By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1.5 cats
Director: Chad Hartigan
Starring: David Lennon | Jack O'Connell | Olivia Cooke | Raúl Castillo | Soko
Country: canada, united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 101
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9735470/reference
Michael says: “Another film that started off strong, with a great premise, that really crashed and burned for me, and as time has passed, I’ve been trying to decide why this film ultimately failed for me, and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I suspect it’s in the writing and character choices. Based on a short story, the story focuses on a couple who are struggling with a memory loss virus spreading across the world that threatens to erase the history of their love and courtship. As I said, a great premise with a great potential for some powerful drama, yet something about the way the story unfolds left me quite cold. First problem, Jack O’Connell as the male lead, Jude. I really didn’t like him at all, neither the character, nor the actor.. I didn’t understand the rationale for why he and our female lead, Emma, were so devoted to one another. Emma, played by Olivia Cooke, so great in SOUND OF METAL, was less compelling here, and I’ve got to think it was because of the way her part was written. She’s given a lot to deal with, not only her husband, Jude, but her mother, unseen and living in another country, who is also struggling with the disease. In addition, Emma and Jude’s best friends are also dealing with the virus, and serve as a bit of a precursor for our protagonists. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Raúl Castillo’s or particularly, Soko’s performances worked for me either, and the collapse of that relationship, which could have been incredibly powerful, ended up being shoddily handled.
“The reason why I put most of the blame on the story and performances is because Chad Hartigan did such a great job directing THIS IS MARTIN BONNER, the only other film of his that I have seen. That was such a small intimate story that seemed to suit his directorial style, while LITTLE FISH is such a big story, that is being told through an intimate lens, but somehow doesn’t pull together. The ending plays out a cute twist that I caught a few minutes before it was revealed, but I enjoyed regardless, but ultimately, this film was the loser of the pack. 1.5 cats
IFFBoston Fall Focus 2020″