There were a few technical glitches, a candid moment or two, and surprises in store for theatre-goers who attended the Los Angeles Times "Envelope" screening of "Crazy Heart" at the Landmark Theatre tonight in West Los Angeles.
Usually, when there is a sneak preview of a film, a director and/or actor (usually lower-down on the totem in co-star capacity) put in an appearance at a Q & A session held after the credits roll.
On this auspicious occasion, however, all the headlining actors (save for Colin Farrell), trekked onto the podium to meet & greet the excited audience.
Boy, did (they/we) hit the jackpot.
Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, and Maggie Gyllenhaal were all in tow - and open to the prospect of baring their creative souls to filmgoers - who proceeded to creep forward to the edge of their seats with the aim of catching every scrumptious detail.
In part - their rapt attention may have been due to the fact the live mics (to be facillitated by the illustrious trio in order to respond to the insightful questions fielded them by an LA Times interviewer - encountered some snafus.
When Jeff Bridges plucked up one microphone, for instance, it squealed wildly - and likewise - pierced the eardrums of everyone present in the plush theatre surroundings.
Ouch!
But - the minor annoyance was laughed off - mainly, due to the fact - the issue was handled with such grace and aplomb.
When one of the composers (T Bone Burnett) suddenly found himself with two mics in hand - a two-fisted speaker, I guess - the humor (and absurdness) of it all struck a nerve in his funny bone.
So, he was inclined to play-act at juggling for a sec or two, then mug for the ticket-holders.
The audience roared.
"That's what happens when a newspaper organizes a film event," the host from the morning daily chuckled.
In a nutshell, the film - Crazy Heart - is a well-crafted tale about a Country & Western star on the skids touring sleazy whiskey joints around the country to make ends meet.
When "Bad" (his nickname) gets a stab at a second chance in life, the film kicks into high gear, and becomes a bit of a morality tale.
In spite of that, Crazy Heart, never crosses the line to become too preachy.
When the writer - Scott Cooper - was asked what inspired the story, he was quick on the uptake.
"Initially, I was thinking of Merle Haggard for the lead character. But, the rights were taken, and there would have been a few ex-wives to deal with," the fresh-faced writer noted for the record.
Like myself, a handful of folks in the audience thought of rugged Kris Kristofferson right away, when the character sprang to life on the wide screen.
Cooper confessed that "Bad" was a composite of Kristofferson, Haggard, and a couple of other trail-blazers from the old country-and-western musical genre of yesteryear.
A second cowboy singer - played by Colin Farrell - was not inspired by Billy Ray Cyrus, though, as some speculated (me!).
A Western star from Australia triggered that characterization.
"I grew up near the Blue Ridge Mountains raised on bluegrass. The music was in my marrow," Cooper revealed.
Not every scene turned up in the can to make the theatre rounds, however.
"One crucial scene ended up on the cutting room floor because I didn't have an agreement for the final cut," the disgruntled director quibbled with a tinge of angst in his voice.
Robert Duvall laughed in response.
"Scott here was known as "precious" on the set," he chided in a slightly amusing derogatory aside.
Ouch!
Scott, just remember, the only director who ever had final cut of any legitimate binding value in Hollywood, was the legendary film great Orson Welles (Citizen Kane).
After the fact, the studio suits made sure that "artists" (at the creative end of things) were relegated to the lowly level stature of mere cattle (with little say in the packaging and promotion of the "factory product") for good reason!
In "Crazy Heart", Jeff Bridges has turned in one of the most memorable performances of his entire career.
"The Big Lebowski" star inhabits the role - literally breathes life into the character with such remarkable ease - that it will stagger the sensibilities of all filmgoers
Jeff's acting is seamless, believable, and downright rivetting.
Post:
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-lebowskiscreens-at-insomniac-cinema.html
There is now a podcast airing weekly on the Internet in respect to all things "Dude-wise" & Big Lebowski favored.
Post:
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/02/big-lebowskipodcast-up-and-running-dude.html
In spite of the fact Scott Cooper alleged that he never screened "The Big Lebowski" - he only spied snatches of it here and there in previews on TV and that sort-of-thing over the years - the opening scene in "Crazy Heart" smacks of the one at the beginning of the Coen Brothers "Lebowski" feature (where the cowboy strides up to the bar and plunks himself down on a stool).
Uncanny.
Duvall - well, as always - he's the consummate professional.
Maggie Gyllenhaal was a total revelation, too.
The film resonated with me for a couple of reasons in particular.
For starters, early on in Crazy Heart, "Bad" laments his age.
OMG!
The character was the same age as moi.
But, the parallels got more intriguing.
For instance, at one point the Jeff Bridges character is barrelling down the highway, when he falls asleep at the wheel of his suburban.
I sat bolt upright in my seat.
A few months ago, I noted in a post that on the way back from Vegas, I nodded off on a quiet stretch of highway.
Fortunately, when the wheels hit the shoulder - and the ride subsquently got quite bumpy - I was jolted awake and managed to steer the out-of-control SUV back onto the pavement without mishap.
Later, I determined after a test at a sleep clinic, that I suffer from a disorder which I now take a prescription for to alleviate.
And, there were a couple of other aspects of the storyline that also rang true with me (which I'll pass on discussing at this point in time for personal reasons).
Needless to say, the movie-going experience was a very real - thought-provoking one - which also managed to entertain along the way.
Nothing earth-shattering in nature, but for sure, "Crazy Heart" is charming down-to-earth bill-of-fare.
I give it two thumbs up!
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