This was amazing, I thought the acting was top tier. Very close to the book which I love and I still to this day will be stand by the fact that that twist at the ending is amazing.
The way her fierce fight for survival against neglect, judgement, and loneliness was portrayed hit right in the feels beautifully
Premise - 13/20 - First thing: never read the book. Going in fresh as someone who is watching a story about a girl that grew up mostly by herself in the marsh dealing with being a murder suspect. OK, not riveting.
Cast/characters - 18/20 - Daisy Edgar-Jones was wonderful in Fresh, so I was in for this. She is spectacular in this and quite a beauty. Didn't know any other actors other than David Straithairn, so I can be unbiased in saying they are did their jobs well. I enjoyed Tate and the shopkeepers. I don't have the backstories from the book, but I can get the idea in the short amount of time spent on character development and relationships. One question I would've liked answered is why Chase had anything to do with "Marsh Girl" in the 1st place. He was an ex-football star (so a public hero) and had chicks all over town.
Story - 17/20 - Dragged a bit in the middle after Tate did what he did, but the story was excellent and the ending was very good.
Dialogue - 15/20 - Apparently, narration had to be used to substitute for plot points, and I'm OK with that. Conversations with Tate were good, conversations with Chase were frustrating, and the courtroom sequence seemed effective.
World-building - 15/20 - Don't know much about a scenario like this because I've never seen backwoods NC. The visuals laid it out well. The town was created so that she had opposition from everyone as you might expect from a recluse.
78/100 - 4/5 stars - Daisy Edgar-Jones has become an actor that I'll watch regardless of plot. Again, without having read the book, I found the characters shallow but effective and the plot to move along well enough with a good beginning and end. Definitely worth the time.
I've never read the book but I'm sure going to. What a movie. It was strong and the scenery was amazing. I won't be shocked if it gets an Oscar nomination too
This is such Goodreads-core fodder, one for Book Twitter girls to woo and fawn over while they project themselves onto the reclusive Kya as she has two absurdly attractive men fight for her hand as she barely says a word; the female equivalent to Ryan Gosling in Drive and Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver. Not to dump on the movie entirely, but I feel a lot of character was lost here in the translation to film; characters that I'm sure have depth and layers have been reduced to one note cliches. This only enhances the YA love-triangle feel that really drags the movie down into pulp fiction when I feel it's swinging for American Classic literature. DEJ is still great though, and David Strathairn did well with the napkin script he was given, and it surely is a looker of a movie with some of the shots of the marsh. But what we're left with is the structure of something that could be great, a mystery that pulls you in firmly but devolves to young adult nonsense for the majority of the runtime. The high review score on here is frankly shocking.
Top model, with top hair, top skin, top teeths, no body hair (in the 60es!) tries to convince us she grew up all alone in the marshes.. Also the crawdads didn't even sing.. Also wtf are even crawdads?
34% on Rotten Tomatoes... That's laughable. This was a solid movie. I would've preferred that it was broken down into episodes, so some areas could go more in depth but it was still a good movie, period.
Great movie all around; scenery, acting, landscape, directing, wardrobe, script. They did an amazing job.
Normally I don't give such a big rating to movies not based on true events. But this story is so good, the acting was so real that I felt like I am a part of this story, like I was there. Superb movie which I won't hesitate to recommend.
An interesting mix of thriller and romance.
Loved every second of this but I'm biased because I like Daisy Edgar-Jones so much that I'm convinced she can do no wrong on screen. The plot was good, I shed quite a few tears many times throughout the film, and I think this belongs in the "good for her" category because that's exactly what I was thinking when it ended.
The best thing about the film is that it manages to be as corny and boring as the novel, an attempt at a great American story full of kitsch and unbearable metaphors. The incredible thing is that the screenwriter of a film as beautiful as "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (2012) makes the mistake of wanting to include almost everything in a hasty ending, and builds a mystery without mystery and a poetic gaze without poetry. I still don't know if the trial is more bearable or the endless walks through the marshes.
I can only say that I expected more. I understand that the team must delete and change many things due to the duration limitation of a movie, but still, the warm feeling of the book just not there anymore. You can hardly see Kya's growth anymore, and both Tate and Chase are being portraited so shallow and thin. Losing the A.H. piece is also very shameful. I would much prefer to have the book adapted to a 6~8 episodes mini series instead. P.S. kya should be quite different when she was first learning spelling and reading with Tate and fighting with Chase, but the casts failed to deliver the growth and changes, that's really sad.
Excellent movie, especially the last 15 seconds.
Split opinion on this. Overall, though, I think my thoughts regarding it are, just narrowly, positive.
