User reviews

A young woman, a superstar in the making, returns to her homeland where foundations are all shaking, where prejudice and hate, are causing some to jar and grate, where her views are not compliant, but she's resolute, defiant. So the government machine, sets up its wires to intervene, to listen in on what she's doing, to record all those she's wooing, to disrupt, antagonise, peddling nonsense and plain lies, a conspiracy of hate, of shadow puppets who collate.

Another incredible Kristen Stewart performance, leaves you under no illusion of the government machine that sought to destroy Jean Seberg because of her affiliations and relationships with the movements and people that were no longer prepared to live in a world of racism and discrimination.

Greetings again from the darkness. "Who is Jean Seberg?" A reporter asks the question to her, just before the movie star's agent escorts him away as she prepares for publicity shots on PAINT YOUR WAGON, the outlandish 1969 musical-comedy in which she co-starred with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. It's also a question we expect a film entitled SEBERG to answer, though it never really does. Oh sure, we get the basics: small town girl (Marshalltown, Iowa), Hollywood starlet, activist, target of FBI, and tragic ending. Unwisely, the film tries to cram in too many other pieces of a puzzle - a puzzle plenty interesting on its own.

Kristen Stewart stars as Jean Seberg, the breakout star of the French New Wave Cinema in Jean-Luc Godard's BREATHLESS (1960). Ms. Stewart brings much more than a short haircut to the role. It's not a stretch to imagine Ms. Stewart has experienced some of the downside to fame that Ms. Seberg experienced during her career, so it's no surprise that the moments of torment and frustration and anxiety are the film's best. Even as a teenager in Iowa, Ms. Seberg showed signs of an activist-in-development. She ran off to Hollywood and was discovered by director Otto Preminger and cast in the lead role for his SAINT JOAN (1957). Seberg actually suffered severe burns during the filming of a key scene - one which is reenacted by Stewart for this film.

Director Benedict Andrews working with a script from Joe Shrapnel (grandson of actress Deborah Kerr) and Anna Waterhouse (they also co-wrote THE AFTERMATH and RACE), focuses mostly on the period of 1968-1971. We see Seberg's first encounter with Hakim Abdullah Jamal (Anthony Mackie) on a commercial flight, and her follow-up pose with the Black Panthers for a publicity shot on the tarmac. This kicks off an FBI investigation, as well as an affair between Seberg (married to novelist and filmmaker Romain Gary, played by Yvan Attal) and Jamal (married to Dorothy, played by Zazie Beetz). We see how Seberg landed on Hoover's FBI watch list, and how she was sincerely trying to help what she saw as a worthy cause.

We watch the FBI meticulously build a file on Seberg, albeit illegally under the COINTELPRO (counter-intelligence program) program. Surveillance was used to work towards their goal of running a smear campaign against Seberg due to her support of the Black Panther Party. Jack O'Connell plays FBI Agent Jack Solomon, and Vince Vaughan plays his partner Carl Kowalski. Family dinner time at the Kowalski home is anything but leisurely fun, and it's an unnecessary scene meant to contrast Kowalski's character with that of Solomon. It's here where the film falters. An inordinate amount of time is spent on Agent Solomon and his conscience and his med-student wife Linette (a sinfully underutilized Margaret Qualley).

The film would have been best served by focusing on either Seberg or Solomon. The two stories dilute the effectiveness, and beyond that, the Black Panther story line fades, as does the whole celebrity-as-an-activist subplot. Instead, Seberg's breakdown and Solomon's second thoughts share center-stage. The film does succeed in exposing the extremes Hoover's organization would go to in order to discredit someone whose beliefs might not have meshed with what was deemed proper for the times. What happened to Seberg was a tragedy, and according to Mr. Gary, led to the loss of her career and eventually to her death.

