A trailer and poster have been released for writer-director Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart, a film that has been drawing a lot of comparisons to last year’s The Wrestler lately and has been building some serious Oscar buzz for Jeff Bridges early in this awards season.

Bridges is really one of the most talented actors we have. This isn’t quite the same story as the 2008 Oscar race, where Mickey Rourke revived his once-promising career with the performance of a lifetime; Bridges has been consistently good throughout his career and was Oscar-nominated four times for his efforts, so it’s more him being on his A-game than a resurrection. Still, a statue would be a fitting reward for over two decades of memorable performances, and Bridges looks to have turned in a mighty powerful one here. He pulls double duty by also supplying some vocals for the soundtrack, which country crooner T Bone Burnett contributed some original music to and co-produced.

Catch the trailer after the jump, as well as some more info and the first theatrical poster.

You can also see the trailer in HD over at Apple.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. Bad also becomes the mentor to a contemporary country star, Tommy Sweet, while simultaneously struggling in the rising young crooner’s shadow.

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Jean and Colin Farrell is Tommy Sweet, with Robert Duvall co-starring as Blake’s friend Wayne Kramer. That’s a hell of a supporting cast. From the trailer, it looks like Gyllenhaal may earn herself some Oscar accolades as well. We get only a glimpse of Farrell in character, but frankly he can probably ride the wave of good feeling from his In Bruges performance to the end of the decade. Regardless, I’m intrigued by this one off the strength of Bridges alone. Solid performances around him only add icing to the cake.

Fox Searchlight will release Crazy Heart on December 16th in select cities to make it eligible for Academy consideration.

Tags: Colin Farrell, Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Poster, Robert Duvall, Scott Cooper, Trailer