where the crawdads sing


 Until this week, I had been intentionally avoiding (ignoring) the hoopla surrounding this book and film. I didn't like the title. I thought the premise sounded cheesy. Everyone who loved it (until just recently) gave reasons for liking it that were not reasons I generally like books and movies. 

But about a week ago, two of my friends messaged me to say that I needed to see this, and it was the best movie they've seen in years. I get why they felt that way, now that I've seen it. I finished watching it a few hours ago and thought about what I watched. 

The positive aspects of the book and film are that they actually SAY something. So few movies say anything anymore - they just rehash the same old tropes. Free Guy (with Ryan Reynolds) actually SAID something. I recently reviewed The Matrix, and it said something. Movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark or Die Hard are REALLY entertaining and I love them. But they don't really say anything.

Where the Crawdads Sing says something. Something kind of new. I can't tell you what it says without spoilers. But it actually makes a point.

The acting was decent. It wasn't bad. My one complaint cinematographically is that the actors who play her two love interests looked so much alike that I literally didn't know which was which. I got very confused when the second love interest was introduced because I thought it was the same guy. I thought it was a flashback. And then I realized it was just a different guy who looked the same. 

My biggest complaint about the movie in general is that there were three different "love scenes" which went on for way too long and showed way too much. And that's not even bringing up the attempted rape scene. All four scenes could have been implied and left way more to the imagination. I'm not sure why these scenes were so explicit. I mean, there is no "nudity" when you strictly define it Hollywood style, because a leg or an arm or whatever is in the way of showing everything. But I would have appreciated a lot more discretion in the four scenes.

SPOILER ALERT! Don't keep reading if you haven't seen the movie and want to. OK, to discuss what the movie says. She says that the prey sometimes has to kill the predator to survive. And survival seems to be the highest good in her "belief system". While I don't necessarily fault this poor girl for making the choices she did, I resist the attempt of the movie and book to lift this idea up as good or admirable. Did the guy who tried to rape her deserve to die? That's not for us to decide, and I think she could have found a better solution.

So IF you like dramas that do make you think but show a little too much sex and nudity, then you'll probably enjoy this. I didn't really enjoy it very much, but I'm glad I saw it so I can discuss when it comes up.

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