Vigilando a Jean Seberg

It is sometimes hard to pinpoint where exactly films fail, the cinematography wasn't bad and you can definitely see that Kristen Stewart tried, but everything else about this film was below mediocre. Characters were one dimensional and lacked any depth, plot development, from the very moment the two main characters meet and then meet again, was abrupt and unbelievable. The other main characters - the good FBI agent vs. the bad one, were just as shallow. Not to mention the wives, whose role never went anywhere and might have as well not been in this film at all.

In the end, it simply wasn't interesting to watch and that is something no amount of blank long gazes and gratuitous nudity can fix.

If you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and watch 'The Lives of Others', a 2006 German film that shares a similar theme but actually does it justice.

There are moments in time when we need to be reminded of the wrongs we've inflicted on others. Seberg succeeds in bringing a message to even the most casual of viewers of what we've allowed to happen in our nation. I found the film to be well written and Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Seberg left me saddened and angry, which to me speaks to a film's success when dealing with news worthy topic. I wish the rest of the cast would have come close to Stewart's performance because it wouldn't have taken much to elevate this movie even more.

Those portraying government representatives slipped into easy stereotypes blended was stilted performances. The passion of the real life individuals whose public persona impacted Seberg's life was barely captured by the actors in the film.

But I'm sitting here wondering all the what ifs so for this afternoon this film has me recommending it to friends. Seven Stars

I managed to watch this on Amazon streaming movies, my wife skipped.

This movie is somewhat better than its IMDb rating might suggest, mainly because mysteriously there are about 12% "1" votes in May 2020. No way could this ever be considered that poor a movie.

Kristen Stewart is chosen to play Jean Seberg, the story is mainly from 1968 to about 1971 or 1972 when she was in her early 30s. Living in France at that time with her French family she traveled to Los Angeles and during the trip took an interest in the black civil rights movement and protests.

This got her on the FBI radar and what followed was much surveillance, recording of conversations, and eventually a concerted effort to discredit her. It is noteworthy that she died at age 40 in 1979 from "probable suicide."

The movie is well made but I have to wonder, "Why was this movie made?" Seberg was a minor star and I suspect few living today remember any of her roles. Still it is a worthwhile movie if not a stellar one.

Jean Seberg's real life story is full of twists and turns and things that can be applied to things happening in 2020. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't separate itself from the pack and become anything fresh or original. And it feels like you can contribute some of the fault to the directing choices made by Benedict Andrews. The film never felt as engaging as the subject matter calls for. Seberg is deserving of a movie based on her life, but this certainly wasn't it.

4.8/10

I hate that people can give film reviews or ratings on IMDB without having seen the film.

Firstly, if you don't like an actor, just don't watch the film. Don't go onto a ratings site a skew the scores.

Secondly, if you want to see a complete accurate portrayal of a biography watch the History channel.

This is based on the story of Jean Seberg and her persecution by the FBI. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it a sanitised version of what is known? Yes.

Kristen Stewart more than held her own in this film. It didn't have a great script and the cinematography was clunky, and even though she had a pretty good supporting cast, they really didn't have much to play with. Its okay. But I wouldn't watch it again.