"Crazy Heart" is the story of a broken-down, alcoholic country singer-songwriter past his prime who meets a young, single-mom reporter and how their relationship affects their lives and careers. The story is rather ordinary, but the acting of Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal raise the film to a level worthy of your time.

Supporting roles are filled ably by Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. The music is evocative of the late eighties' struggle between "new country" and "real country," and the honkey-tonk scenes ring true to anyone who's cried a tear in his beer on a Saturday night. I give "Crazy Heart" 3-1/2 out of 5 stars.

I finally saw "Avatar." I went to the nearest iMax theater to be sure I got the full effect, and if CGI and 3D technology is the measuring stick, it is the greatest movie ever made. However, other factors are more important to me, and I found the writing and the acting to be only average.

The social/political/environmental messages of the film were heavy-handed and will put off many viewers. Nevertheless, the technology used to make the movie is remarkable, and it is visually stunning. For that reason, I give "Avatar" 4 out of 5 stars.