Crazy

Crazy

Crazy

Crazy

Boring and overwrought. A documentary would have been more interesting

When I hear what passes for music in businesses and in movies and TV, I wonder if there is any hope. Then I watch a movie like this. All of the music is so good! The worst song is "Jingle Bell Rock", and that's only because I want my Christmas music very traditional. It's hard to believe a bad boy like Hank Garland can play the guitar in such a mellow style. Of course, he can do rock and roll, too, which is what someone like him would be expected to. But it's the good kind. And he seems happiest when he is playing. And then there is Wes Montgomery. Such a nice, pleasant jazz sound. As portrayed by Tony MacAlpine, he looks like he's mad at someone, or at the very least you don't want to mess with him. But he and his other musicians do easy listening right, with sort of an attitude to keep it from being boring. Nice restaurants also have a pleasant but more generic jazz sound. Mandy Barnett as Patsy Cline (who, ironically, is never shown singing the title song) and Shawn Colvin as Kitty Wells (I did not know who she was supposed to be) give great performances. They never speak lines, but that's not important. Jason Alan Smith as Elvis was a disappointment. He never speaks, but he has that trademark sneer on "Amazing Grace", which goes against the image of Elvis showing respect while singing gospel music. But this is more than just great music. Hank Garland starts out as a clean-cut kid, but later on as a respected backup performer, he has enough money to get what he wants, and manages to be charming with the women he can get, though men better not make him mad. All he seems to know how to do when angered is punch somebody. Fortunately for Evelyn, it's never her. Though once she is married to him, he tells her he cares and never manages to show it. His career is his first priority. There are women, but of course they don't mean anything--right? Garland does love their daughter, but he's hardly ever around. Nevertheless, Evelyn "stands by her man", but she does have needs. And while he claims to have co-written "Jingle Bell Rock", despite what the movie's credits say, he must deal with a system that makes him choose between being a performer and a writer. Garland wants to be both. And the people who don't want Garland going against the system can do more than just punch Garland's lights out. While much of the movie other than the music is unpleasant to watch, the acting performances are good. Ali Larter showed obvious concern, for example, when she noticed another woman looking at her husband. There's a reason for the movie's title (other than the Patsy Cline song that is limited to the closing credits) which I will only say is revealed in the first scene. Other than that, I feel I would be giving away too much. I have to wonder why "Sugarfoot" was not used as a title, since two songs with this name are Garland's trademarks, and this becomes a nickname. The movie deals with racism. Country/rock performer Garland discovers jazz and dares to enter an all-black club where the music is played. He is seen as an outsider, but once he starts playing that kind of music, this is no longer the case. But having a "colored man" in his group backfires once he returns to the South. Hotels won't welcome the man, and Evelyn claims she is trying to raise their daughter with the right values and can't have the likes of him around her. It's worth seeing, for the music if nothing else. Just remember Hank Garland went through so much misery to make us so happy.

As part of the reviewing committee for the Breckenridge Festival of Film, I knew that "Crazy" was a film that had to be shown here!! Crazy won best drama and Waylon Payne won best actor. The music is fabulous as well as the directing, filming and costumes. For an indie, this is very professionally done. The movie is based on the true story of Hank Garland who played with the musical talents of Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline. I highly recommend this film. Here are some other comments from Breckfilmfest reviewers: Wow loved this film. very high quality and music was fantastic. story flowed well keeping the attention of those of us watching. watched this with friends and they all loved it and felt it would be film festival quality. Awesome film.....great acting...FABULOUS music. Totally enjoyed the docu/drama. A must for the fest. Very well done. A time piece and a great success. Sad story of Hank Garland. A very well told story. Just a bit slow in a couple of places. Good acting and casting and filming. Very well done.

In Hawaii where the residents truly value guitar talent and a good story, Crazy did not leave the 2008 Big Island Film Festival audiences disappointed. Although the Hawaiian guitar music is slack key style, the audiences appreciated the tumultuous story of Hank Garland's Nashville career. Under the stars, both residents and visitors enjoyed the story, the performance of Waylon, the technical quality of the films and the music of the era. Many commented on how much the music of Crazy was tied to the music of their parents. Many also asked when Crazy was coming to the theaters, so they could see it again and share it with their friends. It was a hit at Big Island Film Festival and won the Golden Honu Award for Best Feature. We are looking forward to Ric Bieber's next film.

...much is expected". This is the story of Hank Garland, a 1950's Nashville studio musician turned legend by way of his extraordinary guitar picking artistry. Though Garland never quite seems to reach the personal plateau of his own musical genius, his story is woven with the usual highs and lows made famous by others in his peer group, most notably- Elvis Presley. First time movie director, Rick Bieber (who co-wrote the movie with Jason Ehlers) has effectively managed to combine the key elements of movie making that transfuse joy, sadness humor and anger from the screen to the viewer. Additionally, the stellar cast of lead actors (Waylon Payne, Ali Larter,Lane Garrison and Scott Michael Campbell) have all rendered life-like performances with a palpable sense of finesse that had me holding a torch of hope for Garland, almost to the end. Sadly though, history wrote that ending with a different curve. Nonetheless, Bieber has painted a more than realistic canvas necessary for this movie goer to keep from reaching for the "clicker." Not once did I do it...and that my friends, for me, is the sign of decent flick!

Wanted this movie to better, felt more like 'The Real World' than 'Walk the Line'. anti climactic and confusing in places, underdeveloped character re pore. important story lines disregarded in place of empty dialog. issues of race as well as alcoholism thrown into the forefront briefly with little or no precedent set earlier in the film. solid acting lost due to wavering plot lines and lack of character development save that of Hank Garland. seemingly contrived movie title, this movie often feigns at an 'Aviator' like tragedy when in reality comes closer to that of an 'A.I.' with a melancholy and somewhat abrupt ending. carried by performance of main character Hank Garland (Waylon Payne), whose performance just might be worth the price of admission.

I recently had the pleasure of seeing "Crazy" at the Breckenridge Film Festival. It is an awesome movie, and won "Best of Fest" at this Festival. The story centers on the life of Hank Garland, a talented musician who played with the likes of Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline. The costumes and scenes are fabulous and immediately give you the feeling of being in the 1950's. From the beginning, this movie draws you into its characters and you not only care about them, but cannot wait to find out what happens next. There is a good bit of humor mixed into the drama, and between the poignant moments, you will laugh out loud. The lead role, of Hank Garland, played by Waylon Payne, won Best Actor at this Festival. The depth of his emotions and performance amazed me. Besides a great story, fabulous scenes and costumes, and terrific acting, you also get a great soundtrack. I am only minimally versed or interested in country music, and yet I have every intention of buying this soundtrack. The music selections are classics and sure to be an addition to your musical library. When this movie opens nationally, I will pay to go see it again!