MonsterPerfect Good idea lost in the noise

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

truemythmedia This movie really is kind of a 'meh," for me. It has couple of shining lights, Annette Bening's (20th Century Women) and Corey Stoll's (House of Cards) performances for one, but overall, there just isn't much to grab the attention here.

JEF7REY HILDNER (StoryArchitect) I saw THE SEAGULL last night at Tower Theater here in Sacramento, California. I'm glad I did. The agony of love, the agony of art . . . the pleasure and pain of human relationships and the joy and trauma of creativity--the tragic comedy of unrequited work & love. How could I not love it? I'm the sweet-spot of their target audience: a heartbroken artist.This smart, entertaining, soul-searching riff on Checkhov's play by screenwriter Stephen Karam and director Michael Mayer looks and sounds beautiful on film.I burst into a catharsis induced cry at the crucial moment, the thematic climax of the story, blissfully blindsided by the storytellers' beautiful insight into what it takes to be an artist. Once again, I experienced the power of art to lift me up and help me soar when my wings feel clipped or I feel shot down.My Silver Knight Rating of THE SEAGULL--White Knight (Form): 7.5Black Knight (Story): 8.0= Silver Knight (Form & Story): 7.757.75 CamerasThe Silver Knight Rating scores a movie's level of play in what I call the Chess Game of Art. (See my IMDb commentary on ARRIVAL.)

mr_bickle_the_pickle Now I realize that The Seagull is a play by Anton Chekov. However, I dont think it translated well onto screen or perhaps the director didnt translate it well onto screen. Just some of the dialogue and the way the actors delivered their lines didnt feel very natural. Like it felt at times that I was watching a play rather than a film. In film you can be more subtle and nuanced rather than on stage where you have to play for the person in the back row. I think the only person who really stood out to me was Elisabeth Moss who played Masha. And I love Saoirse Ronan but for me it just seemed like such a odd choice to cast her since she had to put on an American accent to play a Russian in the setting of Russia.Story wise it was ok. Very heavy handed with the symbolism. Which again, might be better suited in the play. For me, it picks up more in the second act. I think one of the more powerful moments is when Nina returns and speaks to Konstantin and the somewhat ambiguous ending. The costumes are beautiful as well the settings. It can be a pretty film to watch. But overall, I dont think this film really added anything new that I couldnt get out of seeing the show live. It was good but nothing you have to immediately run out and see either.

Dave McClain "The Seagull" (PG-13, 1:38) is a drama directed by television movie and series helmer Michael Mayer and written by Stephen Karam ("Speech & Debate"), based on the oft-performed classic play of the same name by renowned 19th century Russian theater and short story writer Anton Chekhov. This American version features an all-star cast with multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominees/winners.The story is very character-driven and more about the development and journeys of the various characters than an overarching narrative. The action takes place in and around the Russian country home of Irina (Annette Bening), an actress who still works, but whose glory days are behind her. Also living there are her brother, Sorin (Brian Dennehy), a man in failing health who never realized his dream of becoming a writer, and Irina's son, Konstantin (Billy Howle), who is a manic-depressive aspiring playwright who wants nothing more than to earn the respect of his cruel, self-absorbed mother.Others at the house include the groundskeeper (Glenn Fleshler) and his wife (Mare Winningham). They're treated like members of the family, but subject to the arbitrary and capricious whims of the lady of the house - and worry about what would happen if they anger her. Irina herself is married to a man named Boris (Corey Stoll), who is a successful writer. She seems to want to be with him mainly because of his fame, but he's the kind of man who may not be satisfied with the same woman for too long.And that brings us to the various love triangles. Konstantin has a girlfriend, an aspiring actress named Nina (Saoirse Ronan) who has trouble reaching out to him when he's in one of his moods, but she's also attracted to another. An unassuming school teacher is pursuing the groundskeeper's jaded daughter, Masha (Elisabeth Moss), but she's interested in someone else in the household. And so it goes. Not much happens outside the estate, but the characters develop and some of their conflicts are resolved. "The Seagull" is an entertaining version of Chekov's classic play. His 19th century sensibilities may not be to the taste of modern Movie Fans and the Russian setting (although the characters all speak in English) may be just too foreign for some, but the story explores life, love and longing, universal themes to which most people can relate. This is a great actors' showcase, and every member of the cast rises to the challenge. Every one of those characters are interesting and well-developed, but also basically selfish... although that's kind of the point. "B+"