The film bounces from Paris to Los Angeles, and the set decorations and costumes are picture perfect for the era. There are actual Black Panther clips shown, and Ms. Stewart also reenacts a scene from BREATHLESS. Regardless of the script and story issues, Kristen Stewart delivers a terrific performance as Jean Seberg, and keeps our attention the entire time. We like her and feel for her as she slips. The real Ms. Seberg was found dead in a car at age 40, and suicide was suspected, though mystery still surrounds her death to this day. Lastly, just a piece of free advice ... if you are looking to do good things in life, having a marital affair is rarely the right first step.

I hate that people can give film reviews or ratings on IMDB without having seen the film.

Firstly, if you don't like an actor, just don't watch the film. Don't go onto a ratings site a skew the scores.

Secondly, if you want to see a complete accurate portrayal of a biography watch the History channel.

This is based on the story of Jean Seberg and her persecution by the FBI. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it a sanitised version of what is known? Yes.

Kristen Stewart more than held her own in this film. It didn't have a great script and the cinematography was clunky, and even though she had a pretty good supporting cast, they really didn't have much to play with. Its okay. But I wouldn't watch it again.

I managed to watch this on Amazon streaming movies, my wife skipped.

This movie is somewhat better than its IMDb rating might suggest, mainly because mysteriously there are about 12% "1" votes in May 2020. No way could this ever be considered that poor a movie.

Kristen Stewart is chosen to play Jean Seberg, the story is mainly from 1968 to about 1971 or 1972 when she was in her early 30s. Living in France at that time with her French family she traveled to Los Angeles and during the trip took an interest in the black civil rights movement and protests.

This got her on the FBI radar and what followed was much surveillance, recording of conversations, and eventually a concerted effort to discredit her. It is noteworthy that she died at age 40 in 1979 from "probable suicide."

The movie is well made but I have to wonder, "Why was this movie made?" Seberg was a minor star and I suspect few living today remember any of her roles. Still it is a worthwhile movie if not a stellar one.

There are moments in time when we need to be reminded of the wrongs we've inflicted on others. Seberg succeeds in bringing a message to even the most casual of viewers of what we've allowed to happen in our nation. I found the film to be well written and Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Seberg left me saddened and angry, which to me speaks to a film's success when dealing with news worthy topic. I wish the rest of the cast would have come close to Stewart's performance because it wouldn't have taken much to elevate this movie even more.

Those portraying government representatives slipped into easy stereotypes blended was stilted performances. The passion of the real life individuals whose public persona impacted Seberg's life was barely captured by the actors in the film.

But I'm sitting here wondering all the what ifs so for this afternoon this film has me recommending it to friends. Seven Stars

This movie was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Although Kristen Stewart's performance was good she had the room to really make the role her own. I don't think you have to see this in a big screen just wait for it on streaming platforms.

It is sometimes hard to pinpoint where exactly films fail, the cinematography wasn't bad and you can definitely see that Kristen Stewart tried, but everything else about this film was below mediocre. Characters were one dimensional and lacked any depth, plot development, from the very moment the two main characters meet and then meet again, was abrupt and unbelievable. The other main characters - the good FBI agent vs. the bad one, were just as shallow. Not to mention the wives, whose role never went anywhere and might have as well not been in this film at all.

In the end, it simply wasn't interesting to watch and that is something no amount of blank long gazes and gratuitous nudity can fix.

If you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and watch 'The Lives of Others', a 2006 German film that shares a similar theme but actually does it justice.

American actress Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart) is the darling of the French New Wave with films like Breathless (1960). On a flight to L. A. for a screen test, she is taken with black activist Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie). She becomes the target of the FBI. FBI agent Jack Solomon (Jack O'Connell) is thrown into the case and struggles with their more troubling methods.

It's the compelling tragic true story of actress Jean Seberg. I have to assume that much if not all of Jack Solomon's story is fictionalized and there lies the problem. While I understand his purpose in the story telling, I really don't believe in that last scene. If that actually happened, she would return that material. That scene rings false. Instead of that scene, the movie should end with her suicide. That's the completion of her tragedy. In the end, her real-life story is fascinating and Kristen Stewart puts in her own personal history into the role.

