faidai

I love the noir films of the 40's, twisty, brooding & oozing style with every frame. There would always be a lead actor who was the epitome of dogged strength & determination & a femme fatale, very often leading our hero into ever more perilous situations. The other scenario would have the female lead as an innocent who desperately needs the protection of the hero.

Whatever the hook, the storyline depended, in major part, on the charisma of the lead actors. This is almost entirely missing in this dreary, predictable snoozefest. Liam Neeson exudes all the charm & personality of a plank of wood. He carries with him the air of someone who is anxious to bank his fee & leave by the nearest exit. I must admit that I'm not a fan of Neeson at the best of times, both concerning his acting, which I find less than versatile, & on a more personal level. I have never forgotten his disgusting response to his friend getting mugged. In case it's slipped your mind, he gave an interview in which he openly declared that on hearing that the mugger was a black man he'd wanted to go out with a baseball bat &

I broke one of my rules by watching this film before I read the book. I'm so glad that I did!

"Crawdad" portrays ,what to me, is an unimaginable world. The tone is elegiac throughout, a love poem to those who live outside the accepted "norms" of society. It's a testament to the indomitable nature of the other. Unfortunately it also holds up a mirror to the cruelty, both casual & intentional, that is provoked when people can't understand the outsider.

The acting & pace are judged perfectly. The storyline slips through your fingers like silk, without a single jarring note. There is one uncredited star, however. The marsh itself is the one element that can be both foe & friend to the young girl/woman. I'm an English townie & the marsh to me seems like a different universe, let alone world!

The ending is what I'm looking forward to reading more than anything else. Don't worry I won't drop any spoilers! It's the reason why I like to read the book first, before seeing an adaptation on screen. I know that I will see the book through the lens of the characters portrayed by the actors. For once, though, that won't be an intrusive problem. The acting is superb, never hitting a wrong note from the first scene to the last. It's good to see yet another Brit headlining an American film!

My advice to anyone thinking of watching "Crawdad" is quite simple. Turn off your phone, put the stresses of everyday life to one side & let yourself become immersed in the sheer beauty & wildness of the marsh & be guided by the superlative actors to a place far from your everyday.