Overview
A hard-living musician seeks redemption through love and self-discovery.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- wistful
- quiet evening
- music night
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that Jeff Bridges's captivating, Oscar-winning performance and the film's music elevate a familiar, languid redemption story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bad Blake's alcoholism, unstable career, and years of hard living define the central obstacle to his recovery.
Bad seeks salvation through sobriety, responsibility, and his relationship with Jean rather than simply reclaiming musical success.
Road performances, guitar playing, original songs, and the contrast between Bad's legacy and Tommy Sweet's success ground the drama in country music culture.
Jean's relationship with Bad exposes the man behind the performer and pressures him to confront his destructive habits.
Films like Crazy Heart, and why
Tender Mercies
shared themes of aging musicians, artistic failure, redemption, and intimate music-centered drama
The Wrestler
shared melancholic character study of a damaged creative seeking renewal through an unexpected relationship
Once
shared music industry setting, romantic tension, and emotionally grounded portrait of flawed performers
Movie Details
- Director
- Scott Cooper
- Release Date
- 2009-12-16
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1231)
Cast
- Jeff Bridges
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Robert Duvall
- Colin Farrell
- Tom Bower
- Paul Herman
- Beth Grant
- J. Michael Oliva
- Brian Gleason
- James Keane
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Crazy Heart about?
- A washed-up country singer confronts alcoholism, regret, and the possibility of renewal when a journalist sees beyond his stage persona.
- What is Crazy Heart like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Crazy Heart as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Crazy Heart violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Crazy Heart.
- What did critics think of Crazy Heart?
- Critics broadly agreed that Jeff Bridges's captivating, Oscar-winning performance and the film's music elevate a familiar, languid redemption story.
- Which films are like Crazy Heart?
- Films with a similar feel include Tender Mercies, The Wrestler, and Once.
- How long is Crazy Heart?
- Crazy Heart runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Crazy Heart?
- In United States, Crazy Heart is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
