Texas Heart

Predictability: 10/10 Script: 3/10 Acting: 2/10 Please ... Don't waste your time.

Texas Heart is an indie suspense film directed by Mark David. The plot concerns a man on the run who ends up in a small Texas town and ultimately finds an opportunity for personal redemption while he is there. I enjoy indie films like this that tell a unique story, this one about people in small town USA. There are a few recognizable actors, which is always fun, and some solid performances by others who I'm not as familiar with. If you're looking for an original indie film to watch tonight, maybe one with (Texas) heart, then I'd recommend checking out Texas Heart!

I enjoyed watching Texas Heart, it had several funny moments and the joke about the pie is quite the zinger. With enough suspense to hold you until the end, you'll find some solid performances by the cast. What I particularly enjoyed was the performance of the mentally challenged Tigger. This could easily be an over the top SNL skit, but it was played with finesse and the proper tone. The dog kinda fell flat in his performance as Buddy. The lead actor, he was good too, but the thugs chasing him could have been more menacing, but the courtroom scenes come off as convincing.

Overall I recommend Texas Heart.

A wonderful, character-driven story about a loveless mob lawyer on the lam who ends up in small town Texas hoping to reinvent himself (and stay clear of the pursuing mob). Terrific performances from relative newcomers Kam Dabrowski (as a mentally-challenged young man, Tiger), Erik Fellows (as Peter, the mob lawyer on the run), and Jared Abrahamson (playing the rebellious, volatile football star, Roy), along with truly memorable work by Johnny Dowers as the Sheriff, Susie McPhail as the 'Pie Lady', Blake Clark as the local barkeep/gun seller, Stid, and the incomparable Lin Shaye, of INSIDIOUS fame, (as Ms. Smith, the mob boss) and THE DEER HUNTER'S John Savage, as the alcoholic father--all this makes Texas Heart an emotionally involving ensemble film with committed actors directed by the energetic and amazing indie director, Mark David. A must-see!

The reason I love indie movies is this: A story told without the budget to make a mediocre story look better with the glitzy tricks of post-production polishing. And this is a good example. A story. Some good characters. Some moments of good acting. Moments of laughter and touching moments. Yes, in all honesty mixed with some poor acting, some caricatures and some predictability. Which are all found in a series like Dynasty. At the end of the day, who really cares. You don't read James Joyce every day. Sometimes you just want a David Baldacci. This is not a brilliant movie by any stretch, but it is watchable and enjoyable.