This Review is brought to you by Kathy Kaiser
DIRECTED BY: Olivia Newman
WRITTEN BY: Delia Owens (Based on the Novel by) Screenplay by Lucy Alibar
STARRING: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn, Michael Hyatt and Sterling Macer Jr., Jojo Regina, Blue Clarke and Luke David Blumm
As we meet young and shy Kya Clarke (JoJo Regina/Daisy Edgar-Jones), her Ma (Ahna O’Reilly) has left due to her abusive husband and Kya’s brothers and sisters aren’t too far behind their Ma, getting the hell out of dodge, just as fast as they can…
And now Kya must figure out a way to keep from being beat too, as her father struggles through life, not knowing which way to turn…eventually abandoning Kya too, leaving Kya with no other choice, than to figure out a way to make it in this world, all alone…
Thank goodness there are still some good people in Barkley Cove, of course none of those meanies that call Kya “the marsh girl”, but those wonderful shoppe keeps Mabel (Michael Hyatt) and Jumpin (Sterling Macer Jr.), who try not to get too involved in Kya’s life, all the while still keeping an eye on her…
As Kya focuses all her energy on the ways of the creatures she’d rather hang out with in the marsh anyway, she ends up meeting Tate (Like David Blumm/Taylor John Smith), an old friend of her brother Jodie, who loves the marsh just as much as she does, as they now find themselves becoming really good friends…
Now as Kya and Tate grow up, their friendship turns to young love as these things often do, but Tate has plans of heading off to College, while Kya stays back working on her drawings and paintings of the incredible animals who call her marsh home..
When Tate doesn’t return as he promised, Kya must learn to move on…and ends up meeting a new boy from town, the high school football star, Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson).
Chase is wanting to move way too fast for Kya, who still aches for Tate’s return, so they put the skids on their relationship, if only for a little while…
But when tragedy strikes, and Chase ends up dead, poor Kya must stand trial for this crime, because the town is convinced that she is the only one who could have done it! And now Kya’s life hangs in the balance, as her self-appointed Lawyer Tom Milton (David Strathairn), can hopefully prove her innocence…
I give WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING 5 out of 5 Stars!!! This film is truly exceptional in every way! It’s not only an escape from your own reality, as you venture into the life of Kya Clark, played exceptionally well by both young actress Jojo Regina, and actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, but an incredible storyline to follow too. There performances are so emotionally charged, that sometimes it’s almost painful to view, but the purity that exudes throughout this film in these ladies performances too, will keep you mezmerized frame after frame. You will find yourself also taken in by all the beautiful cinematography that surrounds you, which is also enhanced by the additional exceptional performances by Taylor John Smith, Harris Dikinson, Michael Hyatt and Sterling Macer Jr. I really didn’t think that Hollywood was going to make movies of this calibur ever again… you know the ones that are filled with emotionally charged performances and scenes that move you to your core, without being laden with dirty language at every turn, or explicitly graphic sex scenes. I mean, I was utterly amazed at how tastefully done it all was, even the sex scenes that are vital to the storyline that is unfolding. I was also intrigued by the plot twists throughout, that kept me wondering what was going to happen next, until the bitter end. I’m just kind of sad that I didn’t have time to read the book before I went to view this 5-star film, because the book seems to always be better than the movie, and as exquisite as this film is in every way, I just can’t imagine how incredible that book must be! Please take my word for it, if there is only one film that you venture out to this weekend to see, make sure that it’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, as this one has Oscar or Golden Globe written all over it…if only they pay attention to this summer release, come January!
5 out of 5
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 