Beasts of the Southern Wild - 7 stars out of 10

Beasts of the Southern Wild - 7 stars out of 10

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" has wonderful visual appeal and a unique setting unlike any other film, but I had trouble getting into it.  While it is overwhelmingly sad, the "beasts" made me roll my eyes every time that they appeared and spoiled the realism created by the raw, dramatic acting.  Speaking of acting, wow.  Quvenzhane Wallis puts on the performance of a lifetime... and she was only 8.  I'd like to go back and time the amount of time that the character of "Hushpuppy" isn't on the screen.  I'll bet that it would be less than 4 minutes.  She is this entire movie and her strong-willed defiance can be felt in the room, as if the screen does not exist.  Her voice-overs are chilling and the scene where her and her father cry toward the end is one of those magic cinematic moments that will never be forgotten.  The story is interesting but the script moves too slow.  There is always a certain expectation for a Best Picture Oscar nominee and, while I don't believe that this film is the complete package, it's an acting performance that you simply cannot miss.