Sadly Over-hyped

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Old school techniques in lighting and the use of close-ups were the perfect complement to the stunning setting where the film was shot. The ensemble is perfectly cast; the women shine in this film but the male roles were also expertly played by the surprising Corey Stoll and Billy Howle. My only critique is that the end does feel a bit rushed...it moves toward its inevitable conclusion, but in a way that could have been fleshed out a bit more. Excellent adaptation overall.

Drama abounds as The Seagull navigates a journey of romantic entanglement. Set in late nineteenth century Russia, this film follows a cast full of characters experiencing unrequited love. Exquisitely produced and scored, The Seagull does all it can to surround viewers with its elegant world. Unfortunately, the many proficiencies of this movie are limited by a key weakness: emotional connection.Ultimately, it is difficult to truly care about the characters in The Seagull because they aren't fully likable, developed or interesting. Through monotone writing, acting & direction, their bonds to the audience are superficial. Perhaps we are supposed to find some characters unrelatable but, when the entire crux is the drama between them, it leaves me wondering why I should care about the film as a whole. The Seagull is undoubtedly a well made film that displays the perils of romance but also lacks the pop to be universally memorable.Writing: 6/10 Direction: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Acting: 7/10 Editing: 7/10 Sound: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack: 8/10 Production Design: 9/10 Casting: 8/10 Effects: 7/10Overall Score: 7.2/10

I love Chekov. here, not so much. for those of you waiting for Annette to get that well deserved Oscar, don't look here. the film lacks in spirit and spark. if you are familiar with Chekov's work, it's usually people complaining about their lives. a lot. maybe because the movie is so short, things couldn't be developed to the extent where you can get involved, or care.

We get a nice double weekend of Saoirse Ronan this month with The Seagull and On Chesil Beach (for film lovers who scope out the lesser heard of films). On Chesil Beach is the film that I'm really anticipating but The Seagull was the first stop. Went in blind to this one without even seeing the trailer. The film is based on the Russian play of the same name, by Anton Chekov. Not sure how faithful the film is to its literary source but I was mixed on the presentation in the film.The film is about an aging actress and her lover who go to visit her brother in the summer. Her son is a struggling playwright who struggles to strive for his moms acceptance. He is in a relationship with a young neighborhood girl (played by Ronan). She falls in love with the lover of the aging actress, who himself falls for her. That might have been the worst explained synopsis I've ever written. Its much easier to understand while watching the film.The film posts great set design, cinematography, and costume design. The film looks of its locale and time period. I'm not familiar with any of Michael Mayer's work but I'm sure his background in theater direction helps with the aesthetics of the film. The film also boasts a rather terrific cast. Along with Ronan we get a very good Annette Bening and an unfortunately underutilized Elisabeth Moss. There is slight humor here and there which bring chuckles but overall its not so easy to care for the labored love of the characters or their relationship.I guess for me I wasn't a gigantic fan of the source material and found it hard to place the importance of the adaptation of this story. It's still very respectably made and well acted, it just isn't something that spoke to me or left a lasting impression. Moss was one of the better characters (along with her lover) and they don't get enough screen time. Its often fun but not always compelling, unfortunately.6/10