When reporter Jean Craddock interviews Bad Blake—an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend—they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son.
Acting
Bridges' Oscar win was robbery of nothing—pure country perfection.
Score
T Bone Burnett's original songs sting like real heartbreak.
Writing
Scott Cooper's debut script breathes authentic road-weariness.
Director
Scott Cooper
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jeff Bridges learned guitar for the role and performed all his own vocals live on set. The 'Fallin' and Flyin'' performance at the bowling alley? One continuous take.
The film was originally developed as a Merle Haggard biopic before becoming fiction—explaining why Bad Blake feels like a composite of every legendary self-destructive troubadour from Kristofferson to Jones.
US
