People have already started the comparison, and not without some reason, of Crazy Heart with last year's film about a down-on-his-luck old timer in his chosen profession, The Wrestler. And sure the comparisons can be made quite a lot, not simply due to the same studio, Fox Searchlight, distributing the films, or that the main characters are practically washed-up in what they do but keep chugging along, or that they have medical problems, or that they're estranged from their kids, or that the woman in their lives is a stop-go-stop affair. The good news is the movies can stand on their own terms, but somehow, at the end of the day, I would probably prefer Aronofsky's gritty naturalism over the first time director Scott Cooper's more slick indie-treatment, with country and wide-open spaces substituting for grisly New Jersey.

And yet you should go see Crazy Heart, and it's not just for Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, a country musician, 57, who has been on hard times for a while and whose main problem, alcoholism, prevents him from being an unstoppable musical force (think Johnny Cash with a little extra blues) and kind boyfriend to Jean (Gyllenhaal, also quite good). Well, it could almost be all for him - it's marvelous to see him transform into this character, somewhat reminiscent of 'the Dude', but with a more cynical view of life and his former partner (Tommy, surprisingly done by Colin Farrell),and how we really do want him to get better. It's a sympathetic portrait done by a master of American film acting, and even if you don't particularly love Country music it's a worthwhile venture to see him in it.

That's the other thing: the music is actually (and this is coming from a not-big-fan of Country music save for some exceptions like Cash and Williams) quite superb. All of the songs are charged either by a real drive to bring the house down with the joy of playing live, or by the tender moments such as the "Weary Kind" title track, which may, along with Bridges, get T-Bone Burnett his first Oscar nod. The music is one of the things that makes Blake's journey wonderful to watch, even if, sadly, the story is lacking in ways that other movies (not just The Wrestler) do much better. Only a third act twist seems to be compelling, as the rest of the story kind of coasts the characters along, the only roadblock Blake's drinking.

As sometimes happens, it's a towering performance in the midst of an otherwise competent, enjoyable but slight debut feature. But it is something, and often interesting.

This movie is similar in many ways to "Tender Mercies" and it is interesting that Robert Duvall appears in each. However, in "Crazy Heart", Jeff Bridges plays the lead and unlike Duvall's character in "Tender Mercies", Bridges character is an alcoholic in the midst of a long decline--not a man trying to pick up the pieces like Duvall did in this earlier performance. So, in some ways, it's like looking at Duvall's character a bit before the story begins in "Tender Mercies". Both characters are alcoholic country singers and both leave behind a lot of messed up lives and hope to somehow rebuild theirs. But Bridges isn't yet ready to give up the booze and smoking--and it's slowly killing him. Can Bridges see the light and get his career and private like back--or is it too late?

Jeff Bridges received the Oscar for Best Actor for this performance and I can see why. Part of it is because he sang his own music--it wasn't dubbed. And, it sounded a lot like Waylon Jennings--quite good in a raspy sort of way. Part of it was because Bridges just did a darn good job playing a likable but pathetic drunk. The following year, he also went on to a nice performance in the remake of "True Grit"--showing that in his older years, Bridges is actually doing some of his very best work. Well worth seeing--an excellent character study in every respect.

By the way, I really, really liked the way this film ended. Instead of going for the easy, clichéd Hollywood ending, they chose to wrap it up extremely well and realistically. See the film--see what I mean.

Crazy Heart was shot on a relatively small budget and in less than a month. But it proved to be one of those films that kind of sneaks up on the movie-going public. And you don't necessarily have to be a country and western fan to appreciate it.

Jeff Bridges stars and is essentially the whole show as an over the hill country and western icon who's reduced to playing cheap honky-tonks in those states where this music predominates. At one time he had a protégé, a Toby Keith like new country star played by Colin Farrell, but in those famous words from On The Waterfront, Bridges is riding on his one way ticket to Palookaville and the ride isn't finished.

Substance abuse has ruined this man's life and it actually looks like Farrell is going the same way if he doesn't watch himself. But Bridges meets up with young divorced journalist Maggie Gyllenhaal with a young son and a crisis with the young kid convinces Bridges he'd better mend his ways.

Supposedly Bridges modeled his Oscar winning performance on Kris Kristofferson. I saw that and a bit of Willie Nelson in Bridges on the screen. Whatever he did it sure worked because this is the role of a lifetime.

Besides the Best Actor Oscar that Jeff Bridges won, Crazy Heart has a nice score of country songs of which The Weary Kind won the film's second Oscar for Best Song. It's a good song on its own merits, but it also isn't like there's much to choose from in that category, hasn't been in a couple of generations.

And you don't have to be a fan of Jeff Bridges or country music to appreciate what a great little film Crazy Heart is.