobowski of any role he has done over the past decade. Great soundtrack--T Bone Burnett does another terrific job--and a good story.
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