#Who sang power to the people how to
#Who sang power to the people movie

No, Delia Owens is not wanted for murder. A lot of folks read the original novel when it was selected for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and haven’t heard about the murder that may have influenced the novel. It is also the fault of Delia Owens, the author of the original book. It’s the fault of the story, which tries to portray her as noble and strong, when she does, in fact, need a lot of help. Maybe I am butting up against the whole point of the story-to look out for one another, no matter our backgrounds, no matter our differences-by slamming the girl, but it’s not her fault. The world of Barkley Cove revolves around Kya, be it loathing her or loving her. Then, there’s the weird situation with Tate, her half-teacher, half-lover. Still, a trusty old lawyer (a charming David Strathairn, who I want to be my grandfather now) picks up her case. Most of the town has always hated her-except for the select handful that keep her alive- and her DNA was found on the murder victim. She does have an alibi, but that doesn’t keep the town from gossiping with suspicion. His shell necklace, the one she made for him, is gone. We don’t know if she committed the crime, but Kya seemingly has no chance of winning this. One of Kya’s abusive ex-lovers is found dead at the foot of the town’s watch tower, possibly from a fatal push. The local store owners, Mabel and Jumpin’ (Michael Hyatt and Sterling Macer Jr.), keep her alive by offering her shoes, clothes, and food in exchange for half-full sacks of mussels. Kya fends for herself by relying on those around her who think she’s cute and beautiful. We are expected to empathize with Kya because she has, from a very young age, “fended for herself”-but this just isn’t true. Let’s start with Kya, the chief issue with the film.

But as thrilling as it is, it’s littered with problematic snags. It’s no wonder the book became so popular. At that mystery core, Where the Crawdads Sing does thoroughly entertain. We don’t know if she’s committed the crime. When we first meet her at the beginning of Where the Crawdads Sing, she’s being arrested for murder. Now, she’s alone, fending for herself in the Carolina marshes, selling mussels to get by.

At a young age, her family abandons her, leaving her with an abusive father ( Garret Dillahunt), though it’s not very long before he’s left her, too.

#Who sang power to the people movie

Or because he was “in love.” But how can you be in love with someone who can barely communicate with you? It’s a gripe with the movie I never got past.īut it’s not just Tate helping Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing-a whole squadron of Barkley Cove residents rally around her. Similar to Stranger Things’ Mike and El (who cannot communicate with humans in the first season of the series), I felt agitated watching a man carve out a whole human life for his woman-seemingly just so he could get in her pants. It’s impossible to empathize with this couple when this man is fetishizing infantilism. She has no personality, other than being gorgeous, broken, and needing his help.

Though their sex scenes are steamy and they have great chemistry, there’s little reason for Tate to fall in love with the wild woman of the marsh. There are obvious scenes of a savior complex with Tate, who finds their educational dynamic titillating in a way that I found really off-putting.

#Who sang power to the people how to

That romance in Where the Crawdads Sing hinges on the fact that Tate (Taylor John Smith)-a smart, kind, handsome young boy-teaches Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) how to read and write. Nor could I get past the uncomfortable, somewhat gross relationship at the center of the film. (The Oscar-winner produced the film under her Hello Sunshine banner.) But no matter how juicy the mystery at the center of the story got-and it gets fairly intense-I couldn’t shake my discomfort over scandalous reports about Delia Owens, who wrote the book and is wanted for questioning in an actual murder. Sure, the Reese Witherspoon of it all is irresistible. Sure, lead Daisy Edgar-Jones is spellbinding. Sure, the book it’s based on is incredibly popular. There are people who are going to undoubtedly love the new film Where the Crawdads Sing, the gripping murder thriller that hit theaters this weekend.