Where the Crawdads Sing

Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Mauer Jr., Logan Macrae, Bill Kelly, Ahna O'Reilly, Garret Dillahunt, Jojo Regina, Luke David Blumm, Sam Anderson
Directed by: Olivia Newman
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary:
A woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) whose family has abandoned her to live in the marshlands by herself is accused of murder.

Review:

Tim: Where the Crawdads Sing is the film adaptation of the novel by Delia Owens, a book everyone seemed to be reading. I didn't follow along prior to seeing this film, but the movie is so good, I'll seriously consider adding it to my list. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. It obviously enjoys a rousingly-good story from Owens, adds in competent and confident direction from Olivia Newman, throws in some impressive cast members, and considering all that, it's no surprise that this film is a success. It has all the ingredients and Newman was well-suited to weave them all together into a successful final product. I'm a big fan of this film.

Let's start with the story- it is excellent. Delia Owens crafts an incredible tale. The setting is superb- we don't see many movies set in the marshlands of the Deep South. The setting feels very much like a character here. Newman brings us into this world and it's just different enough from many of our lives that we lean in, are compelled by the setting to pay special attention to the proceedings. I loved the cinematography, the little details of what it's like to live in the marsh. I can still see Kya's little house, surrounded by so much isolation and beauty. Upon this setting, Owens weaves a surprising, beautiful, occasionally riveting story that involves romance, accusations of murder, a coming-of-age story, a courtroom drama, a touch of artistry, and much more. It's a completely original, unique story that surprises us just when we think we know what's going on. The movie is 2 hours and 5 minutes long, but Newman uses all this time to tell the story. The movie never feels like it overstays its welcome. I was invested early and throughout the process. It was easy to stay focused when you have a story this good. That's partially why this movie inspired me to want to read the book- it's that good, I'd love to dive in deeper into the words.

Newman does a great job of translating all this to the screen. The movie never feels melodramatic- it shows an impressive amount of restraint when telling this story. It feels always character-driven. Newman (and therefore, us, as the audience) becomes fascinated with these characters as we watch their lives unfold. The subject matter is treated with care, seriously, and with respect. This is a story about one woman, but there are parallels to many women's lives all around the world. The film does a fantastic job of telling this one woman's story in a way that is surprisingly relatable, regardless of the more unique aspects of her life. I loved the quiet moments throughout this film as much as the surprising ones. Newman is never in a hurry to tell the story- the film never plods, but she gives it room to breathe.

The cast has some real standouts, too. Daisy Edgar-Jones is going to be a star- no doubt in my mind. I was so impressed with her work on the miniseries, Under the Banner of Heaven. Her role was frustratingly small, though. She made such an outsized contribution to that series, though. You watch that and just want to see more of her. Edgar-Jones has a meaty role here and is fantastic as Kya. She brings so much strength, vulnerability, the complexity of humanity into this role. You almost can't look away from her when she's on screen. It's the kind of role that gets you noticed and I'm sure Edgar-Jones will have a huge next couple of years. I can't say enough about how effective she is bringing this wonderful character to life.

I loved the casting of David Strathairn here. He is always excellent, no matter how big or small the role. I loved every second of screen time he got. Strathairn brings such gravitas, such depth of talent that it's impossible not to like him here. The role was perfect for his sensibilities and he makes the movie better every second he's on screen. I loved the scenes Edgar-Jones got to play opposite him. Thank the lord for Strathairn and his performance in this movie. Taylor John Smith added a nice performance as Tate. He was absolutely the right actor to bring this character to life. I really liked Tate as a character and Smith has strong chemistry with Edgar-Jones. Their pairing was so effective and a big reason why this movie works. Michael Hyatt and Sterling Macer Jr. were well-cast, too. They have small roles, but make a big impact on the story. Ahna O'Reilly has such a small role, but her performance was wonderful. It was nice to see Sam Anderson show up in a small role at the end. I almost forgot to mention Garret Dillahunt. I'm a huge fan of him and while his role was small and purposely unlikable, he elevates the character more than what was written on the page. You'll remember Dillahunt's performance here. As a whole, I was impressed with the cast. Newman doesn't get all A-listers, but she gets so much out of this cast, it's difficult to imagine anyone else in these roles.

I have to admit, I went into this film with a bit of trepidation. I knew nothing about it, except seeing that novel cover everywhere when the book was released. This movie could have been a failure (or just average) in someone else's hands. Having a great source material doesn't automatically mean it will translate on the screen. Thankfully, Newman pulls this feat off. I really loved a lot about this movie. It's memorable, exciting, emotional. It's one of the more pleasant surprises of 2022.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Under the Banner of Heaven (television), Good Night and Good Luck.