Crazy Heart, Scott Cooper, 2009

Cooper's hard country composite wears its inspirations very plainly, directly or indirectly citing Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, Billy Joe Shaver, and Tender Mercies' Mac Sledge. And while Jeff Bridges lead turn as Bad Blake rings relatively true in light of such weighty forebearers, the film is decidedly limp and predictable, and ultimately somewhat less than the sum of its parts.