Music is the food of love, and love feeds the muse itself, in this intimate drama starring Jeff Bridges. Like the approach of first-time writer/director Scott Cooper, Bridges's turn is modest, though jokingly brash in places - and the more compelling because of those contradictions. Playing craggy faded country singer Bad Blake, he quietly works his way into the affections of a journalist (a tough yet tender Maggie Gyllenhaal) and becomes caught between his need for her and a long-held booze addiction. His relationship with her young son is just as endearing, but the script (based on Thomas Cobb's novel) pulls punches when the child is exposed to his drunkenness. Colin Farrell is also miscast as Bad's big-name protégé Tommy Sweet, another little boy lost. Thankfully, Bridges is totally at ease singing the blues, so much so that it's easy to forget those creaks in the script, as he delivers an iconic, Oscar-winning performance that's guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings.

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.