FilmSnobReviews

Title: Little Fish
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Chad Hartigan
Starring: Olivia Cooke, Jack O’Connell, Soko
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

What It Is: Emma (Cooke) and Jude (O’Connell) are young married couples just trying to live their lives. A memory loss virus however plans to make sure that none of that matters. As it ravages those around them we are given the story of how the beautiful young couple met. To what lengths will Emma go to assure that Jude, who’s showing signs of the virus, go in order to save her husband and his memories of her.

What We Think: This is an utterly heart-wrenching experience at points. The obvious nature of the virus makes for an almost dreadful recognition by us, the audience. Olivia Cooke continues to shine in every project she’s in, even if the material isn’t great. Lucky for us the script is well-written and the characters developed enough. Jack O’Connell is an actor who doesn’t get enough opportunities to show just how talented he is. Look no further then Starred Up for just what this guy brings to the table. Chad Hartigan is a really fantastic director his last film Morris in America, a complete surprise for me was simply brilliant. With this film he takes the great material he’s given from Aja Gabel’s short story and crafts a film that’ll break you into pieces and maybe even give you hope. In a year that had a virus that many would’ve given anything to cure this film hits differently. Perhaps even a bit too close to home for some, but that’s part of what makes it what it is.

Our Grade: B+, This is another great little movie that’s being put out in 2021. These last 365 days have been good for that. Not much else but that…very much so. This is the type of film that needs to be seen at this moment. A film that will be a painful reminder of it’s time period. One that will endure because of the everlasting devastation of diseases of the mind and memory. A fear many nearing their twilight all too often realize. What’s more terrifying is that those featured in this are in their prime. That is the point that makes this film almost a horror movie to some. In reality this is a romantic, beautiful sci-fi journey.