Crazy Heart

Scott Cooper directed this 2009 story of an alcoholic has been country singer who reassesses his life and relationships.

Stars Jeff Bridges who is perfect as "Bad" Blake, a outlaw country legend reminding me of Kris Kristofferson, Waylon, or even Merle Travis. Maggie Gyllenthaal stars as a reporter who ultimately leads to Bad's salvation, despite their doomed love affair.

Great acting. Great music. Three quarter's of a truly great movie...the last third or so seemed too pat for me. But I highly reccommend it anyway.

Look for Robert Duvall in a warm, heartfelt cameo.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1263670/

Tender Mercies

Quiet, moving film from 1983 directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Ellen Barkin, Wilford Brimley.

Country singer with issues gets his life together with the help of a widow and her child.

Tender story has no great fireworks but is warm and touching. Duvall won an Oscar for this role and also wrote the songs.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086423/

The Apostle

Robert Duvall wrote, directed, produced, and stars in this 1997 drama about a southern minister who commits an act of violence and sets out to atone for his sins. Great feel for time and place and a deeply moving story of a man seeking redemption. Duvall is fantastic.

Also stars Farrah Fawcett, Billy Bob Thronton, and June Carter Cash.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118632/

The Great Santini

1979 film directed by Lewis Johm Carlino stars Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner.

Peacetime Marine pilot with no war to fight makes his son's life difficult with high expectations, little respect, and discipline.

It's a family drama with great performances and something to say about how life's frustrations affect all around us.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079239/

Gone in Sixty Seconds

Some movies are great, some are cool. Some are great AND cool (Pulp Fiction).

Gone in Sixty Seconds is ok, but VERY cool. Made in 2000 it stars Nicolas Cage, Giovanni Ribisi, Angelina Jolie (in blond dreadlocks!) and Robert Duvall.

The title refers to the time it takes a master car thief to do his or her thing.

Cage plays a former car thief who is drawn back into the business. He and his cohorts must steal 50 upscale cars in one night. An almost impossible feat but it must be done to save his brother's life.

A remake of an earlier film, this one is way cool. The characters are cool and so are the cars, especially a car Cage has a history with: Eleanor, a '60s Mustang. Climax of the film is the fight between Cage and the bad guy but the real highlight is the car chase near the end featuring Eleanor. It has thrills, pretty good effects, and even some humor.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187078/


Not a great movie, but certainly a cool one.