"The Seagull" (PG-13, 1:38) is a drama directed by television movie and series helmer Michael Mayer and written by Stephen Karam ("Speech & Debate"), based on the oft-performed classic play of the same name by renowned 19th century Russian theater and short story writer Anton Chekhov. This American version features an all-star cast with multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominees/winners.The story is very character-driven and more about the development and journeys of the various characters than an overarching narrative. The action takes place in and around the Russian country home of Irina (Annette Bening), an actress who still works, but whose glory days are behind her. Also living there are her brother, Sorin (Brian Dennehy), a man in failing health who never realized his dream of becoming a writer, and Irina's son, Konstantin (Billy Howle), who is a manic-depressive aspiring playwright who wants nothing more than to earn the respect of his cruel, self-absorbed mother.Others at the house include the groundskeeper (Glenn Fleshler) and his wife (Mare Winningham). They're treated like members of the family, but subject to the arbitrary and capricious whims of the lady of the house - and worry about what would happen if they anger her. Irina herself is married to a man named Boris (Corey Stoll), who is a successful writer. She seems to want to be with him mainly because of his fame, but he's the kind of man who may not be satisfied with the same woman for too long.And that brings us to the various love triangles. Konstantin has a girlfriend, an aspiring actress named Nina (Saoirse Ronan) who has trouble reaching out to him when he's in one of his moods, but she's also attracted to another. An unassuming school teacher is pursuing the groundskeeper's jaded daughter, Masha (Elisabeth Moss), but she's interested in someone else in the household. And so it goes. Not much happens outside the estate, but the characters develop and some of their conflicts are resolved. "The Seagull" is an entertaining version of Chekov's classic play. His 19th century sensibilities may not be to the taste of modern Movie Fans and the Russian setting (although the characters all speak in English) may be just too foreign for some, but the story explores life, love and longing, universal themes to which most people can relate. This is a great actors' showcase, and every member of the cast rises to the challenge. Every one of those characters are interesting and well-developed, but also basically selfish... although that's kind of the point. "B+"

Unrequited love all around in this feel good movie. Haha. Not really feel good. Everyone is in love with someone who is in love with someone else. The cast is awesome. I really love Moss. She is such a great actress. The mixture of different accents was a bit much considering they are all supposed to be Russian. I think it was interesting to not even try. It is a tad bit dramatic, but it is a play afterall.

Good actors love sinking their teeth into the vortex of intertwined, colliding lives with irreconcilable priorities and/or personalities. All of this is on display in director Michael Mayer's new cinematic adaptation of "The Seagull."

Mayer's adaptation works in fits and starts, but if you're interested in the way a new group of actors approach important theatrical roles, Seagull is worth seeing.

[Director Mayer] soon finds his footing and occasionally reveals something heartbreakingly genuine for contemporary moviegoers in the myriad complicated relationships comprising Chekhov's insulated world.

At times you feel like you're watching bits and pieces of two or three different films. Happily, they're all pretty good ones.

Annette Bening embraces her character's imperiousness and narcissism, somehow staying likable as she demands to be the center of attention at all times.

...a quick stepping adaptation featuring a fabulous cast. The film isn't perfect, its takeoff and touchdown both problematic, but everything in between is a smooth, pleasurable ride.

While some of the original's tone and complexity is lost in the translation, taken on its own terms the film is actually quite effective.

The Seagull is a charming, if not all that poignant, comedy of manners whose true strength lies in the myriad one-on-one interactions between the actors, precise and pitch-perfect all.

I found the movie to be just light enough to avoid feeling like a "prestige project" and just weighty enough to feel like it's worth the trouble.

There really isn't much to go on with any of these characters besides the connecting tissue of unrequited love, but if you're like me and find that to be an alluring and inherently romantic quality, you just might be able to go along with The Seagull

The best reason to check out the film is for Saoirse Ronan's tender, wrenching performance as the lovelorn Nina, and, especially, for Annette Bening's fantastic turn as Irina...

Everyone is unhappy, almost exhaustingly so, but the casting here is exquisite, and the performances are equal to the themes of class warfare, artistic defiance, and familial disappointment in Chekhov's play.

Chekhov's drama is played as a comedy of selfishness, vanity, and egocentrism.