Character actor Scott Cooper makes his writing and directing debut with “Crazy Heart,” opening this Friday in limited release (read our review). The film stars Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, a washed up country star unlucky in love unless it comes in a bottle. Bridges has been picking up critic’s awards left and right, and may need to finally clear his shelf for that Oscar that has somehow eluded him.
The film is a such a marvelous showpiece for its cast, which also includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall, it is little wonder that Cooper is an actor himself. We got a chance to speak with Mr. Cooper last week in L.A. to discuss his labor of love:
Did you acquire the rights to the Thomas Cobb novel yourself?
Yes, I did.
How did you come across it?
Well, I first wanted to tell Merle Haggard’s life story. I spent some time with Merle, traveled with him some, but it appeared that it was going to be a very difficult life-rights situation to untangle. Many webs, many ex-wives. An acquaintance introduced me to the book, someone who knew I wanted to tell Merle’s story. The book allowed me to take the character of Bad Blake, but to inform him with Merle’s life, Waylon Jennings’ life, and Kris Kristofferson’s life. With a little bit of Townes Van Sant and Billy Joe Shaver thrown in. It really allowed me to create this complete character by using all the facets from these people that existed to create one man.
The rights to the novel were still available at the time?
The rights were available. I heard recently that Robert Towne even at one time had written a screenplay, which I don’t want to see, because I’m sure its fantastic. I took what little money I had in the bank and I optioned it and created this world based on very good source material and sent it to my mentor, Robert Duvall. I sent it to him hesitantly, after all he won an Oscar for “Tender Mercies.” He called me back immediately and said “I love it. Let’s make it. Who do you see?” I said “I need two people to make this film besides you, I need T. Bone Burnett and I need Jeff Bridges.”
You call Robert Duvall your mentor, how did that relationship start?
I first met him on the set of a big civil war film “Gods and Generals.” Ultimately I was married on his farm, a big pre-revolutionary farm in Virginia. I happen to be from Virginia. We then acted together in an epic western called “Broken Trail,” he and I and Thomas Hayden Church. And while I was editing “Crazy Heart,” we then acted together for the third time on a film that is coming out next year called “Get Low,” with Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray. So that’s the third time as actors and the fourth time in total that we’ve worked together. So you could say I’ve gone to the Robert Duvall School of Acting and Directing.
Didn’t have to pay a cent either.
I didn’t. I’m very lucky.
“Get Low“ has a great cast. When is it due next year?
Next fall. It’s a fantastic film. Tour de Force role for Mr. Duvall. Bill Murray’s fantastic, Sissy’s great, really an all-star cast. The film’s going to be terrific. Very very happy to be a part of that.
When did you decide you had to have Jeff Bridges? While writing the script, reading the novel?
Oh, before I even put pen to paper. He’s a consummate actor, he’s a musician. Along with Mr. Duvall, I think, the two best American actors. I felt like I needed a guy that we would fall in love with immediately, regardless of his faults and his flaws. Because we’re all flawed, except maybe Jeff Bridges. I knew he would embody the role, and I hadn’t seen him play that and I felt like he could. He also physically embodied a couple of the characters that I was using as a prototype. Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings. A little bit of Hank Jr.–Bocephus.
How did CMT [Country Music Television] become involved?
We were shopping the project around and T. Bone had just finished an episode of “Crossroads” with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. So T. Bone said “Hey, let me call these guys.” Of course, we knew it was always going to be a feature. But CMT is owned by MTV, which is owned by Viacom, which owns Paramount. Paramount Vantage was going to release the film, but they disintegrated as I was finishing it. So Jeff Berg, my agent, graciously went to Paramount and asked if we could take it to a place that seemed like a better fit, because they release very very big movies. They were kind enough to say yes and fortunately Fox Searchlight bought the film. I felt like I got into Harvard.
They seem thrilled with the film.
As a first time writer-director, I have no experience saying this, but I can’t imagine a better marketing or distribution company in Hollywood. They just know how to make and market films and they do it so energetically and enthusiastically. I can’t imagine making a film for anyone else.
As a first time director, are you ready to jump back in again?
Oh absolutely. As an actor, there’s a core group of actors that you want to work with and I’ve now worked with four. I now understand being on both sides of the camera that film really is a director’s medium and the stage is an actor’s medium. It was very rewarding to be able to write, direct and produce something.
Are you working on anything now?
I have never had so many options in my life. I just finished this last Monday and haven’t had time to read anything. I just hope I don’t end up like Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird” and she never wrote anything else. She’s one of my favorite novelists. Not that I would equate “Crazy Heart” with “To Kill a Mockingbird,” because it’s such a classic. It’s going to be hard to top this, though.
“Crazy Heart” opens this Friday in limited release.