August Keller

@WritesAugust

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: 7/10

Overall Score: 7.2/10