This is my George Plimpton, Paper Lion account of seeing "Crazy Heart" last night.

Since Cindi was in Oklahoma City for business I was batchin' it. Usually that means a night of writing, or lonely TV, or surfing the net. But I recalled seeing something on Facebook about a Lone Star Music sponsored event in Dallas, a special screening of Crazy Heart at the Angelika on Mockingbird. I went to the LSM web site and discovered that the event was announced a week ago as a free screening to those who applied and received tickets via email. This was only a few hours before the event itself, but I sent in a request any way. In the end, no invite. But by now I was preparing to go, so I decided to just show up and see what happened. Maybe I could buy a ticket.

The web site had stated that Lone Star would have a previewing party in the cafe area of the lobby and on arrival, through the many glass windows, I saw a big crowd just inside the lobby filling a Starbucks looking concession area. Outside was a gathering long line of folks who wanted to be inside. I also noticed that away from the main entrance, at the back wall of the theater cafe, there was an exit door and a man in western attire came out to light a smoke. I just sauntered down and entered through that door and was instantly in the middle of the action.

Inside, the logistics were Helter Skelter. Three Lone Star Music people sitting at a table in the cafe had the print out of the "invitees" and one was to check in with them. The longer line coming in the main entrance was also being checked in, but at the door. I just got a wine and stood back wondering if I should just call it quits and go home as this throng continued. However, I've always been one to drive to the very front of a full lot, looking for a parking place. If you don't look, you don't get, I always say. So when I saw a shortened line at the cafe table, I was soon announcing myself to the list keeper.

Embarrassedly, as he flipped pages back and forth, I said, "I'm not sure if I made this list. When was it printed? I only emailed Chad today."
"Chad Rainey?" came the list checkers reply, and he flipped to another page for that special list of invitees. Again my name was not there.
"Just write his name in there at the bottom of Chad's list," a man in charge told the list checker, and I was IN. You don't look, you don't get.

Later that evening I had the chance to walk up to and introduce myself to Chad. A friend of mine connected us on Facebook because my friend knew I was into Texas music, and Chad owns the common ground music interest, Lone Star Music in Gruene, Texas. I commented that I just had one question for him.
"How many different women contact you every day? Because whenever you say anything on Facebook, I've never seen so many comments by women flocking in."
He beamed up from his wheel chair and said that he averages 7 1/2 contacts by women per day. Women do love this man.

Jeff Bridges is worthy of not only the Golden Globe that he won for best performance by a leading role actor, but also the Oscar. Maggie Gyllenhaal is likewise worthy of best supporting actress recognition. She was terrific, but he was so authentic and raw and transparent. Just great. This movie will take a short tour of screens and then be quickly out on PPV. Be sure to see it.

Then I went to the Lone Star Music after-party at Love & War in Texas only because it was being held here in Plano, not far from my home... Incredible people watching! But that's another story.