Tender Mercies (1983) and Crazy Heart (2009)

Note #1: There are some "spoilers" in this double-review.

Note #2: This is the last in a two part series on alcoholism (yesterday's review was Mad Wednesday)

So, just a few weekends ago, Jeff Bridges won his first Oscar for "Crazy Heart" which has been generating alot of buzz for months. Reviewers continue to draw comparisons to the 1983 classic "Tender Mercies" starring Robert Duvall as "Max Sledge": both movies tell the story of famous (although fictional) country stars who want to leave music behind, but just can't quit. And both have their share of demons, including the bottle.

My main interested in seeing "Crazy" was to find out if it is just an imitation, which they say is the sincerest form of flattery. So last weekend, I went to a local neighborhood theater to check it out. It was a matinee, so the price of admission was thankfully only five dollars. I was expecting alot of "aw, come on" similarities between this and the older, Bruce Beresford-directed film. And sure enough, it did have them. Here is my checklist:

• Washed up and broke country singer (check)


• Still has legion of fans (check)


• Sought after by reporter (check)


• Meets single mother and falls for her and the kid (check)


• Attempts to reconnect with his long lost kin (check)


• Tries to sell some of his songs while trying to keep up with the latest in country music (check)


• Puts down the bottle (check)

Also, I was surprised to find out that it also features Duvall himself in a supporting role as the fishing buddy of protagonist Bad Blake, played by Bridges. Bad Blake travels through the southwest alone in his truck looking for bar gigs in between drinks. One night while he's onstage, in the middle of a song, he excuses himself to go out in the alley to puke in a garbage can, only to return to the stage with a stained shirt and slurred voice. His behavior is that pathetic, and it only gets worse later on. I'd say for much of the film, it's very much a story about a trash talking alcoholic singer who is pretty much winging it through life; it's not until the very end of the film - and his closest relationships end - that he starts to sober up and look ahead to a more promising future.

As co-producer, Duvall obviously found alot to like in this film. As I was watching it, I was looking for that, and even imagined this film as a "sequel" of sorts to "Mercies", and seeing his supporting character as an older version of Mac Sledge. It's hard not to think that; in one scene he encourages Bad Blake: I know, I've been there before.

"Crazy Heart" was based on a 1987 novel, and directed by first-time director Scott Cooper, a supporting actor who's had mostly bit parts over the years. But he does get a very good performance out of Bridges, whose character is hard to like.

The best part of the movie is the music. I love country music and loved all these songs, and I was convinced that these were real hits by this former star. There is a young rival, played by Colin Farrell, who is obviously modeled after pop-country star Keith Urban. Even though Bad Blake is of the Kris Kristofferson generation (Bridges even resembles him a bit) he finds time to sing on stage with the younger act; in one exciting scene they both play to a sold-out crowd in a huge ampitheater. You feel like you're at the concert.

"Crazy Heart" has even been compared with "The Wrestler"; there are some scenes where Bad Blake has a few close calls, and I became convinced that he only has a few years to go. It ends with him happy with his career and new life, even though he's still alone.

"Tender Mercies", written by the late Horton Foote (who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay) is a film that tells a different story. Max doesn't struggle with drinking throughout the duration of the film like Bad Blake. In the very first scenes, he has already begun to settle down with his new family and has quit drinking. Max finds comfort in his renewed faith, his new family, and his music; he's sought after again by record companies and bands, and he has to deal with it all, especially the musical success of his ex-wife (Betty Buckley), also a singer. All of the main characters are very self reflective throughout, which I think makes this film the classic that it is. Life - and making peace with oneself - is one main theme; death - and it's meaning - is another. Another good performance in this is by the underrated actor Wilford Brimley, who was in lots of 1980s hits, including Cocoon (I think he should have won the Oscar, not Don Ameche). And the young actor who plays Max's stepson Sonny is so good; I was surprised to learn that this was his only film. Sonny never met his real dad, who may or may not have been killed. But he learns to love Max like a father; the ending scene stays with you for a long time and is an inspiring, tender if you will, moment on film. I didn't want this movie to end. With "Crazy Heart", I was glad it was over, I must say. My friend and I left the theater saying to each other "haven't we seen this film before"?

In closing, I highly recommend the 1983 movie, and highly recommend the CD of "Crazy Heart" if you like country music.

BONUS:

Here are the best songs from "Crazy Heart" (they should have been nominated for Oscars):