Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell
Running time: 115 mins
Rating: ★★★★

A THREE-star movie earns the extra star for the performance of Jeff Bridges as a fading, drunken country music singer named Bad Blake for whom life on the road has taken its toll.

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Four-time Academy Award nominee Bridges will surely be stepping on stage to collect that best actor Oscar at Sunday’s ceremony for a film that was heading straight to DVD oblivion at one time. Bad is getting close to 60 but still touring, singing and playing in dingy bars and bowling alleys. When he’s not on stage he’s drinking too much and sleeping with the kind of groupies an ageing country singer attracts.

Then he meets single mother Jean (Gyllenhaal) when she interviews him for a local paper.

She doesn’t want commitment but is seduced by his easy charm although makes it clear she won’t put up with his heavy drinking.

That’s all there is to it. The story of a washed up performer seeking redemption in the arms of a good woman is hardly new but writerdirector Scott Cooper was wise enough to cast a charismatic and accomplished leading man like Bridges, who’s never been better, and surround him with talents like Gyllenhaal and Duvall (who also produces).