Review of By the Sea (2015) by Jackie M — 15 Jul 2016

This movie has 2 essential problems: pacing and the writer's unclear understanding of her own protagonist and antagonist. The first issue is apparent from the first minute of the movie, and little else needs to be said; the problem is never overcome.

The acting is beautiful, but at times, Ms. Jolie's acting is indicated, likely as a function of her playing too many roles in the creation of the film... as such, it stands in contrast to that of the other actors who carry the film.

But as to the second problem: The film's real protagonist is Jolie herself, the antagonist being grief, the ubiquitous and cruel monster hiding in the closet. But as a writer, she tries to be too clever, giving the audience a series of red herrings regarding the cause of her behavior and the demise of the marriage for her spouse.

What results, however, is removing the audience from sympathy with her (or at least in time to attach to her vulnerability), and causing the audience to go up into their own cognitive experiences of wondering what on earth is happening.

.. rather than simply experiencing that grief and pain WITH her, which she very much deserves, but which is kept from the audience until the last 10 minutes... and it is a SLOW RIDE to those 10 minutes.

So much so that you don't much care when she finally gets there in her storytelling. Jolie is talent, every which way you look, but when she thinks she is above or forgets the basics of good storytelling and good movie making, in an effort to be "artsy," she is her own greatest barrier.