Struggling to Find Meaning in the Wake of Tragedy

There is a certain weariness to the somber expressions of George Falconer. Falconer, a gay British college professor living in early-1960's Southern California, is struggling to cope with the tragic death of his lover. Each morning he arises with fear and loathing, each day is a struggle. The only thing preventing Falconer from suicide is his friendship to Charley (Julianne Moore). Charley is the only person to whom George feels fully comfortable confiding his emotions and fears. That is until George gets to know one of his students, an attractive, deeply introspective young man who challenges George to ponder the true meaning of his life.

.

This is the very weighty material that comprises "A Single Man", Tom Ford's uncommonly mature and emotionally powerful gem. At any moment in this film things could have easily slid into the world of insufferable melodrama, but Ford's precise screenplay, stylish direction, and the film's tremendous acting prevent such a demise from happening. Ford, a fashion designer making his directorial debut, writes with the intelligence and confidence of a veteran of the screen. His directing is especially impressive, as Ford infuses the screen with a fascinating color scheme to reflect the myriad of emotions that pervade the daily life of the protagonist. When George Falconer is mired in a state of depression, for instance, the cinematography is bleak. When George Falconer sees something that reminds him of life's beauty, a young girl playing in the garden, for example, the screen is filled with bright colors. This is an immensely rewarding and innovative technique that illustrates Tom Ford's limitless potential as a film director.

.

Ford is aided in large part by the strength of his actors. Colin Firth gives the best performance of his career in the lead role. Firth does a brilliant job of making the viewer relate to George Falconer's torment and vulnerability. For his fine work, Firth deservedly received an Oscar nomination. Julianne Moore is also terrific as George's loyal friend Charley, a woman who maintains a sunny exterior but who is herself battling some internal unhappiness. Strong work is also turned in by Matthew Goode as George's lover, and by Nicholas Hoult as George's student.

.

The final scene of "A Single Man" illustrates the film's beauty. Without revealing too much, all I will say is that the ending is bittersweet, a poignant reminder of the bitter irony of life. The scene is perfect. This movie is pretty damn close to flawless also.

Trying to Repair That Crazy Heart With Love and Music

The story of a down-and-out entertainer struggling to rebuild his impoverished life is a familiar one to movie fans. But of the long list of films that have followed this premise, few have been as moving and authentic as "Crazy Heart". This is a beautiful film that grabs a firm hold of your emotions without feeling the slightest bit manipulative.

"Crazy Heart" tells the story of Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), an aging, once-famous country music star who is now forced to play gigs at dusty saloons and bowling alleys just so he can earn some much-needed cash. Bad Blake's world has come crashing down. He is an alcoholic who hasn't seen his son in twenty-four years. The one person he mentored, a handsome young country star named Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), has gone on to be far more famous and beloved than Bad himself ever was, something that has instilled in Bad a sense of bitterness toward his one-time pupil. A welcome respite from the doom of Bad's life comes in the form of a sexy young reporter (Maggie Gyllenhaal) from a local New Mexico paper who has come to interview Bad Blake about his career. She becomes won over by his unique charm, and the two commence an unlikely romance. It goes without saying that their romance goes through the ups and downs of his alcoholism. That is par for the course in a movie like this. But what is so rewarding about "Crazy Heart" is that the relationship between Bad and the reporter feels genuine and real, even as it takes us down a familiar road.

"Crazy Heart" shares several parallels to Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler". And just as Mickey Rourke did in that film, Jeff Bridges gives the performance of a lifetime in this film. Bridges is one of the most under appreciated actors to have ever graced the screen, and his work here is absolutely stunning. Bridges perfectly embodies the drunken charm of Bad Blake. In several scenes, Bridges is so convincing that you can actually sense the smell of whiskey and cigarettes coming off the screen. Here's hoping that Bridges walks away with the Oscar that he so richly deserves on March 7. Maggie Gyllenhaal is also fantastic. The role of a single mother has been so often portrayed in trite fashion, but Gyllenhaal never hits a false note, giving the best performance of her career. Fine work is also turned in by the great Robert Duvall as Bad's loyal bartender friend, and by Colin Farrell as Tommy Sweet.

"Crazy Heart" was written and directed by first-time filmmaker Scott Cooper, and rarely does a first-time filmmaker have such a keen grasp of atmosphere and mood. Cooper's writing and directing is pure and honest. As a director, Cooper wisely lets the story do all the talking, avoiding any unnecessary, flashy techniques behind the camera. The music in "Crazy Heart" is simply amazing. All of the songs in this movie, most of which were written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett, will amaze even those who are usually averse to the country genre. The fact that Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell do all of their own singing make the songs all the more satisfying.

There is nothing particularly revelatory about the material in "Crazy Heart", but it is handled with effortless grace. There is just something life-affirming about this movie, a film that is indeed bound to win over your crazy heart.