Reviews: 'Mrs. Harris' Charms In Paris, And 'Crawdads' Movie Enthralls

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Looking for a whodunnit movie filled with romance and mystery? Look no further than “Where the Crawdads Sing,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Taylor John-Smith as a pair of unlikely lovebirds suddenly caught in the unraveling of a cove's long-buried secrets.

Meanwhile, high-end fashion melds with dreams in the comedy-drama “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” in which Lesley Manville plays a British housekeeper suddenly thrust into a world of Parisian haute couture.

Are these two cinematic adaptations faithful to the best-selling novels? Either way, for legions of fans, the wait is over to find out.

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“Where the Crawdads Sing” — Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith; directed by Olivia Newman

Olivia Newman’s cinematic adaptation of Delia Owens’ phenomenal best-seller is a mystery thriller about Kya Clark, an abandoned girl who, against all odds, grows into a resilient young woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) in the face of adversity and personal misfortunes.

Told compellingly in flashbacks through first-person narration, Kya’s sad life story begins at the tender age of six as she watches her tormented mother abandon her entire family. Eventually, her older siblings also flee their violent home due to their father’s bouts of alcoholism. Then suddenly, Kya’s dad vanishes without a trace, leaving the poor little girl alone and helpless in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina.

Over the years, she will have to rely on her survival instincts and resourcefulness to be able to fend for herself day in and day out.

Now in her 20s, Kya has become an object of ridicule in the small town of Barkley Cove where she is considered a social pariah — labeled in disdain as the “Marsh Girl.” Luckily, she can count on the kindness of a few townsfolk, including her childhood friend, Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), the prominent attorney Tom Milton (David Strathairn) and the warmhearted married couple Jumpin’ and Mabel (Sterling Macer Jr. and Michael Hyatt).

It is only a matter of time before the body of Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson), Barkley Cove’s former quarterback star, washes up beneath the fire tower, threatening to reveal the buried secrets of the wetlands. Did Kya murder Chase?

See it.

“Where the Crawdads Sing” will delight the incurable romantics, all the while casting an intriguing spell on the tenacious sleuths — though the movie's tonal shifts feel uneven at times.

Watch the trailer.

“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” — Lesley Manville, Isabel Huppert; directed by Anthony Fabian

A story about dreams, high-end fashion — and a super-lady to cheer on! Anthony Fabian’s latest cinematic outing is a comedy drama based on Paul Gallico’s 1958 novel about the adventures of a charming British housekeeper.

Lesley Manville plays the eponymous Mrs. Harris, a London essential worker, who spends her days cleaning homes, and her nights waiting to hear from her husband. Apparently, it has been over a decade since he went missing in action during the war.

Our heroine might be hoping against hope, but she remains undeterred, nevertheless. After all, life is full of surprises, including one happenstance when Mrs. Harris sees a dazzling Christian Dior dress at one of the homes she cleans. Suddenly, without a hint of hesitation, she decides to purchase one for herself.

And so, off she goes to Paris with her hard-earned rolls of British pounds, utterly determined to reach for the stars. On her quest, she will cross paths with interesting people, including a very prim Dior employee (Isabel Huppert), a smart supermodel (Alba Baptista) and a French nobleman (Lambert Wilson).

In the end, will she finally achieve her dream to own a Christian Dior haute couture?

See it.

Charming as it is, the movie is a feel-good tour de force, further elevated by Manville’s delightful performance.

Watch the trailer.