Down-home tale of redemption
Despite an often juryrigged narrative saddled with too many clichés, the redemption drama “Texas Heart,” shot and directed by Mark David from a script by Daniel Blake Smith and Nick Feild, is an involving, largely likable film with a sincere emotional core.
Erik Fellows brings movie-star charisma to his role as Peter, an opportunistic lawyer who runs afoul of a crime boss (a scenery-chewing Lin Shaye). Fearing for his life, he escapes L.A. and lands in an unlikely hideaway: tiny Juniper, Texas.
The fish-out-of-water Peter raises eyebrows as he moves into a dumpy rental and pretends to be a novelist named Frank. Small towns being what they are, there’s plenty of soap opera, including tales of murder-suicide, desperate single parents, antsy teens, football heroes, drug and alcohol issues and loose-lipped locals.
As Peter/Frank maintains his low profile, he befriends Tiger (Cam Dabrowski), a mentally challenged young man who, in a lessthan-convincing turn, is accused of killing a missing homecoming queen (Daniela Bobadilla). Ready to do some good, Peter defends Tiger in court, even if it means attracting the attention of the mobsters who still want Peter dead.
The story strands come crashing together in ways that are both beyond belief and strangely satisfying. A collection of down-home types, including a grizzled John Savage, effectively portray the Juniper denizens, despite being stuck spouting their share of “over yonders” and “I reckons.”
“Texas Heart.” Not rated. Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes. Playing: Arena Cinema, Hollywood.