'Where the Crawdads Sing' is a tad overlong and I'm not sold on the ending, though even so I think I like this enough. The acting is the big reason for that, with Daisy Edgar-Jones standing out alongside David Strathairn. Taylor John Smith and Garret Dillahunt are solid elsewhere. Away from the actors, most other elements are forgettable.
The conclusion is iffy to me. It was clear the film was holding something back in regards to the story, though the way it eventually goes isn't the most satisfying to me personally. It's a pretty straightforward film, when all is said and done.
It's close to being what I'd consider a miss, but I reckon it just about does enough right. 6/10 doesn't feel fitting to me, so 7/10 it is.
This was a solid movie start to finish. I thought it did a particularly good job with its pacing especially switching seamlessly from the present day courtroom scenes to flashbacks of Kya. Particular shout out to David Strathairn for his portrayal as the defense lawyer as he was able to connect with the audience with little to work with. The rest of the cast was also very strong (including the child actors) although I do feel that the other lawyer was not very convincing in his role. My biggest complaint about this movie is that it implies at the end that Kya murdered Chase, yet given the lack of evidence given in court this seemed almost impossible. How would she have made it to her meeting on time the next day? One small nitpick I had was Tate being horrified when he discovers the necklace. To me, he should have reacted with a smile.
A pretty straightforward mystery plot with some great acting. I didn't think it was anything exceptional; just good.
They say it's a marsh but this is so bogged down with overly cheap melodrama that it seems more like a cesspool. Was the novel this awful?
The relationship between Kya & the store owners Jumpin' & Mabel I absolutely adored every moment in this movie superb actors
and Daisy Edgar is now my new favourite actress! :eyes:
Chilling. It makes you wonder if you ever really know anyone. If you ever know the depths of a human that has been irreparably harmed again and again.
Very disappointed with this movie after reading the book, I gave the book 5 stars. The book was so much better and better explained than this movie that seemed disjointed. It doesn't really focus the relationship between Tate and Kya, the Jodie's story and so on. Kya's story was lacking and the relationship with Jumpin' and Mabel. I understand the change is a must for the movie and to short the entire book, but it lacked so much feelings.
Was so heartfelt. The twist was insane.
Daisy Edgar-Jones gives a great performance as usual. I've seen her on other movies and TV shows and have always been a fan of her acting.
Brilliantly portrays the isolation caused by a childhood filled with torment.
A mix of a crime mystery and the notebook. A good movie to watch with the wife.
This was the movie that made me register Daisy Edgar-Jones as a talented actress. Like most have said here, it's near perfect. I'm watching this for the second time today in 4K, just to make sure I didn't miss any good parts when I watched it for the first time.
A hillbilly court drama with teen romance and a plot twist? O please stop.
I’ve never read the novel but from what I’ve watched, if the film emphasizes more about her loneliness it might’ve been more impactful to me when the case’s unfolded. I like the cinematography, beautiful sceneries, and the great acting. The last twist didn’t make sense at all, how can she’d done that without any witnesses. It’s really contradict to the final statement of her attorney. Maybe that’s not the main point of this film, but it’s just striking unrealistic for me.
Everything about this movie was just beautiful: The visuals were stunning, the characters had a lot of depth, the plot was extremely intriguing, and the love story was absolutely gorgeous:heart:
"No, I never hated them. They hated me. They laughed at me. They left me. They harassed me. They attacked me. You want me to beg for my life? I don't have it in me. I won't."
I made the ultimate mistake of reading the book first. It is never a fair fight! Daisy Edgar-Jones did really well as the lead, I just think the pacing could've been a little better.
This was alright z enjoyable enough once through but I wouldn't watch it again. Jones is a stellar actress but the script didn't allow the story to develop enough. There was too much focus on the trial and events leading up to it and not enough on her earlier life, which shaped who she is. The love story was kind of flat.
An interesting character study. A bit of a cozy mystery that will keep you guessing, but also a well-told love story
Effective direction and story telling
I could feel the sadness, the sense of abandonment, the lack of options at times
In my opinion, the ending could be better, like Tate (protagonist's husband) could have smiled by seeing the locket of Chase (antagonist) and they could be explained a bit more about the murder/accident.
It all came together neatly, a cohesive storyline, effective emotional transfer and a solid movie.
Definitely a good movie for a date night. I think they did a great job. Movie had a really good flow, with an amazing story about a young girl having to survive on her own and raise herself.
Daisy Edgar-Jones was tremendous in her role as a terrifically talented naturalist, who had been abandoned by her family. She steeled herself against the harms of the world, taking solace in the marsh from whence she came. Throughout her existence, those who were part of her life constantly left, and it left an indelible mark on her being. In this film, she she learned to overcome the fears instilled in her by these losses, and she made a life for herself that many derided, considering it unusual. Nonetheless, she persevered, and in the end, she found someone she loved, and who loved her, to spend her life with, while she pursued her passion for the marsh and its inhabitants.
