Where the Crawdads Sing
(C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Where the Crawdads Sing' is a romantic mystery/melodrama directed by Olivia Newman, produced by none-other-than Reese Witherspoon, & it is based on Delia Owens' bestselling 2018 novel of the same name. British newcomer Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kya Clark, a young woman who was abandoned in the Barkley Cove marshes of North Carolina in the early 1950s, first by her mother, then her siblings, and lastly her abusive/alcoholic father (Garret Dillahunt). Known by locals as the "marsh girl", Kya somehow innately learns how to survive on her own in a rundown shack. Kya has smarts though, and digs for oysters & mussels to sell to kindly Jumpin & his wife, Mabel (Sterling Macer Jr., Michael Hyatt), who own a store nearby.
Fascinated by the wildlife around her, she catalogues feathers, shells, et al; drawing depictions of the bugs, birds & plants. A childhood friend, Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), starts hanging about, offering to teach Kya to read & write. Years pass. They fall in love. But Tate has been accepted to college & leaves Kya behind. Then it is the local high school jock, Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson), who takes a liking to Kya. Problem is: he's not as nice as he pretends to be; and all Kya can think of is her own parents' dysfunctional relationship. She breaks it off with Chase after learning that he's already engaged to another girl. But Chase will not leave Kya alone. After he attacks her in the marshes, she flees to meet with her publisher {of her wildlife writings} and, while she is away ... Chase is found dead. As the prime suspect, Kya is arrested & charged with the murder. Her only hope rests with retired lawyer, Tom Milton (David Strathairn). Who killed Chase, and why?
The beauty of coastal North Carolina, the 'notion' of a good courtroom drama, & the gooey central love story isn't enough to save this movie adaptation from melodramatic meh-ness. Daisy Edgar-Jones gives a decent performance, but she can't save it, either. The cruelties that young Kya must endure are very hard to watch {family abandonment, abuse}. Also, how is it that Kya survived all those years by herself; or without child protective services coming for her? But I digress. It's great to see Kya grow into a resourceful young woman who observes all the plant & animal life of the marsh with pride & wonder. It's also heartwarming to see selfless Tate takes an interest in tutoring her & subsequently falling in love with her. But then predatory & duplicitous Chase pops up to ruin Kya's upward trajectory.
Lucy Alibar's script presents Kya's murder trial as the framing device of the story, which spawns flashbacks to the family trauma of her childhood, & her two romances. But while the book from which this is based on is hugely popular, I don't think this movie version fully explores each aspect of this story. The courtroom proceedings lack energy. The family trauma of her childhood verges on too unsettling to watch. And the romance(s) are blandly expressed; evoking memories of poor Nicholas Sparks romance novels. Also, I just don't see Daisy Edgar-Jones' allure in roping in these two guys.
Sure, I appreciated the lush, moody locales. The cinematographer does a great job highlighting the evocative visuals. In fact, if I'm to be honest, I'd say that the setting is probably the best character in this whole thing. Darkness lurks beneath the beauty of the marshes and, I just really liked that. I also admire Mychael Danna's music score, as well as Taylor Swift's poignant original song, "Carolina"; which plays over the end credits. And while the movie can be too sentimental, there ARE fleeting moments of raw emotion & some lovely sequences; usually involving Kya & Tate. This film is not bad; it just really needed some tinkering & some oomph.
Fascinated by the wildlife around her, she catalogues feathers, shells, et al; drawing depictions of the bugs, birds & plants. A childhood friend, Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), starts hanging about, offering to teach Kya to read & write. Years pass. They fall in love. But Tate has been accepted to college & leaves Kya behind. Then it is the local high school jock, Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson), who takes a liking to Kya. Problem is: he's not as nice as he pretends to be; and all Kya can think of is her own parents' dysfunctional relationship. She breaks it off with Chase after learning that he's already engaged to another girl. But Chase will not leave Kya alone. After he attacks her in the marshes, she flees to meet with her publisher {of her wildlife writings} and, while she is away ... Chase is found dead. As the prime suspect, Kya is arrested & charged with the murder. Her only hope rests with retired lawyer, Tom Milton (David Strathairn). Who killed Chase, and why?
The beauty of coastal North Carolina, the 'notion' of a good courtroom drama, & the gooey central love story isn't enough to save this movie adaptation from melodramatic meh-ness. Daisy Edgar-Jones gives a decent performance, but she can't save it, either. The cruelties that young Kya must endure are very hard to watch {family abandonment, abuse}. Also, how is it that Kya survived all those years by herself; or without child protective services coming for her? But I digress. It's great to see Kya grow into a resourceful young woman who observes all the plant & animal life of the marsh with pride & wonder. It's also heartwarming to see selfless Tate takes an interest in tutoring her & subsequently falling in love with her. But then predatory & duplicitous Chase pops up to ruin Kya's upward trajectory.
Lucy Alibar's script presents Kya's murder trial as the framing device of the story, which spawns flashbacks to the family trauma of her childhood, & her two romances. But while the book from which this is based on is hugely popular, I don't think this movie version fully explores each aspect of this story. The courtroom proceedings lack energy. The family trauma of her childhood verges on too unsettling to watch. And the romance(s) are blandly expressed; evoking memories of poor Nicholas Sparks romance novels. Also, I just don't see Daisy Edgar-Jones' allure in roping in these two guys.
Sure, I appreciated the lush, moody locales. The cinematographer does a great job highlighting the evocative visuals. In fact, if I'm to be honest, I'd say that the setting is probably the best character in this whole thing. Darkness lurks beneath the beauty of the marshes and, I just really liked that. I also admire Mychael Danna's music score, as well as Taylor Swift's poignant original song, "Carolina"; which plays over the end credits. And while the movie can be too sentimental, there ARE fleeting moments of raw emotion & some lovely sequences; usually involving Kya & Tate. This film is not bad; it just really needed some tinkering & some oomph.