The Seagull (2018 film)

The Seagull is a 2018 American historical drama film directed by Michael Mayer with a screenplay by Stephen Karam, based on the 1896 play of the same name by Anton Chekhov. The film stars Annette Bening, Saoirse Ronan, Corey Stoll, Elisabeth Moss, Mare Winningham, Jon Tenney, Glenn Fleshler, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle and Brian Dennehy. Filming began in June 2015 in New York City and the world premiere took place at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018 prior to general release on May 11, 2018 through Sony Pictures Classics.

The Seagull
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Mayer
Produced by
Screenplay byStephen Karam
Based onThe Seagull
by Anton Chekhov
Starring
Music byNico Muhly
Anton Sanko
CinematographyMatthew J. Lloyd
Edited byAnnette Davey
Production
company
  • Mar-Key Pictures
  • KGB Media
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release date
  • April 21, 2018 (2018-04-21) (Tribeca)
  • May 11, 2018 (2018-05-11) (United States)
Running time
98 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.5 million[2]

Synopsis

Set in Russia in the early 1900s, an aging actress named Irina Arkadina pays summer visits to her brother Pjotr Nikolayevich Sorin and her son Konstantin at a country estate. On one occasion, she brings her lover Boris Trigorin, a successful novelist. Nina, a free and innocent girl on a neighboring estate, who is in a relationship with Konstantin, falls in love with Boris.

Cast

Production

On May 13, 2015, it was announced that Michael Mayer would direct the adaptation of Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull, scripted by Stephen Karam.[3] Saoirse Ronan and Annette Bening would star along with Corey Stoll and Billy Howle.[3] Producers are Leslie Urdang, Tom Hulce and Robert Salerno.[3]

Filming began on June 29, 2015 in New York City,[4] with much of the film shot on location at Arrow Park in Monroe, NY.[5]

Release

In October 2017, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film.[6] The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018. It was released on May 11, 2018.[7]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 68%, based on 122 reviews, with a weighted average of 6.12/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The latest iteration of The Seagull does little to distinguish itself from other Chekhov adaptations but provides a pleasing showcase for its sterling cast."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[9]

A.O. Scott reviewing the film for The New York Times found the cast for the film to be very well selected for their roles but the film as a whole to be disappointing stating: "Ms. Bening, Ms. Moss and Ms. Ronan in particular are superb, as you also probably didn’t need me to tell you. Each one finds the individuality that Chekhov, with uncanny sympathy and sly gallantry, imparted to his female characters. The cast is great. The play is great. But this is still a bad movie, because it has no clear or coherent idea of how to be one".[10]

References
  1. "The Seagull". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. "The Seagull (2018)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  3. Barraclough, Leo (May 13, 2015). "Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening to Star in Adaptation of Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  4. Daniels, Nia (June 30, 2015). "Principal photography underway on The Seagull". KFTV. Media Business Insight. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. "Arrow Park". Arrow Park official website. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  6. McNary, Dave (October 24, 2017). "Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening's 'The Seagull' Flies to Sony Classics". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  7. "The Seagull". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  8. "The Seagull (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  9. "The Seagull Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  10. Scott, A.O. (May 9, 2018). "Review: In 'The Seagull,' a Great Play, a Great Cast and Yet ..." The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
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