Bridges crosses over in "Crazy Heart"...

Jeff Bridges should finally get his Oscar.

I went to see Crazy Heart yesterday, a film about an alcoholic, down on his luck country singer. Bridges portrays the down-trodden Bad Blake, a man destined for an early grave until he meets small-town reporter Jean Craddock, played by the lovely Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Crazy Heart reminds me of the 1995 flick, Leaving Las Vegas, about a man who decides to head for the sinful city and drink himself to death. Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for his portrayal of Ben Sanderson, and his love interest in the movie was the beautiful Elizabeth Shue. Shue played Sera, a prostitute, who had the task of keeping Sanderson afloat. Cage was good, but Bridges is even better.

Most of Crazy Heart was filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In fact, the scene where he meets Craddock for the first time was filmed in a neighborhood bar in Santa Fe. Ah, you guessed it. I've been there. I spent a weekend there, not so long ago. It was the weekend Tiger Woods battled Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open. It was the place to be at the time. Listening to the blues and a little bit of country one minute and then watching the greatest U.S. Open ever the next. Life was good.