Review: The Seagull
An exemplary cast featuring the likes of heavyweights Annette Bening, Saoirse Ronan and Elisabeth Moss. A classic theatrical war horse in the form of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. The stars would seem aligned for a handsomely mounted, superbly acted rendition of the Russian playwright's comic tragedy of romantic roundelays and artistic yearnings. Unfortunately, under Michael Mayer's direction and Stephen Karam's scripting, The Seagull is a plodding and rather airless affair.
In a country home outside of Moscow, there are gathered several people, all of whom are afflicted with the misfortune of loving those whose hearts belong to another. There's the celebrated theatrical diva, Irina Arkadina (Bening), who alights at the home to visit her ailing brother Sorin (Brian Dennehy) with her younger lover, renowned writer Trigorin (Corey Stoll). Trigorin becomes enamoured with Nina (Ronan), a rosy-cheeked lass who dreams of becoming an actress. Though attracted to and beloved by Konstantin (Billy Howle), Arkadina's aspiring playwright son, Nina becomes infatuated with Trigorin. Konstantin himself is the object of Masha's (Moss) affection, she of the defiantly miserable nature which she stokes with alcohol and a later marriage to schoolteacher Medvedenko (Michael Zegen). "The spell cast by this lake," Dr. Dorn (Jon Tenney) notes as he observes all the lovesick figures around him.
If only the film would cast such a spell. The main issue stems from the nagging feeling that one would have been better off seeing a theatrical production with the same cast rather than this film. Adapting a play into a film is not a simple matter of fleshing out visually what is only suggested by set design and lighting and sound cues. By nature, theatre is an outward expression where film is a more inward one. A performance or characterisation pitched to the rafters will look ridiculous and overly melodramatic on film. The filmmakers have seemingly disregarded this as the characterisations are as outsized as they would be on the stage and neither Mayer nor Karam have emulated Chekhov's knack for economical storytelling.
Thankfully, the actors are gifted enough to offset the preposterousness of their characters with skilfully rendered, multi-layered performances. That Bening, Ronan and Moss are outstanding is of no surprise, but the most praise should be laureled upon Howle, who struggles mightily against the histrionics of Konstantin and nearly succeeds in making him a likeable, almost sympathetic character.
The Seagull
Directed by: Michael Mayer
Written by: Stephen Karam
Starring: Annette Bening, Saoirse Ronan, Corey Stoll, Elisabeth Moss, Mare Winningham, Jon Tenney, Glenn Fleshler, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle, Brian Dennehy
