Cate Blanchett shows once again how she immerse herself completely in a role that is so different from her other roles. Hugo Weaving gives one of his best performances. Noni Hazlehurst, herself a winner of awards in the 1980s for Monkey Grip and Fran, was best supporting actress as Cate Blanchett’s mother.

Little Fish refers to ordinary people, little fish in the big pond that is Sydney. However, in their own lives, they have experienced failure and disappointment and how hard it is to make new starts.

In every contemporary big city, there is also a drug underworld and the many and ordinary addicts who keep the bosses in wealth, even luxury. Sam Neill portrays a particularly vengeful type of dealer who is wanting to retire and enjoy his comforts. He has a band of associates who double deal, betray friendships and confidences and become victims of their greed and their death wishes.

The film spends its time in the Sydney suburbs and the melting pot they have become, especially with the more recent arrivals from Asia and from Vietnam.

Perhaps Cate Blanchett is too strong a personality for the little fish she portrays (although she can do trashy characters as she did in The Shipping News). However, Hugo Weaving, rather unrecognisable in scruffy beard, draws audience compassion for the man of talent who has lost everything and preys upon those he loves for his dependency.
This is a grim slice of life, downbeat, and is directed by Rowan Wood who made the disturbing drama of a dominating criminal played by David Wenham in The Boys.

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