Displaying items by tag: Sally Field

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…?