When he is performing live, it is at embarrassing venues such as small coffee shops and bowling alleys. Barely sober enough to play on the stage, rehearsing with his backup band is out of the question. His small, overly devoted group of fans overlook his sub-par performances which are usually interrupted by his running off the stage to vomit. Lonely, Bad settles for company from his dwindling female fan base.

Alcoholism and depression preventing further success or human companionship, Bad is the perfect fallen star for the young reporter, Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) to write about. Bad is happy to do an interview, but wants to keep the questions simple and unobtrusive, particularly about his current state. In the shamefully unremarkable motel room, Jean tries to probe Bad for more answers about his relationship with his ex-wife and children, but he proves uncooperative. Instead,  Bad retorts: “I want to talk about how bad you make this room look”.

Bad makes it very clear to his manager (James Keane) that he doesn’t want to tour anymore, especially at such horrible venues. However, his manager makes it clear that Bad’s lack of new songs and unwillingness to work with his old mentor Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) don’t allow him to play for more than a handful of people. Luckily for Bad, but perplexing to the viewer, he begins to have a romantic relationship with Jean and becomes a father figure for her four year old son (which ironically, is the same age his son was when he last saw him). His love inspires him to write new songs. On his bed he writes a beautiful ballad in a matter of minutes, which brings Jean to tears, not because of the it’s eloquence but as she realizes that Bad hasn’t used his gifts to the fullest extent.

However, just when things seem to be turning in the right direction, Bad’s alcoholism derails everything again. While watching Jean’s son at a crowded mall, Bad goes into a bar, begins to drink, and looses the boy. In a painful sequence of shots, Bad is seen limping around the mall screaming out in desperation to find the boy. Although he is eventually found, Jean cannot bear to see him anymore while Bad finally realizes he has to address his problem.

With the help of his only remaining friend Wayne (Robert Duvall), Bad enters rehab and successfully becomes clean. Although he was completely dismissive of the idea before, Bad begins to tour with Tommy Sweet and also writes him some songs. He expects that he can regain those ruined relationships because he has turned his life around, but it is simply not to be.

Jeff Bridges’ performance as Bad Blake makes him the front-runner for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards, and with good reason. He portrays an alcoholic with a realism where it is often over dramatized. In addition, the power of the role is made all the stronger by Bridges’ singing the songs himself in his rough baritone voice. Much has acclaim has been given to Maggie Gyllenhaal’s for her performance, but I was less impressed. There seem to be a large disconnect between Gyllenhaal and the character. Part of this is the way she performed the role, but it is further exacerbated by the weakness in the character relationships in the story.

Although Bridges performance is extraordinary, the reasons why Bad has a good relationship with Jean and a poor one with Tommy is not adequately explained. Bad is not a suave man, but somehow he is able to seduce a woman 25 years his junior. His overtly sexual and flirtatious conversations don’t lend any credence to why a woman would fall in love with him–yet Jean becomes smitten. In the same manner, one cannot understand why Bad hates Tommy Sweet. Played by the real-life bad boy Colin Farrel, I was expecting an unappreciative, arrogant star in Tommy Sweet. However, he is enormously appreciative and wants to help his old mentor. When they perform on stage, Tommy gives Bad all the credit while he gives him many offers to join him on tour. In my mind, I asked myself what’s not to like about Tommy?

The brilliance of Jeff Bridges’ performance is certainly the best element of the film. However, one does get the sense that Bridges’ plays a more complex character than the script created and deserves.