Movie Maven and Cube Critic Stephanie Curtis joins Jill Riley and Sean McPherson (in for Steve Seel) to talk about Serena, a much-anticipated historical drama starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

Directed by Susanne Bier, Serena is based on the book by Ron Rash. The cast also features Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Sean Harris and Ana Ularu.

Set in the mountains of North Carolina at the end of the 1920s, Cooper and Lawrence play George and Serena Pemberton, love-struck newlyweds who begin to build a timber empire. As their power and influence increase, the Pembertons refuse to let anyone stand in the way of their ambitions. But when Serena discovers George's hidden past and faces her own difficulties, the Pembertons' lives begin to unravel.

Stephanie says the film starts strong and is beautifully shot, but that unfortunately, the film starts to unravel, too.

"It's totally fine for the first hour, and then it's like someone said, 'We're running out of time, we have to shove it all together!'," Stephanie says. "It just completely goes off the rails. It turns absolutely crazy and very violent. It's a complete disaster of a movie."

Hear Stephanie's complete review by listening to the audio above.

Serena is rated R and is playing at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema in Minneapolis.

MPR's Movie Maven, Stephanie Curtis, joins The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.