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
Movie Reviews from the Dark 