Where the Crawdads Sing feigns sincerity but is mostly cliche. Characters are flat, themes are thin, and developments are obvious. Specifically, the protagonist is a cautious loner, her counterpart is in love with her, and the antagonist is a dirtbag. They don't show complexities or feel deep. Next, the film touches on ideas of race, gender, and class, but never examines them. Prejudice is broadly condemned, but earnest looks at its origins and how it's overcome is nonexistent. Finally, plot points are so transparently formulaic, viewers will predict the entire movie. Overall, Where the Crawdads Sing provides routine emotions and minimal insight.
Technically, Where the Crawdads Sing is sporadic. There's slightly distracting CGI and green-screens, rushed pacing, and a repetitive tone. Plus, the male leads look too similar. Conversely, Edgar-Jones elevates the monotony with nonverbal cues. Meanwhile, there's atmospheric music, era-specific production design, and a variety of technical edits (smash, split, and passing). The visuals utilize lighting, focus, and composition to create scenic and figurative imagery. The sound establishes ambient nature, stresses importance, and uses symbolic abstractions. Thus, Where the Crawdads Sing is plain, yet maintains competency. It's not bad but will only impress dedicated fans of the genre.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 6/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 6.4/10
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