UK Premiere

Short Synopsis:

Inspired by the life of Hank Garland, Crazy is the story of a legendary guitar player who emerged from Nashville in the 1950’s.

Review:

He played on the records of Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and even Elvis Presley – but not many people will have heard of Hank Garland, portrayed here by Waylon Payne. Crazy tells the story of one of Nashville’s finest session musicians who began making a name for himself in the 1950s by effortlessly mastering a variety of musical styles.

Hastily falling in love and marrying the beautiful Evelyn (played by Heroes’ Ali Larter) it seems Hank is on the path to success and fortune. But it’s not long before she craves the love and attention he gives to his music, and struggles to cope with being the weaker link in their unusual love triangle.

While partially fictional, the film also depicts the way the music industry was run by the men in suits who got rich on the back of the artists they exploited. Colourfully shot by debut filmmaker Rick Bieber, it boasts a cameo from Steve Vai (who also acts as the film’s executive producer) as Hank Williams amongst a number of music legends portrayed throughout the film. It’s well worth checking out by anybody who loves guitars, guitar music, or plain old-fashioned storytelling.

Stick around for a special treat as the final credits roll to catch a classic performance from the man himself, reminding you just how it’s done.

CP