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Every person in the audience can see Jeff Bridges’ Bad Blake—he is a man on a stage, bare for all to see.

In Scott Cooper’s “Crazy Heart,” Bridges stands exposed as an alcoholic country singer on a stage that alienates him from the world.

Bad is broken-down physically from driving himself across the country to his small venues and drinking nearly an entire bottle of whiskey.

However, what is most interesting about Bad is that he is worn down emotionally from four failed marriages and his knack for chasing good women away with his addiction.

As Bad travels across the countryside he encounters Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who is a journalist eager to find out what makes Bad so wrecked.

Bridges is magnetic as Bad and his wonderful charisma seduces Jean into a world of promising love.

Bad’s inability to sustain a relationship is shown through his heightened romance with Jean and his failure to be responsible about his disease when around her son Buddy.

The result is another failed love attempt that leaves more than just the woman involved hurt and confused.

This time Bad learns to stop spiraling downward and channel his emotions into music.

He frees himself of his vice and finds redemption in the process.

Bridges transforms into Bad and steals the show, giving his best performance in years. His encapsulation of deterioration and separation drive the film.

Gyllenhaal appears to be acting too hard next to Bridges, and it seems logical why when the performances are so drastic in terms of their depth.

The real success of the film comes in the form of Bad’s character and Bridges portrayal of it. He perfects the nature of an isolated man desperate for companionship.