This movie proves once again that with a simple heartfelt story, great acting, and a camera you can make a wonderful movie and not shoot anyone and not blow up anything.

Jeff Bridges does some of the best acting of his career as Bad Blake, a broken down country music singer who is looking for a second chance at life and career. Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent as Jean Craddock, the writer who interviews him and then falls for him despite all the warnings and reasons not to. 

Colin Farrell is excellent in the role of Tommy, the former backup for Bad Blake who is now a big star and gives him the second chance he so desperately needs. Robert Duvall is his friend who helps to get him clean and sober.

Bad Blake fails his friends and himself over and over but he continues to seek redemption and Bridges lets the strength of his character shine through just enough to win over the audience and gain one more chance at that redemption.

This is an excellent movie that I would see again and recommend to anyone who loves good character acting and especially those who also have a love for country music as both a musical genre and a view into a segment of american culture.