Eleanor the Great

So the way this film came across promotional wise because I never saw any information about it. I just saw the poster and with the name being Eleanor the Great for some reason, I thought this was gonna be one of those terrible movies because I thought it was gonna be based on some ancient person and we just cast an older lady in the film, to play off of that historical character. But that is not what this film was actually about so I will say that the marketing for this film was definitely incorrect and should've been done better.

This film follows an older woman who's dealing with the sadness of the loss of her friend, and befriends a young girl who is dealing with the loss of her mother. This unlikely friendship becomes a very soft spot for the entire film. Scarlett Johansson did an incredible job at captivating each character within this film by not only giving us delivery from the screenplay, which was strong, but also allowing us to follow along with an incredible story.

In the beginning, I personally thought this was gonna be some goofy comedy. Eventually I realized this was not gonna be anything that is Oscar-ready or an Oscar contender. This was just going to be a typical June Squibb film and, I'll be honest, June isn't always one of my actresses of choice.

I chose this movie because I've seen everything else in theaters and reviewed everything that is new and I wanted to give this movie a fair shot. This movie hangs on every word. The emotions, the character development, and the story itself linger in your mind. Sometimes you're angry and sometimes you're sad, but ultimately at the end of the day it's inspirational.

I can't believe the way this film turned-not in a negative light. The film turned from what I thought was happening and started questioning slowly to exactly what I was feeling. And instead of me just stating the words I knew were coming, I found myself saying: "Wow, that's tough, that's impactful, that is hard-hitting."

You can't watch this movie and not have a soft spot for Eleanor. June Squibb really did an outstanding job at delivering this story to the point your heart not only aches for her as a person, but Scarlett Johansson also allows your heart to ache for the rest of the cast as well.

Erin Kellyman does an exceptional job playing Nina, a character that sets her heart in her journalism class, but also sets her heart toward her friendship with Eleanor. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger, Nina's father, eventually became a pivotal part of this story, delivering what was necessary in the love for his daughter and the grieving loss of his wife that he was unable to settle with.

The story itself is beautiful, it's very sad and heartbreaking. June surprisingly delivers an incredible, iconic performance that I would've never seen coming from her. I did not like the daughter Lisa, played by Jessica Hecht. She was very nasty to her mother no matter what-she blatantly felt like she treated her mother like she was worthless and not worth her time. So I didn't like that character at all because I felt like she was probably one of the worst daughters in the world. I don't care if at the end she brings her a flower, that's all I'm gonna say because I don't wanna ruin the film for you. But she was terrible-like absolutely just terrible altogether. I think that is literally the award for the worst daughter in any lifetime for any parent. I wouldn't wish that daughter on anybody.

And then the grandson Max, played by Will Price, just seemed like a mama's boy. When he was on screen, he felt like a character that I was confused by. I was like-is he high on set? Is his character supposed to be high? Or is this just how this actor acts? So I would've recast him with someone different because I just didn't feel his character. I felt like he was more struggling with acting limitations, because he did not add any empathy or any emotion to the story. He was pretty much just a character that you could throw away. It wasn't even necessary to be honest with you.

The only other thing that was pivotal to the film-because like I said, everything's positive, I enjoyed it, but you still have to call out negativity when it's there also because at the end of the day you're trying to entice an audience to see these films and love these films the way you felt compassionate about the film. But the little girl at the bat mitzvah, who was singing, has really resonated in my head. I understand she's a child actor, but if you're going to subject yourself to a film, you take the criticism. That little girl could not sing, and her voice was so piercing that when she was performing, you were pulled out of the moment you were supposed to be in because it was so bad.

Normally, I don't critique little parts like that that are kind of irrelevant for the moment, but it was so memorable in a bad way that unfortunately that's my perception of it. I really do wish they would've at least gotten someone who could carry a tune so that pivotal moment could've resonated more and I could've felt Eleanor's feelings during that time. But I couldn't, because I was too worried about that sound.

I did enjoy the film and I recommend it, and I do believe Scarlett Johansson may actually have an Oscar contender on her hands for her debut as a director.

This was so generic it was almost like watching a TV Movie from Hallmark. Paper thin cliché of a story we've all seen a thousand times. I know it's Scarlett Johannson's first film as a director but there are others who make their debuts with much more aplomb. Think Jordan Peele recently, or Orson Welles if we go way back. Scarlett shouldn't get a pass just becuase of who she is. This is film making by numbers and I'm not sure it's worth a watch.

June Squibb commands the screen and Scarlett Johansson didn't wiff on her first at bat but the script's flaws are hard to get over. Eleanor is framed as witty and fun but she is outright mean and distant. There's no real reason for who she connects with. She mourns her friend without mention of her husband. She keeps linking up with a NYU student but is cold to her daughter. The deception itself is something Eleanor could have easily gotten out of after that first meeting. There were no stakes in admitting it. But she continues lying to an NYU student -- who doesn't know how to Google for a fact check.

Eleanor the Great is a beautifully balanced film that captures the delicate interplay between grief and humor. I found myself deeply moved by how honestly it portrays loss, something that resonated with me on a very personal level, having experienced the pain of losing loved ones myself.

The performances were truly exceptional. The acting felt raw and genuine, allowing me to connect with the story in a very real way. Scarlett Johansson deserves great credit for her work as director. She's crafted a film that is both emotionally powerful and profoundly human.

What stood out most for me was how the character of Eleanor reminded me of my own grandmother, someone I deeply love and admire. That connection made the film's themes of memory, family, and resilience hit even harder.

Eleanor the Great is not just a story about grief, it's a celebration of life, love, and the quiet strength we find in the people we hold dear. A heartfelt, beautifully made film that lingers long after the credits roll.

Different kind of a Holocaust movie. It's sweet and sad, centering around a 94 year old woman who has just lost her best friend and moves from her Florida retirement community to Manhattan to live with her daughter and grandson. Soon after she meets a group of holocaust survivors and feels compelled to tell a story. The story/lie kind of takes on a life of its own and eventually gets out of hand with potentially tragic effect.

It's a small movie, a little bittersweet in its execution and end, but in the end somewhat slow and drab. The acting is generally very good. June Squibb is charming as she always is. A little more depth of character might have garnered her some Oscar consideration, but this performance would be a stretch.

If you have nothing else to do, it's not a waste of time.