Last evening was date night for me and my honey, blog. It was fresh, smoldering hot baked potatoes sliced down the middle and soaked with Heart Smart butter, low fat shredded cheese mix, sliced black olives and chopped chives. Yummy! It was good. No popcorn. Just apple turnovers, warmed, with vanilla ice cream on top. I was in heaven.
My honey popped in the DVD, turned out the lights and Voila! Our date night movie started as we both reclined in our giant, wide brown leather TV chairs.
The movie began sort of irreverently. I always enjoy a movie that starts off with the main character scratching his behind. It wasn't too much more into this movie when I understood that was the perfect start. Almost instantly, you know that the main guy is boorish.
Right away, my mind wanders. I guess that this film may be about his road to being a better person. Hey, that's what my discovery journey is about, so great, get on with it. Let's see how he does it.
A few film minutes go by and there's no doubt that this character just plain doesn't care about himself or the people around him. He is a complete Junga, that is until he meets a woman. Well, blog, what man isn't better with a good woman. Now, I think it's the story of boy meets girl: He gets the girl and they live happily ever after.
But noooooo. He screws that up. Now, I am wondering if this story is going to end in death and doom. What kind of a message is that.
I keep watching. One of the enchanting memories is the exquisite bedroom scenes between Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Bad Blake (Oscar winner Jeff Bridges). Gyllenhaal and Bridges made apple turnovers smouthered with ice cream feel like eating rocks. Those few scenes were magic. Not a bit too revealing. Just erotic like a graceful dance. Awesome.
Bad Blake finally faces his alcohol addiction. He gets help and that's where the script leaves me with a crick in my neck.
While he's in this mysterious place that looks like a rehab haven, he comes across a guy that asks him if he's an entertainer. That's it. The guy is never identified and I am left to think how he fits into the story. Will he be some knight-in-shining-armor for Bad Blake after he leaves rehab and returns to his everyday life? It's a empty spot in the script like an error in staging. No mention of him again. Maybe, he'll be in the sequel.
His struggle to get "clean" so to speak left me blank. I never saw a struggle while he was in rehab. Here we have a guy who is all but dead inside from drinking and smoking and carousing, and he skates? No penalty. Rehab was paradise. No problem. No difficulty.
I have to guess that the only "ouch, that hurts" he feels is from the rejection of Ms. Jean and Buddy. But com'on. Does anyone really think that relationship was going to end well?
Next, after much secrecy about Tommy, he suddenly agrees to write songs for him. Then there's a hint about his son. He at 28 appears to be the same age as Tommy. I never heard how Bad Blake and Tommy met, so I am left wondering about if Tommy is his son. But not even a tiny clue about either of these characters.
The worst part of this film, is the black 16 month period, settled by the one and only jump in time referenced by a screen note. Now, I'm disgusted. Sloppy sloppy sloppy scriptwriting or move-making. This time travel could have been handled much better. Technology abounds. Get real. Be creative. This audience person wants a story, not shortcuts that are weak attempt at moving the story forward.
I can see a possible message here in the telling of how anyone who rises to the top, will someday be overshadowed by a younger person also rising to the top. Even though Bad Blake concedes to write songs for Tommy in the end, I got the feeling it was only because of self pity and financial crisis.
He walked away. I saw no understanding. No acceptance. Just anger and resentment. It was an empty ending.
I can see why Gyllenhaal was nominated, and Bridges won. They saved this movie. Both fabulous performances.
This movie gets my "Hatbox Award!"