If ever there was a film that needed Frank Darabont and Thomas Newman involved, it was this one. It could have been Shawshank in the right hands but instead what we got was… fine. It needed a Newman score.
a fairly average adaptation of a fairly average book
Well I enjoyed that film, start to finish and glad the way it left, one of them films where your not satisfied till you know the answer. A good performance from dasiy along with the rest of the cast, definitely worth your time.
The book is presumably more powerful than the film. While there are some good moments in the movie, it didn't have the emotional impact that I expected.
Good adaptation, but please please please read the book first (or instead). One of my favourite books ever.
I didn't read the book, but this movie seemed more Hallmark Channel like than I would have thought for how big the book was. Also knowing there was "a twist" the twist wasn't that crazy so you pretty much figured it out. But the story itself was good. Movie was probably 30 minutes too long and too stereotypical telling of backstory.
Loved it much more than the book!
Great freaking movie from start to finish .. a must watch loved loved loved it A++
The Notebook: Swamp Edition. Kidding aside, this was great. Great performances all around.
A film made by a girl, based on a girl’s book, for girls, about a girl, from a girl’s perspective, starring a girl. This is as girly as it gets.
In a word, disappointing.
Was drawn to this after seeing Daisy in Normal People which was a phenomenal performance, but I never once believed her character was an abandoned child that raised herself in the marsh. Maybe it was the script or direction that failed her, but it was quite possibly the inverse because the young Kya's performance was actually believable and compelling.
I believe there was a gem of a story in there somewhere, but they were unable to tease it out. The beautifully shot backdrop gave the film a weight that that the story and performances just couldn't live up to. On paper this should be a home run, but I ended up feeling cheated.
Great movie, what I liked about the book though were the descriptions of the marsh and the way it made you imagine nature and I feel like some of that was lost in the movie.
I really enjoyed this film. I didn‘t know the story before but it was really compelling and interesting from beginning to end. The acting is great and there is real chemistry between the main characters. Also the film is worth to watch only for it‘s beautiful cinematography.
I recall the book left the ending open ended.
This film stirred up a lot of emotion in me. So here is my one word review.... "Meh"
My Ratings
10 - I love it, regardless of quality
9 - Very good, might not love but very well done or might love, forgiving some issues
8 - Very enjoyable or Just OK for me but well done
7 - Good
6 - Watchable despite not liking the film/show
5 - Mid
3-4 - Not great, but got through it
1-2 - Very bad/You might be a communist if you like this garbage
Excellent movie with pretty decent acting. It's been so long since I read the book that I cannot compare, but that is for the best since movies rarely, if ever, live up to the book. I went into this thinking it would be so-so, but by the end I was happy I watched it and will watch it again in a few years.
Wow!wow!!wowwww! I loved it!
"Way out yonder where the Crawdads sing" Worth the watch!
„Way out yonder where the crawdads sing.“
Just watch it. You wont be disappointed.
Well directed and superb acting.
This was a very enjoyable film. I liked the actors, the story and the ending.
Had potential for so much more.
My full review in portuguese for Fio Condutor: https://fiocondutor.com.pt/where-the-crawdads-sing-2022/
I enjoyed it. Great acting and casting.
what a lovely little gem, thank you Olivia newman
Perfect rainy sunday afternoon story with a very solid ending, loved it!!
Beautifully filmed, poetically glorifying the nature of the swamps, a tearful and drawn-out story of a girl abandoned alone by all her relatives. With her, due to these circumstances, the world played a cruel joke. But she was able to repay the same coin, which is strange, given her naivety. Carefully crafted puff
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
.5 / 1 act I
.5 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
.5 / 1 acting
.5 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting effect
0 / 1 misc
5 out of 10
Enjoyed the scenery and the acting for the most part. Did not read the book. 6.7 for me, 8 for the wife. Some forced clichés were weak, but I enjoyed Edgar-Jones portrayal of her character quite a bit.
The film is quite pleasant, and quite well filmed. The weak part is the novel it is based, which follows the cliches and recurrent themes of recent American novels (which I was expecting), with lots of forced passages and plot devices.
I went in knowing absolutely nothing of what this film was, except that my wife really wanted to see it. I was thinking inverse-Gone Girl by the description I was given and wound up with a Nicholas Sparks type film. While that’s 100% not my cup of tea, I do watch them for/with my wife. This one is a special blend for that style of movie. The cast/premise/plot was incredibly engaging and fresh for the typical Nicholas Sparks type romantic movie. With that being said, it’s not perfect. I was ridiculed on the way home because I was hyper analyzing my critiques (1. glazed over fact lead actress is looking gorgeous at all times despite no running water, money, electricity, and lives in a marsh, 2. People out there struggle to find love, yet marsh girl avoids people altogether and gets two great looking guys, one of which is a star QB, 3. The big resolution to everything has flaws). If I have genuine critiques on the movie it’s because I did enjoy it. Most Nicholas Sparks I don’t like, and therefore brush off the flaws. This movie I analyzed and critiqued because I was invested, BUT it could have been great with minor changes.
Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend
I knew nothing about the movie going in and although I had seen the trailer once it was nothing like I expected. The story line was very intriguing and I really appreciated how they told it. The actors played their part well, however, I felt that we could have had a better insight into Chase. We all knew where that was headed though. The only reason that I gave it a 9 and not a 10 is they told the story well, but then the end just wrapped up so quickly it felt a bit empty. Would definitely watch again though.
I've been a Daisy Edgar-Jones fan ever since Normal People (2020), and I have gone out of my way to watch her follow-up projects (Fresh (2022), Under the Banner of Heaven (2022), and this film). While her performances in all of these have never been lacking (except in the sense that they lack the Irish accent I loved from that first show), none of these projects came together fully for me.
In this case, the story being adapted doesn't have quite enough room to breathe in a feature length film. Where the novel likely had ample time to gradually establish characters, relationships, and backstory, this film ends up feeling a tad too expository, relying on narration to bridge gaps and rushed flashbacks that feel like they are simply checking boxes. Everything just feels a little on the nose, without a lot of subtlety or nuance. At the same time, there is also a pacing problem, with the film dragging in certain segments. This might seem contradictory to my previous critique, so let me try to explain. I think the problem here is that the central external conflict (the murder investigation/trial) doesn't actually get much screen time, being sprinkled amongst a much larger helping of character/relationship focused flashbacks. So, while those backstory segments sometimes felt superficial and rushed, the main plot felt plodding and slow. Additionally, without spoiling anything, the final act was somewhat anticlimactic for me.
Now, these complaints are primarily related to construction. The story itself is compelling and, as previously mentioned, the central performance of Daisy Edgar-Jones is solid, as are the performances of both love interests.
One of my favorite movies of the year.
What an incredible emotional edge if your seat film that blends a few different genres together to create a very deep life meanings beautiful piece. Cinematographers will have a hay day examining this piece.
One could have mistaken this film as a Nicholas Sparks piece as it takes place in the Carolinas and follows a young girl and her adventurous love life that goes from good to bad to back to good. As in Nicholas Sparks films there is a passionate romance that gets interrupted by a potential life altering event that could ruin the bright future but then it’s overcome and it’s a happy ending. But in this film the life altering event is the main focus and the romance is secondary. This makes for an intriguing deep rooted drama of a movie. Acting was superb too.
By January 2022, the book had sold 12 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. Almost everyone in the theatre, yesterday afternoon, had read the book and were wondering if the movie could be as good as the book, so in my exit poll, of a dozen, or so, viewers, I asked then specifically, “Did the movie do justice to the book?” Without exception they said it had. (Although one reader thought the movie had a more definitive ending than the book.) Their ratings were 8s, 8.5s and two 10s. When I said that anything I rated over 8 would be worthy of a rewatch, it was unanimous that all of them would rewatch it, some thinking they’d like to read the book, again. So, these people, who came to see the movie, had high standards that they felt were met.
The story is simple but intriguing. There is a whole TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD vibe to it. And there is a wonderful contrast between a purity of soul living within a world of threat and danger. It was refreshing to have a film celebrate innocence. The nature shots of North Carolina are breathtaking. The casting is spot on and the performances are flawless. But the success of the film lies with the lead actor, Daisy Edgar-Jones (a very talented Brit, who earned respect for her talents in another best selling novel adaptation for television, NORMAL PEOPLE). There is a wide eyed innocence about Kya that she captures which, in turn, captivates the audience to invest in her story and her plight. (The only disconnect I had with her portrayal was not her fault but that of the production. For a swamp girl, living off the grid, her personal hygiene and wardrobe were spotless and fitted to perfection. A seemingly unlikely possibility considering her environment.) I would definitely see this film again and am tempted to buy the audible book. I give this film an enthusiastic 9 (beautiful and touching) out of 10. [Drama]
I didn’t know anything about this going in except that it is a very popular book, and all I could imagine were the lonely people reading this book and in their minds thinking “I have no one but ‘marsh girl’ has two dudes fighting over her”
Saw an advance screening, and I honestly don't know what the critics are on, this film was excellent.
Shout by B2EMOBlockedParent2022-09-18T20:40:34Z
I am a simp Daisy..I love her all the work not because i am a simp for her but because she is wonderful. I am rooting for her make it big in future.
take my energy, Daisy <3