Jean Seberg's real life story is full of twists and turns and things that can be applied to things happening in 2020. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't separate itself from the pack and become anything fresh or original. And it feels like you can contribute some of the fault to the directing choices made by Benedict Andrews. The film never felt as engaging as the subject matter calls for. Seberg is deserving of a movie based on her life, but this certainly wasn't it.

4.8/10

I don't need to review the whole story of Jean Seberg, or this film, which is well done.. Other reviews and sources do that. This film touches on several aspects of her career, just enough to give us a sense of who she was and how her support of the Black movement in the US was her undoing. And how the FBI was unjust in using her to discredit that black movement.. All that aside, Kristen Stewart is the real deal. This is an actress that I believe will win an Oscar if the right parts come her way.

Seberg: A film based on actual events in the life of Jean Seberg, star of Breathless and other French New Wave classics. Covering the period 1968 to 1971 it illustrates how the FBI destroyed her life through gaslighting tactics, false information and releasing tapes obtained through bugging. Seberg (Kristen Stewart) wasn't the only victim in this though, there was an element of revolutionary tourism involved in her support of the Black Panthers and the more reformist movement led by Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie). Jamal's marriage and educational trust were destroyed when details of his affair with Seberg were leaked by the FBI. What should have been a taut thriller turns out to be a disappointment due to the rather flat direction by Benedict Andrews, he doesn't deliver on the sharp script provided by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse. The acting generally isn't bad but given the subject matter I would have expected more passion, especially from Stewart. 6/10.

This has to be one of the poorest biopic that I have seen.Having read the biography Played Out I was hoping for a book that would reflect the tragic life of Jean Seberg.Alas no.What we get is a film which concentrates on harassment by the GNU and almost excludes Seberg.

Good and powerful role by Kristen Stuart as a French actress Jean Seberg who was funding 'Black Panther' an association which helps black to their fight for equality against white in America late '60s. Though movie is slow and not much thrill, Kristen's super performance will stick you till end. She captured every mood of Jean very perfectly. Must watch this flick for her and a real story of a Hollywood actress.

The best thing about the movie is how it shows the FBI persecuting a beautiful Hollywood actress because she supported the black panthers. It helps to be a fan of Jean Seberg. K Stew doesn't look like her or act or speak like her. K Stew is too fast and clipped in her speech and looks are very contemporary. But The good thing is the story is interesting and the other cast members are quite watchable including Jack O'Connor as an FBI agent with a conscience.

An exploration of US civil rights in the late 60s (which, lest we forget, was the result of many years of less than glorious actions from white america) through the device of its impact on Jean Seberg.

One might take exception with some actions of the Panthers (especially after the period depicted here); but much of that is afterwards; it is also the case that reports of incidents between panthers and police are unreliable. It is true that if people feel oppressed, they begin to fight - and that is where we are soon after the panther formation.

It is well documented that Seberg was the target of a propaganda campaign about her pregnancy - the "sol" letter is real.

There may be factors unexplored, but this is a film focussing on Seberg, not a text book exploring every facet of the Panthers - and it does a decent job.

Hey, with this subject matter, it's not the funnest movie to watch but it was decent. Kristen Stewart may not be the best actress alive but don't you agree that she has that indefinable stage presence?

The FBI plays hardball with Jean Seberg while Kristin Stewart's portrayal hardens the softness of the former movie star in this bio that only partially covers her life. Covering the bureau's investigation period of her which director Benedict Andrews infers more than led to her blacklisting, miscarriage, divorce, emotional breakdown and eventual suicide, it gives the limited Stewart plenty to pout about, but little to dig into.

The script by Joe Shrapnel an Anna Waterhouse comes out swinging as it portrays the agents as a bunch of lascivious dysfunctional family leaders who kick dogs, literally. No attempt at all is made to blame saint Jean or address the emotional problems, infidelity and drug use that plagued her during her lifetime.

