On today’s KVNU Movie Show, I gushed about ELEANOR THE GREAT—and I’m not walking it back. This is a lovely launch for Scarlett Johansson as a director and a late-career (she’s 95!) showcase for June Squibb, who is absolutely at the top of her game.

What it’s about: We meet Eleanor, stubbornly independent and freshly unmoored, as a small life detour snowballs into a late-in-life reboot. What starts quiet turns unexpectedly funny and deeply felt as Eleanor ventures outside her routines, stumbles into new friendships, and finally faces the grief she’s been stuffing into the back of the mind’s garage.

Why it works: Johansson keeps the filmmaking clear and human-sized—gentle comedy, unforced emotion, and character first—while Squibb turns every beat into gold. For me, she’s a Best Actress lock. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Why it hits now: The film taps nerves we’re all feeling: aging parents searching for purpose after the kids have left the nest; the way we all carry loss differently (and why you actually have to feel your feels); and how easy it is to feel alone in a world that never slows down. It’s a reminder that nothing is guaranteed—take the trip, say the thing, keep your people close. Parents don’t have to wither on the couch; they deserve new chapters, new friends, and new reasons to get out the door. But it’s up to them. Age is only a number if you let it be.

Bottom line: I loved ELEANOR THE GREAT. As a debut, it made me excited to see what else Johansson has to show us; as a showcase, it’s Squibb in full command.

Have you seen this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and in case you missed the trailer, check it out –

PS, if you’ve missed any previous episodes of The KVNU For The People Movie Show, click here to access the archive.