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.

Beatles Stories - 7 stars out of 10

Beatles Stories - 7 stars out of 10

"Beatles Stories" is a cool little collection of interviews with celebrities who share their stories of meeting the Beatles.  It’s overwhelming to think about how many lives these four men made a significant impact on, even through the most insignificant events.  Everybody from Henry Winkler to Art Garfunkel and Davy Jones is included in this documentary, all vividly recalling random happenstances from 40 years ago because they were all so struck by their brief encounters with the Fab Four.  This documentary does not dig deep into the personal lives of the Beatles; instead, it tells cool little stories that cannot be heard anywhere else.  The film creates a collage of events that strips away the idolatry and reveals that these iconic men were actually normal people.  This film focuses on the good memories of the greatest rock band of all time and is sure to leave you smiling with so many nostalgic anecdotes from celebrities who were just as awe-struck as us.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - 6 stars out of 10

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - 6 stars out of 10 

Warning: This film is not historically accurate!  "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" is an axe-wielding feast for the eyes.  Even though the film seems absurd from the moment that you read the title, it actually is a cool twist on the history of our country.  Benjamin Walker gives a really cool performance, especially once the beard grows in.  Overall, the story is imaginative and while it is ridiculous, you can really enjoy it for what it is.  The vampires are pretty freaky and the film gives enough blood to satisfy.  If given the choice between "Twilight," The Count from Sesame Street, and this... I would choose "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" nine times out of ten (with the other time going to Sesame Street, of course).  Just read the title - this is a cult classic in the making.

Alice (1990) - 3 stars out of 10

Alice (1990) - 3 stars out of 10

"Alice" was a big disappointment.  I love Woody Allen's films but this one just missed its mark.  This women's journey of self-discovery is about as far from the Alice in Wonderland story as it can be.  Perhaps with a different expectation, I would have enjoyed this film but Netflix lied and I was waiting for the modern, real-world take on Lewis Caroll's story.  While Mia Farrow's mischievous adventures involve magic (like disappearing and a love potion), I would have never known that this was a play on Alice in Wonderland.  And then I probably would have enjoyed the story.  The film does teach a few important lessons about entering into a marriage for superficial reasons but much of the film is dull.  Woody Allen's humor is at its finest when a love potion accidentally causes a bunch of strangers (including Bob Balaban) to fall in love with and court Alice at a Christmas party.  Even though I didn't like the film, it was worth watching just to discover this scene.  This film might be worth a try, but don't spend the entire time searching for parallels to Lewis Carroll.

Exporting Raymond - 9 stars out of 10

Exporting Raymond - 9 stars out of 10

"Exporting Raymond" is hilarious.  This documentary is unlike any other, showing the disparity between American comedy and Russian comedy as well as exploring the cultural differences between Hollywood and Russia's "Hollywood."  Phil Rosenthal, the creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond," tries to oversee the conversion of America's hit comedy into Russian tv but nobody will listen to him.  Every suggestion about casting, costuming, and interpretation is ignored as several classic Raymond scenes are brought to life and killed.  Rosenthal's commentary and mannerisms throughout the process are laugh-out-loud funny as he encounters characters that are so ridiculous that they can't be real (but they are).  This is a must for any "Everybody Loves Raymond" fan but even if you have never watched the show (like me), it will still have you in stitches.

Rock of Ages - 6 stars out of 10

Rock of Ages - 6 stars out of 10

"Rock of Ages" is exactly what you think it is.  Awesome rock music and really great singers wrapped around a weak story that attempts to incorporate the music into the plot.  I would much rather go out and buy the soundtrack than watch the actual movie again.  Unlike "Across the Universe" which focused on telling a great story and fitting the Beatles music and characters into it, this film started with the music and attempted to work the plot around it.  Any songs that didn't fit, they just made them into random rock performances throughout the film.  The characters weren't anything special but the singing was.  Diego Boneta's voice is perfect for this rock music and Julianne Hough, while obviously auto-tuned at points, has the grit to pull off the female interpretations of these rock songs.  To me, the highlight of the film are the mash-ups of multiple rock tunes, particularly "We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It," "Jukebox Hero/I Love Rock 'n Roll," and "More Than Words/Heaven."  If there is one reason that you should see this film, it is those mash-ups.  Tom Cruise is in the zone as Stacee Jaxx but I was particularly annoyed with Alec Baldwin and Paul Giamatti.  And I'm a huge Paul Giamatti fan!  They threw in a lot of stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Russell Brand but truly, if you rent "Rock of Ages," you will be watching it for the musical performances and nothing else.