Movie Review: "Little Fish" (2021)
Little Fish Movie Review
Written by Stuart D. Monroe
Released by IFC Films
Directed by Chad Hartigan
Written by Aja Gabel (Short Story) and Mattson Tomlin (screenplay)
2021, 101 minutes, Not Rated
Released on February 5th, 2021
Starring:
Olivia Cooke as Emma
Jack O’Connell as Jude
Soko as Samantha
Raúl Castillo as Ben
Albert Nicholas as Naps
David Lennon as Tim
Review:
After the year we’ve just had, it’s safe to say that there are going to be a number of movies that feature the scenario of a global-scale event that alters humanity- disease, invasion, and the like. Film is the first place that humankind tends to work out its issues with the world around it, so it’s going to take a little more than just being relevant and timely to make a mark in 2021. Luckily, director Chad Hartigan takes a tightly written script full of heart and realistic characters and weaves a science-fiction romance that has more than a touch of horror in its overall effectiveness.
That’s one way to separate yourself from the pack.
Emma (Olivia Cooke; Ready Player One) and Jude (Jack O’Connell; Unbroken) are true soulmates, two people drawn to each other on a nearly spiritual level. They’ll need to be, too- the entire world is in a state of pandemic, affected by a memory loss disease known as N.I.A., or Neural Inflammatory Affliction. N.I.A. can take you in an instant (a’ la 28 Days Later) or it can waste you slowly away like Alzheimer’s. Either way, the end result is the same- everyone you know soon becomes a stranger to you. You’re adrift in a world where all your friends and family are wiped from your mind. But they say you can’t forget a feeling. Emma and Jude are soulmates, so they’re banking on it.
You can’t forget a feeling…
Little Fish is a powerful film that many will find as frightening as it is romantic. Add to that the still raw relevance of living in a world in the grip of a pandemic that’s displayed with harsh reality, and the end result is a movie that those with a fear of Alzheimer’s or dementia (like myself) might even find a tough watch.
Is that to say you should avoid Little Fish? Hell no! If you shy away from this surprisingly disturbing film, you’ll miss a deeply touching love story made all the more potent thanks to the chemistry between Olivia Cooke and Jack O’Connell. It all comes back to the idea that you can’t forget a feeling; that soulmates are truly linked eternally and in a way that transcends language. O’Connell is sublime in the role of the one with the illness- he’s shellshocked and scared to death. It’s Olivia Cooke’s performance as Emma, however, that makes you reach for the tissue. She’s got a face that just makes you feel everything she’s feeling, and she uses that expressiveness (and tenacity) to full effect. It’s her finest performance yet.
While many romances fall into the trap of corny or mushy delivery, Little Fish is more of a “what real people would do” kind of flick. My wife and I have been together almost 26 years this February, and I could genuinely see us in these roles. The believability can’t be denied, and it’s not just confined to the love story, either. When the extremely non-linear tale takes you back to the freak-out days of the pandemic, you see everything crumble in a way that is too close for comfort. There’s real horror at the edges of Little Fish, and that deft blending of genre will make it a strong word-of-mouth film.
Excellent attention to detail is paid in the key locations and repeated scenes. The visual representation of the loss of memory in various ways is a lot of fun to take in. From wall textures to clothing to colors (and sometimes even more), the mind is definitely meant to be playing tricks on you. The way our brains and our hearts will fight against all odds is nearly endless. That’s the other thing about Little Fish that’s so wonderful- it’s a psychological and philosophical film that stays in the psyche and the heart long after. You’ll be thinking about it long after it’s done.
You won’t need a tattoo to remember it, either.
Grade:
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