Stewart, modeling some chic outfits is simply too boyish and hard to resemble the naive neophyte. Instead we get a paranoid, horny, alcoholic given cover by the actions of some seedy FBI agents running roughshod over her career as an excuse for it. To make matters worse there's a deus ex machina attempt at redemption by an agent in the film's climactic scenes bringing an even more hackneyed finish to a poorly told story.

I just got out of Seberg

At times it's a bit flat, and at times it's predictable. But since I don't know anything about Jean Seberg, I do not know how accurate it is, but I know enough about Hoover and his actions to believe what is shown here. Sadly it's more interesting themes are left unexplored.

Kristen Stewart is the best thing in this movie, she is fascinating to watch. She owns the screen, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Vince Vaughn and Anthony Mackie are both decent support, whilst Jack O'Connell is the conscience of the FBI who feels a great deal of guilt about what they are doing. Overall it has a great lead performance with some solid support and I was entertained through out.

Sady, in not expecting many people to see this, there were only 10 other people in my screening.

I wrote a thoughtful review of this film but stated that KS gave another limp performance and some enraged fan took my entire review down so I will try again!

I normally don't comment on other reviewer's opinions since they are entitled to them as much as I am mine, but since y'all took mine down I will say it is sad to see so many 10/10 reviews whose only comments are to say Kristian Stewart is a great actor and this must be a good film because Bella from Twilight cannot possibly be in a bad film! And contain no assessment of the actual film or the reasons why it is good or bad.

Newsflash: This isn't a fan-page, its a movie review site.

To the review: this is not a great movie, but there are some good aspects to it - the art direction and period are true to form and the acting from the supporting actors is excellent.

Kristen Stewart gives her usual stuttering, stop-start lines while looking off into the distance, shaking her head, shifting her eyes back and forth (Like Joey from Friends doing math in his head) then refocusing and throwing down a line off the top of her head routine, all of which makes my skin crawl. She reminds me of Woody Allen. But without the humor.

The only movie I liked her in was Kelly Reichardt's 'Certain Women,' probably because she dropped the act and used props (eating and drinking coffee) instead. I read that Reichardt made Stewart use the actual words the writers toiled for months over instead of whatever came into her head, so good for Reichardt.

I don't understand the point of this movie: are we supposed to feel for this rich, bored, privileged, famous woman who dabbles in the civil rights movement for a second because she is apparently disillusioned with her empty life? According to the film, all Seberg did was write a few checks, get her picture taken with some real activists, and cheat on her husband with a married black man.

Thank God there were people fighting the real fights while the she stood around virtue signalling.

Are we supposed to sympathize with her because she was wire-tapped by the FBI? Do the filmmakers know what happened to real civil rights activists?

I am sure there is more to the story but this film failed to show me any reason to feel for this woman.

Empty is the best word for this movie I can think of. It's pretty to look at but otherwise empty, banal pointless.

Perhaps I liked this film better than the next person because movie star bios intrigue me.. Jean Seberg certainly was no angel, and Kristen Stewart well portrays her. Irrespective of the latter, the film also quite loudly portrays Hoover's obsessions that led to the star's demise. See the film and judge for yourself!

This is a story that had serious liberties taken to push agenda. I feel stories about real people should be as accurate as possible. This isn't a true story, but it is pushed as one. And Stewart might be the most overrated star in Hollywood today. A friend complained about her facial expressions years ago during the Twilight series and I can't help but notice it in every movie since. She simply is not a good actress. Passable yes, but not good. Her 'acting' always consists of goofy facial expressions. Tired of what should be good movies ruined by her miscasting (See: Charlie's Angels for example). I had high hopes...it didn't live up to it.

The film starts a little slow, but it becomes engaging towards the middle. Seberg's unfortunate experiences made me feel very sad for her. She didn't deserve what she had! Kristin Stewart's performance is very good and very convincing.