Starring: Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

There is a reason why Jeff Bridges won the Golden Globe for this role.  I wouldn't be surprised if he wins more awards too.  Still, I can't help but think that most of that recognition will come from all of his roles over the years, and not just this one in particular.

That is not to say that I didn't enjoy his performance, or this movie as a whole.  Instead, I will be honest and say that it turned out just like I expected.  The most surprising part was how much I came to enjoy the music.  The story was simple and predictable, but it was the music and the performances that drove it home for me.

Bridges plays country singer Bad Blake.  From the start we know that he lives up to the name Bad, and that he is having a hard time of things.  Soon, we're introduced to Gyllenhaal's character, Jenny, who is a writer for a small paper doing an interview of Blake when he comes to town.  They develop a connection, and eventually a relationship, all of which seemed to happen way too fast and felt too insincere.  Still, you set that feeling aside and go along for the journey.  Blake is an alcoholic, and as the film progresses you encounter the cliche plot points and twists, and by the end, it all wraps up neatly with a pretty red bow.

If I may take a moment to gush about Bridges and his talent for a moment, he is the sole reason I wanted to see this film.  For years he has been delighting me, and audiences all over the world, in various films across numerous genres.  There are not many actors I feel this can be said, but this man truly can do anything.  I will count him among the greatest of our time, and am proud to count myself along his many other fans, cult and otherwise.  So long for now.