My wife and I just went to a double-feature. I picked AVATAR and she picked THE BLIND SIDE. Now, there couldn't be two movies on a different plateau than AVATAR and BLIND SIDE, but I'm so glad that she brought me to see this movie. AVATAR, I gave 4 stars, BLIND SIDE, 5 stars. BLIND SIDE, for what it was, was flawless.

With BLIND SIDE, the story tells itself, because it's the true story of 2009 Baltimore Ravens Right Tackle Michael Oher, or possibly Michael Williams, or maybe something else, and his improbable escape from oblivion with the love and care of a rich white family in Memphis, Tennessee. Michael Oher's greatness, first showed up in his size and athletic potential and then in his courage to forget and go forward. Michael Oher, a kid who struggled at basic study skills and education, but scored a 98% in protective instincts. A tribute to his lifestyle and his ability to survive, homeless, with two shirts, a pain on his face that couldn't be explained.

Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, and I haven't seen a whole lot of nominated movies this year, but if she isn't at least a runner up to the best actress of the year, I'll be stunned. This was Sandra Bullock's shining moment. She is strong and she is funny and she is exceedingly brilliant at hiding the tears she sheds throughout the movie as her personna won't allow her to be seen crying. No scene was more poigniant than the one where she makes a bedroom for Michael in her beautiful home with a chipperness that you would expect from a spunky Tennessee mother. Michael says, "I've never had one of these before." and she says, "What, a room?" "No, a bed." he says. She looks at him, stoned faced, gives a quick nod and exits the room, enters the bathroom, locks the door and although we don't see it, we know exactly what she's doing.

THE BLIND SIDE is a testimant to what life is all about. The Tuohy families link to Michael Oher may have been a rare occurence, and that's why there's a movie about it, but if we all looked out for each other a little more, despite color boundaries, despite class boundaries and just showed a little love and extended a helping hand when we could, the world would be a better place.

The Tuohy's didn't just extend a hand, they extended their hearts and lives.

This review is for both the standard edition of "Country Strong", and the additional music album "Country Strong : More Music from the Motion Picture"

Casting Gwyneth Paltrow as the lead in "Country Strong" may or may not have been a good idea, but she sounds spectacular on record. Most of you must have heard her lead vocals on "Cruisin'" and her lesser-known cover of "Bette Davis Eyes", but as a full-fledged country singer on this album, she really brings it. While I'm certain that country music audiences perhaps won't take too well to her (its hard to imagine someone so prim and proper singing about dusty backtown roads & whiskey, after all), Gwyneth achieved some airplay with her title track from this CD, and even though it stalled at No. 30 on the Country Songs chart, the album as a whole has been a consistent seller (someone compared it to the "Hope Floats" soundtrack, and that is a VERY reasonable comparison).

This review is for both CDs of "Country Strong". The first is the standard release thats available in stores, and the second is the download-only "More Music" album, which ironically contains some of the better cuts. I don't believe that one album can be chosen over the other, as they are both good (and very different) from one another. Still, it gives us a major recording star, a revelation in fact, in Garrett Hedlund, who sounds very close to Ryan Bingham here. The second album is packed with Hedlund tracks and thats a good thing.

Gwyneth Paltrow's songs here are often the highlights - some of them are rather iffy, such as the very un-country "Coming Home", but when she gets it right, she soars. Consider the albums best track - "Me and Tennessee", a duet with Tim McGraw that works on every possible level. Excellent production, songwriting, and Paltrow's vocals are much better than many contemporary country vocalists. Theres a richness there that cant be denied. Granted shes no Miranda Lambert, but I would rate her vocals ahead of Carrie Underwood (whos screeching sometimes borders on annoying) and Taylor Swift (who basically just talks over some instruments). Her "Travis" is exceptional - a rough musical number that is interspersed with dialog from the film, and its a surprising standout even in such demo condition. She has less luck with the overwrought "A Fighter", which seems to try too hard, but even here, you cannot deny her command over her vocal instrument.

However, the vocal standouts come on the second album. Garrett's inspired cover of "Silver Wings" is breathtaking. Its a perfect "cruising down the interstate" song, and one that sounds remarkably deep on a good sound system. Thats the other thing about this album - all the songs, save for "Travis", are mastered so well - even better than most current country albums; certainly light years ahead of even "Speak Now" by Taylor Swift or the last Lady Antebellum CD. I dont know why exactly this is, but its obviously a good thing.

Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf in "Gossip Girl" is a little out of her element here despite the fact that in real life she is actually a recording star (how on earth that happened one never knows). Pitifully, she is given rather insipid material to work with here, and they are often bookended by such good songs that you end up skipping her tracks entirely. On the first album, she sings "Words I couldn't say" with an affected southern accent that is rather grating. At least Paltrow gets the twang right (on her singing voice). Meester cant do that. Things get better for her on the second album where she gets one of the best songs - "Summer Girl". This sounds like a remnant of the 1990s all spruced up (which it is), but Meester does her best Colbie Caillat imitation here, and it works to some degree. At least its listenable. I much prefer her tracks with Hedlund, especially on "Give in to me".

Elsewhere on the first album, there are some great songs by Faith Hill (a good return to form), Sara Evans (who sounds so much lighter and refreshing on "A Little Bit Stronger" - also her lead single from her 2011 album - than she ever has), and Lee Ann Womack (who according to me is one of the last remaining true country singers). And of course, any compilation has to have a Hank Williams Jr song, so thats here as well. The second album has a plethora of Garrett Hedlund tracks, and in fact at times it feels as an advertisement for perhaps his solo country album, but the fact remains that all of these songs are SO good, and so timeless, that its impossible to find fault with them in any way at all.

Even a 'filler' track sung by songwriter Nikki Williams called "Fly Again" sounds like a radio-friendly country single - so high are the quality of the songs here. Even if you didn't see the movie, "Country Strong" CD1&2 are superb examples of how to create a compilation country album or soundtrack. It has all the elements for repeat playing, the engineering and sound quality are so good that you just have to buy the physical CD (Im an old-school sorta person), and the genre of country here is real country music, not that pop-rock stuff that often passes for country music these days. Just turn the lights down, get yourself a glass of somethin cold and turn on "Me and Tennessee" and tell me I'm wrong. Virtually flawless on some levels.

Five Stars. Finally a country album worth paying full retail for.

Tracklisting:

1. "Country Strong" - Gwyneth Paltrow 4:15
2. "Love Don't Let Me Down" - Chris Young and Patty Loveless 2:57
3. "A Little Bit Stronger" - Sara Evans 5:03
4. "Chances Are" - Garrett Hedlund 3:25
5. "Liars Lie" - Lee Ann Womack 5:19
6. "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)" - Ronnie Dunn 3:28
7. "Shake That Thing" - Gwyneth Paltrow 3:54
8. "Thirsty" - Hank Williams, Jr. 3:12
9. "Give In to Me" - Faith Hill 4:11
10. "Timing Is Everything" - Trace Adkins 3:28
11. "Words I Couldn't Say" - Leighton Meester 4:26
12. "Coming Home" - Gwyneth Paltrow 4:13
13. "Me and Tennessee" - Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw 4:43

Country Strong (More Music from the Motion Picture)

1. "Silver Wings" - Garrett Hedlund 3:21
2. "A Little Bit Stronger" - Leighton Meester 5:17
3. "A Fighter" - Gwyneth Paltrow 4:33
4. "Hard Out Here" - Garrett Hedlund 3:09
5. "Summer Girl" - Leighton Meester 3:22
6. "Keep Me Hangin' On" - Jypsi 3:36
7. "Take Me Away" - Hayes Carll 4:12
8. "Kissin' In Cars" - Jesse Lee 3:30
9. "Turn Loose the Horses" - Garrett Hedlund 3:05
10. "Travis" - Gwyneth Paltrow 4:49
11. "Fly Again" - Nikki Williams 3:55
12. "Give In to Me" - Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester 3:29
13. "Hide Me Babe" Garrett Hedlund 3:08
14. "Timing Is Everything" Garrett Hedlund 3:24

Let me begin by saying that Tim McGraw is NOT my favorite country artist, but he is easily in my Top 10 . . . there are just too many great ones out there (as well as many great ones gone on to "Country Heaven" or wherever). I WILL say that this is a fabulous collection. They have left VERY few OFF that I would have included. I always make my own "greatest hits" compilation, whether using the artist's entire catalogue or pulling off of 1 or more collections. I must say, these three discs were all I needed to condense into a two-disc set. Sadly missing were his very earliest recordings, but I can live with that. My review here is NOT to critique the set song-by-song (I will leave that for the more dedicated enthusiasts) but to recommend buying this package as a MOST rewarding purchase. Bottom Line: You CAN"T go wrong with this "Greatsest Hits 1-3" . . . I guarantee it! Randy PS: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention having just learned that Mr. Tim was "most-played-on-the-radio" artist of 2000-2010, ANY genre! 'nuff said. "R"

Well, we know who bought the album solely because it was cheap. Tim McGraw has been a long-time favorite of mine and the first two "whiny" songs are just a touch of the great things Tim McGraw has to offer. These span quite a few years of his career. I have heard all of these songs and for those with a limited library, this is an amazing deal. If you like heartfelt and fun country, then this is for you. If you don't know what your musical taste is and you're just looking for the latest cheap deal, go listen around some more. Give the artists the credit they deserve.