Eleanor the Great

I really like the film, Eleanor The Great. It has a simple but yet incredibly complex storyline, and conveys emotion in a beautiful way. It highlights different perspectives, and shows multiple sides to one story. I am really touched by this movie, and feel that it's important for us as a society to bring more attention to films like this.

Eleanor The Great follows the life of Eleanor (June Squibb), who is trying to navigate her way through life at its later stages. She recently moved back to New York to be with family, after losing one of her closest friends. While trying to find her place in the big city she calls home, she finds herself recalling old stories with nothing but pure intentions, however her small lies eventually catch up to her, and she must learn the power of honesty and accountability.

Scarlett Johansson's directing style is a notable standout in this film. This movie highlights the often quietness and loneliness in people's lives. Each camera angle brings that feeling to the screen. There are so many moments of stillness, where the audience is focused on one thing even, for example, watching Eleanor come back to New York. This is a place that she once called home, and you can really tell how much she's taking it all in. It feels like I'm really seeing New York City through her eyes. Additionally, I enjoy the simplicity of this movie. It isn't a huge blockbuster film, and it doesn't take big expensive sets to make it happen. Everything feels extremely realistic, as if I'm just watching Eleanor's life right beside her. Something else I enjoy is the storyline. This is one of the first movies I've ever watched with an older woman as the main character. Getting to see her perspective on life is so interesting and refreshing. In most films the older characters are often pushed to the side, and seen as someone who has a lot of wisdom. Here, Eleanor is so much more than that. Of course we get her wise advice, but we also get to understand her life. We learn her struggles and dreams, but also what brings her happiness. Hearing her perspective on why she does certain things is fascinating and educational.

The message of Eleanor The Great is that life is valuable, and a reminder to take in everything, even the small things. Please be aware that this film does contain mentions of the Holocaust.

I give Eleanor The Great 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. This film will be released in select theaters starting September 26, 2025.

By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

June Squibb provides a wonderful, sweet and touching performance about a elderly woman embracing new connections and friendship, in a otherwise, cliched and predictable story and structure.

Throughout, being Scarlett Johansson's debut directing, Johansson's direction feels average as her direction on the atmosphere, writing and style feels unspecial, but maintain it's normality without any issues. With the good production and solid camera work, Johansson does understand how to pull the strings on emotions as there are some solid emotional conversations, chemistry and charm between the characters and performances. Which does offer some sweet moments from June.

As mentioned, June's performance was wonderful as she offers her character to bring out into the light and shine. While the other performances are good, the characters don't feel very fleshed out at times, which made them not particularly engaging or as interesting as Johansson would have liked. Alongside with the cliched narrative, many of the style and choices were pretty cheesy and predictable. If you have seen movies like this before, then you know what will come next without a doubt.

Despite the cliche and predictable style, the general experience was still decent because of June's charmful performance and dialogue energy was able to convey the emotions successfully. She was the absolute best part of this movie. Overall, it isn't something I would see again quickly but it's decently heartwarming.

Went to an AMC Movie Unseen for the first time and expected to get a crap movie but what we ended up getting was a charming little movie called Eleanor The Great. A movie about grief done in a charming way that balanced deep grief and humor. This had a great cast but June Squibb was definitely the standout! She had great comedic timing and when she needed to you felt the pain she was feeling. So much so that this had me tearing up towards the end of the film. Is this worth seeing? I would say yes but I don't know how many people will run out to the theaters to see this cause this will definitely fly under the radar for most of the general movie going audience.

By The Numbers breakdown: Cast-6 Acting-8 Trailer-5 Ending-8 Story-8 Visuals-5 Direction-8 Sound-5 Genre-9 Sub Genre-8 The Faces For Radio score - 70.

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.

Greetings again from the darkness. You've likely heard the old saying that you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Well, the same goes for a lie ... and sometimes even an innocent lie takes on a life of its own and begins to wreak havoc. This happens to Eleanor, and yet we somehow empathize with her in this film that is not just the first screenplay from Tory Kamen, it's also the first feature film directed by Scarlett Johnansson.

When we first meet Eleanor (June Squibb, fresh off her lead role in THELMA, 2024) and Bessie (Rita Zohar, AMADEUS, 1984), the two elderly ladies are best friends who have lived together for fifteen years or so in Florida. They spend their days regaling each other with stories over coffee, at the beach doing bench exercises, and at home around the kitchen table. We see how much they appreciate and value each other's friendship. As happens with old friends, Bessie passes away, and 94-year-old Eleanor moves back to New York to live with her daughter Lisa (Jessica Hecht, DAN IN REAL LIFE, 2007) and grandson Max (Will Price, "Goosebumps").

Despite her age, or perhaps emboldened by it, Eleanor's sharp tongue too often hits hard, especially when criticizing Lisa. It's a trip to JCC that erroneously misdirects Eleanor into a support group of Holocaust survivors. Whether she's embarrassed or just lonely for company, Eleanor doesn't come clean and instead begins telling Bessie's stories as if they were her own. One of the group's observers that day is Nina (Erin Kellyman, THE GREEN KNIGHT, 2021), a university journalism student, who is so moved by Eleanor's stories that she pesters her to sit for an interview.

Remember that whole thing about a lie taking on a life of its own? Well, Nina and Eleanor become friends, and Eleanor's wisdom helps Nina deal with a particularly emotional period. Oh, and Nina's dad, Roger Davies (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, 2013), is a local TV journalist who sees the potential of taking Eleanor's stories to a wider audience. It's truly a mess that Eleanor finds herself in, and if/when the truth comes out, so many could be hurt from her break in trust.

It's June Squibb's remarkable performance that elevates this film to one that many will find emotional. Ms. Squibb turns 96 years old this year and now has a couple of strong lead roles to her credit after a terrific career as a character actor (NEBRASKA, 2013). Here, it's Eleanor's bond with Nina that's the heart of the story, and a reminder that sometimes good people do bad things - and those bad things may be driven by good intentions ... or even grief. Additionally, we must now recognize Scarlett Johnansson as a filmmaker who can handle complex stories and characters, and deliver entertainment for an audience.

Opens in theaters on September 26, 2025.