Pitch Perfect - 10 stars out of 10

Pitch Perfect - 10 stars out of 10

"Pitch Perfect" is a clever ode to the growing popularity of collegiate a cappella music.  This film derives its comedy from over-dramatic characters, situational irony, blatantly portraying stereotypes, and off-the-wall dialogue ("I was born with gills like a fish").  In other words, this film does not strive for realism; it is driven by absurdity.  The film is driven by its diverse characters and its impressive musical performances.  Anna Kendrick is hotter than ever as Beca, not only because of her looks but also her attitude and attractive singing voice.  These three aspects combine when she is singing in the shower (the scene is perfection... and I will not elaborate).  She's a very relate-able character and gives us someone to root for (and drool over).  Skylar Astin makes a great romantic interest (and his character is written well as her perfect match but a member of the rival a cappella group), Brittany Snow and Anna Camp are perfect as the polarizing personalities that lead the singing group, but nobody has received more praise than Rebel Wilson in the role of "Fat Amy."  Her dialogue is perfectly delivered and she does not seem as if she is from this world (apparently Tasmania is like a different planet).  I also appreciated John Michael Higgins as the misogynist commentator at the competitions.  But the acting is only half of the equation.  The music in this film is simply awesome.  But when you bring pop a cappella arranger Deke Sharon on board to write the arrangements, how could you expect any less?  The harmonies are tight, the use of well-known songs is creative, and some of the mash-ups are so clever that it seems like they were originally written that way.  From the a cappella enthusiast to the lover of comedy, and from the quirky character aficionado to the chick flick fan, there is something for everyone in "Pitch Perfect."

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.

Bernie - 6 stars out of 10

Bernie - 6 stars out of 10

I feel pretty neutral about "Bernie."  Jack Black received high praise from the critics for his performance and he did play the title role to perfection, but I just didn't feel anything as this story progressed.  Shirley MacLaine did an excellent job because I could empathize with Bernie's frustration with her awful treatment of him but again, it was all pretty vanilla.  Matthew McConaughey was, sadly, at his typical quality of acting.  I enjoyed the documentary film style and the film really succeeds as a black comedy, making this non-fictional murder into a cause for celebration.  Maybe I didn't love this film because I was in a bad mood when I watched it and the humor wasn't strong enough to pull me out of it - I will definitely give this film another shot and hope that it fares better!  If for no other reason, this film is watching to see Jack Black bring this unique character to life.