Eleanor the Great
Eleanor the Great is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13+.
After a devastating loss, witty and proudly troublesome 94 year old Eleanor Morgenstein (June Squibb) tells a tale that takes on its own dangerous life.
STORY: B-
Emotion over everything.
The film evokes Maya Angleou’s famous quote. In a few months, I may not remember many of its lines. I may not remember much of what happened. But I will always remember the way Eleanor the Great made me feel: soaring with gratitude and empathy.
The story has a few flaws (for example, the hero should be the one who learns the movie’s “lesson” first, not someone else). But its emotional current is more than enough to overcome theose missteps and keep us connected to its gripping tale.
PEOPLE: C+
Rita Zohar steals the show.
I’m loving the Squibb-aissance, but Rita Zohar may very well have given us the best Oscar clip of the year. I nearly floated out of the theater watching Bessie crawl through a gauntlet of devastating emotion as she recounts the horrors she faced as a child.
It’s not hard to fall in love with June Squibb’s Eleanor, but Erin Kellyman’s performance is what makes us believe this charmingly odd couple are real besties. She shows us, once again, that she’s an up and comer worth keeping an eye on.
FILM NERD STUFF: C
This is why God invented the montage.
The opening sequence seems simple. But if you lift the hood you’ll find narrative craft operating at a high level.
The sequence follows Eleanor and Bessie as they gamely plod their way through their morning routine. Every shake of the head, every muffled giggle, and boatloads of elder-snark combines to create something greater than the sum of its parts: a precise, clear picture of who these women are and what they mean to each other.
It works so well that it feels like every inch of it was spelled out in the script, not cobbled together in the editing room.
ONE BIG LESSON: A-
Let’s talk about it.
It’s fantasy to think any of us are going to make our way through life without having to wrestle with sadness and its pain. If you don’t handle your grief, it’ll find a way to handle you. And it won’t play nice.
Do the things you need to do to keep yourself healthy. Floss. Eat your veggies. And talk about your grief with whomever you feel safe.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Eleanor the Great is a pleasant, poignant, and interesting film. One could argue its main flaw is also one of its main strengths. Its simple presentation feels like a lost opportunity to lift the film’s message to larger heights, but that same simplicity is also what allows its emotional power to flow unfettered.
Ultimately, most of the filmmaking choices feel safe. That doesn’t mean they’re bad choices or wrong choices. Some feel spot on. But I’m excited to see what Johansson’s next project will look like once she cranks up the volume on her own unique voice.