Trailer Tuesday: Crazy Heart

Okay, I'm bending the rules for Trailer Tuesday slightly, because the film I'd like to discuss does not actually have one yet. In fact, it's still in the editing room, but after a few very successful test screens, Crazy Heart's 2010 release date has been moved to a more Oscar-friendly December 1l, 2009 (but only in very limited LA and NYC coverage, of course).

Here's a short clip of Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell filming:


Crazy Heart will explore the life of the fictitious "Bad Blake," an aging country music legend coming to terms with his dwindling fame at the hands of younger talent. Reduced to smokey bar gigs and opening acts, Bad Blake grapples with the slow and merciless death of his career.

Sound familiar?

If it's anything close to last year's critical darling, Aronofsky's The Wrestler, this will likely make for a strong Oscar vehicle for veteran (and Oscarless) actor, Jeff Bridges. Of course, I'm making a loaded statement off of plot description alone, but you can't deny that the similarities are substantial. Perhaps Bridges will fare better than Rourke did in last year's race? In all honesty, I hope he pulls it off.

It's hard to say whether the film will garner awards recognition in other categories; most of the praise has singled out Bridges' performance. Although, there is opportunity for Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays Bad Blake's journalist, single mother love interest (Marisa Tomei, anyone? I suppose journalist is not that far removed from stripper). Not unlike The Wrestler, the film also has considerable potential in music categories, although the rules for anything music-related in the Academy are pretty messed up, which is why we saw Bollywood, and not Bruce Springsteen, onstage making a clean sweep last year.

Again, I hate to make such generalizations without having actually seen the film, but I can't ignore such a blatantly obvious comparison. But having said that, this piggybacking has not been an issue in the past (from Ray to Walk the Line, from Traffic to 21 Grams...) It's hard to say whether the similarities will help for hinder the film's (or Bridges') chances.


And I haven't forgotten about Up in the Air (quite the opposite). A review is in the works...