MOVIE TITLE: The Annihilation of Fish

This unique dramedy by Charles Burnett was lost and restored in 4K by UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Film Foundation in collaboration with Milestone Films. It is now playing in select theaters.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 48 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

The film was directed by Charles Burnett, winner of an Honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement.

It’s amazing that this film has never been released until now, shortly after the loss of the beloved actor James Earl Jones. It has taken decades to get to this film to theaters. It was filmed in 1999!

The movie is based on a short story by Anthony C. Winkler. It’s about an eccentric black man and white woman who both struggle with mental health.

The quirky film won “Best Cinematography” and “Best Feature” by several film festivals.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be completely bored.
Some profanity.
We see an unmarried couple in bed getting frisky under the covers with movement and sound effects.

THEMES:

Mental illness
Romance
Love
Aging
Race
Killing people’s dreams
The invisible demons we battle
Humanity
Caring for others
Tolerating other people’s eccentricities.

THINGS I LIKED:

James Earl Jones plays a Jamaican immigrant who constantly fights with an imaginary man named Hank. We’ve never seen such physicality from him before!
Lynn Redgrave plays a woman who believes the dead opera composer Giacomo Puccini was in love with her and that they were “living in sin” together because no one would perform their wedding ceremony.
Margot Kidder offers an additional eccentric character. I also got a kick out of the mailman who stumbled on the steps to the apartment building every day.
The imaginary demons the two leading actors battle provide entertaining and heartbreaking moments for viewers, as well as personal reflection.
We get to spend time in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Award-winning Martin Scorsese described this film as beautiful and delicate.
The movie feels a bit unconventional, which may be a plus for those who enjoy thought-provoking stories with offbeat characters.
There is a lot of humor offered in amusing dialogue and situations. It does a fantastic job of balancing the humor with the more serious drama.
While The Annihilation of Fish might not have garnered widespread attention, it has a certain cult classic appeal due to its quirky narrative and exploration of themes like family dynamics, personal freedom, and identity. The surreal elements and unpredictable nature of the film may not be for everyone, but those who appreciate films that take risks with their storytelling may find it an intriguing watch.
The title The Annihilation of Fish is both metaphorical and symbolic, and it plays a significant role in setting the tone for the film’s themes of self-discovery, emotional unraveling, and transformation. While the movie’s plot itself is quirky and surreal, the title refers to the inner conflict and emotional destruction that the main character, Fish, undergoes as she confronts the constraints of her life and her past.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
Some viewers might get tired of the crazy.

FUNNY LINES:

“Things just haven’t been right on planet Earth since Richard Nixon was elected president.” – Kathy (hippy wedding lady) Shannon Wilcox
“I’m never laughing again as long as I live.” – Poinsettia (Lynn Redgrave)
“Do you have any insidious vices I should know about?” – Mrs. Muldroon (Margot Kidder)
“Oh, excuse me. I thought you were someone else.” – guy in a bar (Hoyt Richards) “I used to be.” – Poinsettia (Lynn Redgrave)
“You’re just about the weirdest man in the whole dxxmn world!” – Poinsettia (Lynn Redgrave)
“I can hardly wait to wake up each morning to see what’s going to happen next.” – Mrs. Muldroon (Margot Kidder)