Displaying items by tag: Beth Grant

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES

US, 2026, 111 minutes, Colour.

Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Donald Sales, voice of Alfred Molina.

Directed by Olivia Newman.

The remarkably bright creatures in this story are sea creatures, especially an octopus who spent over 1000 days out of the ocean, now in the display in the aquarium. His name is Marcellus, and he is a central character here, telling the story of his life in the voice of Alfred Molina, making comments about the humans and their limitations and the superiority of sea creatures.

While the humans in the story may not be as remarkably bright as the sea creatures, the audience will find themselves identifying more and more with two of them.

At this stage in review, it is probably important to note that this is a film for audiences who enjoy feelings, emotions, not afraid to run the risk of sentimentality. Which means that it is definitely not for audiences who have more serious attitudes towards life and emotions, thatnthey are not really for display, especially in films like this.

This having been noted, Remarkably Bright Creatures will engage most audiences. And there is Sally Field, almost 80, 60 years of top-lining film and television, a widow in a small town on the US north-west coast, keeping busy as she cleans the aquarium, chatting to Marcellus, revealing her sadness, especially in the loss of her son. The other main character is Eric, Lewis Pullman, something of a drifter, with a band, the other members pulling out, his being stranded in the town, no money, helped by the sympathetic storekeeper, Ethan (a genial Colm Meaney) and getting a job to replace Tova at the aquarium.

We observe. Marcellus observes, all this. Eric is not very good and Tova takes him under control cleaning detail. And she has to make decisions, offered a place in an aged care centre, whether to sell her house, urged on by her longtime gossipy friends, but, all the time wondering about the death of her son.

We enjoy the bonding between Tova and Eric, also some stories about Ethan and his devotion to Tova, Tova learning more about her son and his past.

And, for audiences who love sweet endings, and more than a touch of cheerfulness, the ending here they will find one of the best.

1. The title and expectations, tone? And the sea creatures, seen underwater, seen in the tanks, the focus on the octopus, devil eel?
2. The small town setting, on the coast, American north-west, weather, atmosphere? The aquarium, display, the children, behaviour, licking the glass,, leaving the mess? Tovs and the cleaning, so much of the action in this space? Her home, the views, the town itself, shops, the streets, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. Marcellus, the octopus, the voice of Alfred Molina, the commentary, his life story, captured, counting the days, his life coming to an end, his observations about humans, the skills of an octopus, superior, his sympathy for Tova, reaction to Eric, gradual sympathy, intervening? His escapes, Tova rescuing him? Finally, his observations about the friendship, the future, Tova and her rescuing him, returning him to the sea? And the rescue of the next octopus, the background story, the continuity of the display?
4. Tova, Sally Field’s presence, her story, her age, love for her son, the clash, his going out in the boat, the finding of the boat, the speculation that he had committed suicide? Tova and her searching for a reason? Over the decades? And the death of her husband? Living alone, managing, keeping busy at the aquarium, the phone calls, the offer of the room at aged care, her finally agreeing? Her friends, the meeting, all the gossip, their personalities, trying to organise Tova, the lunch, the daughter arriving, Tova asking her for the yearbook, encounter with the couple to buy her house, indication of a name, finding the name? The son and his girlfriend?
5. The decision to sell the house, the agent, pressing the house, the preparation for sale?
6. Eric, driving into town, car failure, not enough money for repairs, the encounter with Ethan, his store, kindly, suggesting the job, going to the aquarium, the discussions with Terry, Tova and her breaking her ankle, needing replacement at work, her criticisms of Eric, the detailed explanation of how to clean? And Marcellus observing?
7. Eric, the band, his ambitions, his absent mother, the flashbacks, no explanation of his father? The phone call, the band members, the pregnancy, pulling out? His surviving in his van? The encounter with Avery, the attraction?
8. Gradually bonding with Tova, her becoming motherly, reprimanding, teaching, encouraging the date, their walking, talking, the effect on him? The outing with Avery, the paddles, the discovery that she had a son, his reaction and moving away?
9. Ethan and his devotion to Tova, setting up the dates, his telling his story and following bands, the awkwardness, spilling and stains? Eric explaining things to Tova?
10. The ups and downs of the relationship, Tova and her moods, the move, the gossip from her friends, concern about her son, Eric fixing the house and her ousting him? His finding the box under the floor, the photo?
11. The significance of the ring, Eric with his father’s ring, the phone call to the suspected father, difficulty tracking him down, eventually meeting him, the fact that the man was gay?
12. The importance of the reading, EEL, Marcellus and his intervention, Tova seeing it, her son’s name, and a realisation for Eric who his father was, for Tova?
13. The future, mother and son, life together…?

SWEET DREAMS

US, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

Johnny Knoxville, Bobby Lee, Jay Mohr, Beth Grant, Brian Van Holt.

Directed by Lije Sarki.

There seem to be too intentions in the making of this film. One is a film about rehab. The other is a softball competition film. But, probably the is that this is very much a rehab film using the softball competition as a focus for the energies and striving for rehabilitation.

Sweet Dreams is the name of an institution, for men only, the men managing for themselves, cooking and cleaning, attending meetings, acknowledging their drug and alcohol addictions, their sense of inferiority, their hopes for some kind of change in their lives.

In many ways, this is presented conventionally, the introduction to a range of men, multiracial, but very American in their presence, talk, style, ambitions. The centre is run as a charity, is experiencing financial difficulties. The focus is on softball, training, play, competitiveness, taunts from the rival team… But, of course, some ultimate success.

The surprise of the film, in fact, is the presence of Johnny Knoxville, famous for his jackass movies. This performance is quite different – quite moving at times, especially in the scenes of his explaining himself, his drinking, driving, danger to his young daughter’s life. He is divorced, not allowed to see his daughter.

A lot of the sequences are played for laughs even though there is some tough realism the men and their sense of self-worth, their interactions, issues of hygiene, nicknames and poking fun…

This is very much a film for male audience. There are very few women in the cast at all, the central characters mother and daughter, especially at the end, present with the sense of achievement at the victory that softball. It is a film that men with problems could see which might motivate them to seek some kind of rehabilitation – or for women close to the men to see to encourage them to seek some kind of help.

1. Title, the centre, the hopefulness, the management and intentions, the men, their dreams, addictions, self-worth, rehabilitation?
2. The main action at the centre, the interiors, the rooms, gatherings, the kitchen, the meetings? This field
3. the focus on Morris, his background, talents, sport, the car, his mother, the danger to his daughter, his ex-wife forbidding him to see her? Coming to the centre? Sharing of the room, the smelly inhabitant, the bottom bunk, the urinating? The kitchen, cooking, washing up? His relationship with the other men, some leadership, it is self-deprecation? The phone calls from his daughter? At the meetings, his frank expression of his failures? If the talent with the softball, the team, coaching, defeat, victories? Reunited with his mother and daughter?
4. The manager, a charity, his work, relationship with the men, financial difficulties, the group helping with the finances, the issue of the option of the centre?
5. The other men, the range, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, their stories, personalities, sharing, the taunting of Crews? At the softball, the hopes, the taunts of the of the team, the role of Morris, observing, encouraging, and the final victory?
6. Morris, at the meetings, listening to the stories, the executive for 20 years and his failure, rehabilitation? Some of the others at the Centre for years? The issue of sponsors, Maurice and his discussions, support?
7. Comparative absence of women in the cast, the woman with her addiction, the young women and the softball match?
8. A serious minded comedy, encouraging men into rehabilitation, for women to support men going to rehabilitation?