Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart is a 2009 American drama film, written and directed by Scott Cooper and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb. Jeff Bridges plays a down-and-out country music singer-songwriter who tries to turn his life around after beginning a relationship with a young journalist portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Other supporting roles are played by Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, and child actor Jack Nation. Bridges, Farrell, and Duvall also sing in the film.

The novel on which the film was based was inspired by country singer Hank Thompson. Bridges earned the 2009 Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Filming took place during 2008 in New Mexico (Albuquerque, Española, Galisteo, Santa Fe), in Houston, Texas, and in Los Angeles, California. Original music for the film was composed by T Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton, Ryan Bingham and others. Bingham and Burnett received the 2009 Academy Award for Best Original Song for co-writing "The Weary Kind", which Bingham also performed.

Crazy Heart (soundtrack)

Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a 2010 film soundtrack album to accompany the film Crazy Heart directed by Scott Cooper starring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Songwriters

The album was released January 19, 2010 to accompany the film. The 16-track album contains several songs written by T-Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton, and Ryan Bingham, with some by John Goodwin, Bob Neuwirth, Sam Hopkins, Gary Nicholson, Townes Van Zandt, Sam Phillips, Greg Brown, Billy Joe Shaver, and Eddy Shaver.

Performers

The songs are performed by various artists including actors Jeff Bridges, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall, as well as singers Ryan Bingham (who also sings the theme song "The Weary Kind"), Buck Owens, The Louvin Brothers, Lightnin' Hopkins, Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, and Sam Phillips.

Awards and nominations

On January 17, 2010, the theme song "The Weary Kind", written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett, was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Original Song at the 67th Golden Globe Awards. The song also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 82nd Academy Awards and a Grammy for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The soundtrack also won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media at the same ceremony.

Crazy Heart (Hank Williams song)

"Crazy Heart" is a song by Hank Williams. It was written by Fred Rose and Maurice Murray and hit #4 for Williams in 1951. It was recorded at Castle Studio in Nashville on July 25, 1951 with Fred Rose producing and backing from Don Helms (steel guitar), Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Sammy Pruett (lead guitar), Howard Watts (bass) and probably Jack Shook (rhythm guitar). It was one of Williams least commercially successful singles of the period, only spending two weeks on the chart, although Guy Lombardo dented the Top 20 with it, underscoring that the song was better suited to a palm court orchestra than Hank Williams.

Cover versions

References