I’m crazy about Crazy Heart!

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This is a must-see film from 2009, esp. for fans of classic country music and Jeff Bridges, who completely disappears into his role of alcoholic/world weary/singer-songwriter Bad Blake.  Gone is the easygoing California-bred star; here Bridges is overweight, terribly dressed, and quite cranky (for most of the film).  The 57 y.o. Bad (his preferred nickname) has been reduced to performing in bowling alleys and hole-in-the-wall bars throughout the Southwest.  He hasn’t written a song in 3 yrs.  He’s under the power of his fave brand of whiskey for most of the day (and night).  But most sadly, he has become a disappointment to himself.

But he still has many fans out there, including a young arts reporter from Santa Fe, Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).  Bad agrees to an interview w/ Jean; they have an easy rapport from which a romance quickly develops.

Jean has an adorable 3 y.o. boy, Buddy, who is very excited to meet Bad and spend time w/ him.  This is not the only kid in Bad’s life…

Bad needs to earn some real money, so he turns to country star Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell).  Tommy, a very thankful protege, would love to get some songs out of his mentor, but Bad is not sure he has it in him anymore.

Bridges is very watcheable (a character actor w/ a star’s looks, charisma, and confidence), bringing non-showy authenticity to the role.  He can sing very well, too.  My fave songs from Crazy Heart are Hold on You and I Don’t Know (2 versions sung by Bridges and Ryan Bingham, the young singer-songwriter who makes a cameo).

Bad is the main character of a novel by Thomas Cobb.  His personality is a mix of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.

East of Eden (1955)

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But you must give him some sign, Mr. Trask, some sign that you love him… or he’ll never be a man.  All his life he’ll feel guilty and alone unless you release him.

Director Elia Kazan wanted Marlon Brando for the lead role that went to breakout star James Dean.  In this film, based on John Steinbeck’s novel, Dean plays bitter/tortured teen Caleb (Cal) Trask, who is constantly overshadowed by his sunny/easygoing brother Aron (Richard Davalos).  The boys’ farmer father Adam (Raymond Massey) is deeply religious, reading the Bible aloud each night.  He’s an emotionally closed-off man who admits that he’s “never understood” Cal’s moods/behaviors/desires.

Aron’s girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) is a pleasant/kind girl who finds Cal frightening at first, then slowly gets to know (and even sympathize) with him.  The setting, early 20th century Salinas valley of California, is “ironic” in this film because of the conflicted people (critic Kenneth Turan noted).  Cal believes Adam only loves Aron.  He (instinctively) finds out about his long absent mother, Kate (Jo Van Fleet).  Adam is described as “kind” and “conscientious” by his friends/neigbbors; Kate is a former “drifter” who is running a “sinful” house (where men drink, gamble, etc.).

East of Eden contains (obvious) biblical themes; Cal and Aron are compared to Cain and Abel at one point.  This film contains universal themes and intruiging characters who don’t always act how you expect; for example, Aron is strongly against fighting (WWI).  Viewers of his time must’ve been surprised by Dean’s performance, but he’s not unlike today’s  teenagers who are trying to prove their worth and and fit in. 

Darcy (Colin Firth) wins Oscar!!!

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Here is a still from the famed ’95 BBC/A&E version of P&P.  Colin was then just 35 y.o.   Yay, we Austen fans knew him (err… recognized his talent) then! 

On Sunday, Colin (now 50) won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The King’s Speech.  I LOVED how flustered  he was! 

Livia (his gorgeous Italian-born wife) and Colin looked VERY elegant on the red carpet prior to the show.

Here is Colin looking adorable (yet a bit goofy) as posh, yet kind-hearted, barrister Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones Diary.  Yes, this character was inspired by Austen’s Darcy.  Helen Fielding, the author, wanted Colin for the role all along! 

 

Under the Greenwood Tree (2005)

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This sweet and sunny film was adapted from an early Thomas Hardy novel (surprise, surprise)!  Beautiful, educated, and sweet-tempered Fancy Day (Keeley Hawes) comes from Exeter to take the job of schoolteacher in the village of Mellstock to be near her sick father, a retired gamekeeper.  Dick Dewy (James Murray), his father, and a few of their friends are amateur musicians, so they sing carols on Christmas Eve.  He falls in love w/ Fancy at first sight when she comes to the window to praise their song. (Murray bears a striking resemblance to Stephen Campbell Moore, another young British actor.)

 

Dick is tongue-tied when he sees Fancy after church, but manages to invite her to a party. 

But the humble carrier (moving man) is not Fancy’s only admirer.  She catches the eye of successful, middle-aged farmer, Mr. Shiner, and the village’s new pastor, Parson Maybold (Ben Miles).

One man offers her security; another offers adventure.  But Fancy has great chemistry w/ Dick, who strives to win her affection, unaware that her father feels he’s beneath her.

This story covers Hardy’s main themes- rural/small town life, working vs. middle class customs, courtship between those of different status, and the individual’s search for a place in the world.

Persuasion (2007)

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In this  newest adaptation, a sense of urgency is infused into Austen’s last novel- a story of lost love found.   Anne Elliot (Sally Hawkins) becomes a woman of action (note all the running toward the end).  Also, the ending is changed in a (rather BIG) way- Capt. Wentworth doesn’t leave a letter tucked under some other paper for Anne to discover, as in the ’95 film version. 

Okay, I wasn’t TOO impressed w/ this film when I first saw it on PBS.  But when I saw it last week, I was VERY impressed by Penry-Jones’ subtle acting.  And talk about dashing… WOW! 

Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no weight, her convenience was always to give way — she was only Anne.

Though Hawkins is NOT how I pictured Anne, she does a fine job in portraying a sensible, warm-hearted, and low-key woman.  Anne is described as a bit of a faded beauty in the book.  (To use modern terms, she’s not the type that gets noticed in the club.)

Casting created some problems here.  Elizabeth is too old, Mary is too irritating and unpoised, and Mr. Elliot (Tobias Menzies from Rome) has zero chemistry w/ Anne.  The other actors suit their roles well, esp. Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Sir Walter and Alice Kriege (the Borg queen in Star Trek: TNG) as Lady Russell. 

My favorite scene is when Wentworth ducks into the shop (to wait out the rain) and almost runs into Anne.  While discussing the sudden engagement of Louisa and Benwick, Wentworth reveals HIS true feelings.  It’s movie magic!   

Persuasion is in some regards a fairy tale.  Anne has to leave her home for a place she hates.  Her father spends too much money and her sisters ignore or take advantage of her kindness.  Wentworth reenters Anne’s life when she’s given up hope of marrying.  He isn’t taken w/ the charms of the Musgrove girls.  The heroine gets her prince, finally!

Here is my review of the ’95 film:

https://knightleyemma.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/movie-review-persuasion-bbc-1995/