Movie Review - Remarkably Bright Creatures

Director: Olivia Newman
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Alfred Molina, Colm Meany, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Joan Chen, Sofia Black-D’Elia
 
Description: Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova (Sally Field), an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again.  
 
Review: There are movies you watch, and movies you experience. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. Director Olivia Newman has succeeded in translating the complex emotions from Shelby Van Pelt’s bestsellers into a visually stunning and deeply moving drama that lingers in your mind for days. The beating heart of the film is the extraordinary bond between 70-year-old Tova Sullivan and Marcellus, a giant octopus at the Sowell Bay Aquarium.

Sally Field plays Tova with a fragile strength that immediately touches you; her loneliness following the loss of her husband and the disappearance of her son thirty years ago is palpable in every scene where she silently scrubs the floors of the aquarium. When she and Marcellus (with the masterful, gruff voice of Alfred Molina) find each other, a chemistry emerges that is almost magical. Marcellus is not a pet, but a highly intelligent being who observes humanity with a cynical eye. Except for Tova. Their silent understanding and the way Marcellus helps her unravel the truth about her past form one of the most original and moving friendships I’ve ever seen.

In addition to the connection with Marcellus, the arrival of Cameron (an excellent Lewis Pullman) drives the story forward. Cameron is a man in his thirties who cant seem to get his life together and ends up in Sowell Bay in search of answers about his origins. The dynamic between the dutiful, reserved Tova and the chaotic, searching Cameron is beautifully crafted. What begins as an awkward working relationship grows into a deep human connection. Tova sees in Cameron the potential he himself does not yet see, while Cameron unconsciously fills the void left by the disappearance of Tova’s son. The film sublimely demonstrates how two strangers can heal each other, simply by appearing in each other’s lives at the right moment.

Visually and emotionally balanced, the cinematography perfectly captures the misty, melancholic atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, which forms a beautiful contrast with Marcellus’s colorful and almost otherworldly appearance.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a rare film that both breaks your heart and mends it. It is an ode to the power of friendship, in whatever form it takes, and a reminder that it is never too late to find the truth to start over. With top-notch performances and a script that never misses a beat, this is an absolute 5-star must-see. Don’t you just love it when they get the book to movie adaptation right?

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Thunderbolts*

Director: Jake Schreier
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Adventure
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko
 
Description: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
 
Review: Yelena, Black Widow’s sister, leads and empty and useless existence filled with running errands for the current CIA director, Valentina Alegra de Fontaine. When Yelena is sent to stop a thief who wants to crack a safe containing secrets that must never see the light of day, things turn our differently than expected.

After a short opening scene, which introduce both Yelena’s fighting skills and her depression, Yelena is sent to the safe, located somewhere in the American desert. The film then takes place around that location for over an hour. To keep this interesting, no openings to other dimensions are needed, no do entire areas need to be razed to the ground. The conflict is clear and simple, and the characters are diverse enough for amusing interaction.

In addition to Yelena, we see Taskmaster and The Red Guardian (all three introduced in “Black Widow”), John Walker joins the party as second-hand Captain America, and Bucky Barnes shows up as Winter Soldier. But even if this is your first Marvel movie, it’s pretty clear that these characters have a history.

There is also a character named Bob, introduced as a clumsy, everyday man. But he becomes more important as the story goes along. And Bob is incidentally also a big part of the theme: dealing with depression. This superhero story successfully addresses that subject.

Even though the characters are diverse, we don’t get to know each of them well enough. Ava Starr aka Ghost, for example, stays a bit on the surface. Would’ve liked to get to know her a little better too.
The threat in this film is big, but its only present for a short time. I think the final conflict could have been stretched out. “Thunderbolts” would have benefited from a longer runtime.

The Thunderbolts, being renamed the New Avengers, will be back. And I’m kind of excited about it. I enjoyed “Thunderbolts” a lot more then I expected, I wasn’t really interested when it was announced.

Rating: 3,5/ 5