By the Sea (2015)

Sadly Over-hyped

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

In the 70's, writer Roland (Brad Pitt) and former dancer Vanessa (Angelina Jolie) are in a tired marriage. They hope to rekindle their relationship and his writing in a small seaside town in the south of France. She finds a peep hole and obsesses over their next door neighbor especially Léa (Mélanie Laurent).Angelina Jolie continues to try to be a real filmmaker. She seems competent as a director. I don't see any outstanding style but her work is functional. The acting is tired although that's their characters. Her depression needs to be over-dramatized. When depression is depressed, it's depressing to watch. That's mostly in the writing and I don't think Jolie is a good writer. She may have fair concepts but her dialogue does not sing. The flow is stuck in mud. The plot could have gone somewhere compelling. She needs to collaborate with a better writer who could help her work. This has potential but Jolie lacks the skills to exploit.

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. I must admit, I had my doubts, being directed by Angelina Jolie and the romantic aspect. But I was very moved by this picture.It was a sweet, small little film that does wonders. It's romance, drama, and just a general good time.7 Stars, though it deserves one more

Angelina has once again failed in every way possible with this movie! Her editing was bad, her directing was horrible, and her acting was just horrendous. She has failed to put out a good movie in quite some time and By the Sea was not even close to a good movie. Even the script was just horrible. If you think that being a voyeur is going to save your marriage, Jolie will show you all the ways that it won't with this movie. Even Brad Pitt should be ashamed of himself for his role in this movie as his acting was just as bad as Angelina's. Based off their lack of chemistry in this movie, I can understand why this couple got divorced. The movie was so slow that there were times that the only thing that saved the movie was the beautiful background of Malta. And Brad Pitt's car was the star of this movie in my opinion!

Many critics and moviegoers thought that Angelina Jolie's "By the Sea" was at the apex of pittiful. I don't share that sentiment, but I am close. Jolie wrote and directed "By the Sea" about a couple who have been married for 14 years who travel to a France seacoast village to escape a recent tragedy. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as that married couple, Roland and Vanessa. Roland is a writer trying to recapture his scribe magic that gave him much acclaim for a past novel. Roland likes to roll a la Hemingway with plenty of alcoholic inspiration for his scribe. Vanessa is a frigid wife who is not very Jolie I mean jolly to those that she confronts. Roland and Vanessa then encounter a newlywed couple to the villa next to them, that would be Lea and Francois played respectively by Melanie Laurent and Melvil Poupad. Roland and Vanessa find a peephole that allows them to perverse I mean observe Lea and Francois' interactions. Do I need to say more how ridiculous this is. Sorry Angelina, but your direction and scribe of "By the Sea" was atrocious and absurd. Both Pitt and Jolie were not believable in their roles as Roland and Vanessa. One wondrous aspect of the film was the stunning cinematography by Christian Berger. He was the only Berger King of this movie. OK, just like Brad & Angelina, it is time for me to split. Sea you later! *** Average