Well I had a great review written but it was erased when I switched to another site to fact check some other movies.
What I wanted to say was this is a hard movie to watch. It's hard bc it's honest. We all have our struggles and this is another depiction of an honest struggle families have. In America we like to place labels. In this case the labels are hillbilly, red neck, or white trash. It's all true, but it doesn't mean that's bad. It means it's honest. It makes me think of other honest movies about American families like Crooklyn, Ordinary People or Kramer vs Kramer.
In this year of 2020 the word struggle comes up time and again, but let's not forget another truly American symbolic word .... perseverance. Watch this movie and know that if you're down and feel like the world is against you just keep fighting and persevere. I hope this movie can inspire that feeling. It did for me.
779 Reviews
Solid Movie...
Jac2344325 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I honestly do not understand the harsh reviews, I watched this movie with low expectations because of what I'd read before going into it but I thought it was fantastic! I don't doubt this will get Amy Adams or Glenn Close a nomination for film awards, at the very least. This movie is definitely emotional and the performances will linger with you after you finish because it is vulnerability and it is weakness, and redemption, and perseverance, and helplessness all at once. Amy Adams is this whirlwind of drama that proves hostile to her family while she struggles with her drug addictions, her son having to cope with the lack of both parental figures with only his grandmother to be his guide and savior throughout his childhood. This movie really kind of gave a window into what addiction does to a person who neither can afford help, or is looking for it, and how complicated life can become. There were so many moments throughout the movie that could have forced Amy Adams' character to confront herself by letting her reap the consequences of her recklessness. But her family behaved like this cushion or a doormat, or a crutch for her misdeeds and drug addictions and the badness would become a cycle, a trend almost, an expected high with a certain inevitable low.
There is one particular moment that really got to me, and it was the scene where Glenn Close (Mamaw) is begging a meals on wheels worker to give her more food because she is now taking care of her grandson; a meal for one is split for two and she doesn't think twice about giving her grandson the larger portion of the meal. This just really got to me because although this young man's life was nowhere near perfect, he had someone in his life who pushed him to go further and to try harder and this scene and what happens afterward is probably my favorite thing about this movie.
There is one particular moment that really got to me, and it was the scene where Glenn Close (Mamaw) is begging a meals on wheels worker to give her more food because she is now taking care of her grandson; a meal for one is split for two and she doesn't think twice about giving her grandson the larger portion of the meal. This just really got to me because although this young man's life was nowhere near perfect, he had someone in his life who pushed him to go further and to try harder and this scene and what happens afterward is probably my favorite thing about this movie.
Well I enjoyed it.
splotsmom24 November 2020
As a kid from the South
bike4steak24 November 2020
While I hoped this movie would be more well made then it was, it was still great to watch. It was nice to see a movie that felt very familiar, especially coming out on a big streaming platform like Netflix. They did a good job with this one. Glenn Close was amazing every second she was on camera, and definitely carried the film. The music was nice too, and the film feels very authentic. It might not be perfect, but Hillbilly Elegy should definitely pique anyone's curiosity and be able to hold on to them for the entirety of the film. Go watch it and decide.
Everyone's Opinion is Different....
PerryAtTheMovies15 November 2020
I thought this film was a great drama that uses flashbacks of the past to explain what's running through J.D.'s mind as he tries to navigate university and his moms constant drug addiction. The acting was powerful all the way through. It has gripping emotions from start to finish that shows how bad you have to work, and to want something, to succeed when all the cards are stacked against you. Some may find this to be a "woe is me" kind of story, but I think it showed the never quitting spirit that Southerners have. Honestly, it's better than the professional critic reviews that I've read.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film and the story behind it. That to say, I can't figure out why this film is getting low ratings, but I think it's worth the watch. Currently it's in select theatres until 24 November when it releases onto Netflix in Canada.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film and the story behind it. That to say, I can't figure out why this film is getting low ratings, but I think it's worth the watch. Currently it's in select theatres until 24 November when it releases onto Netflix in Canada.
I grew up in " Hillbilly Country" ...THIS movie is SPOT ON !
lynnmgill28 November 2020
" WHY the bad reviews?" Someone asked. They thought it was good. Well written . Well directed and the actors were good. ( AND IT WAS ) Spot on .
Here is the reason they are some bad reviews. Some people have never experienced THIS life . They have no idea that people actually do LIVE LIKE THIS .
KUDOS to Ron Howard who also did not grow up in Hillbilly Country but did an excellent job of making this TRUE STORY so accurate on screen.
All the lead actors were amazing and they TRULY portrayed the people they were supposed to be in this.
One of my friends said they only part she didn't like was the CURSING .
" Did they really need to use that language?" She asked me .
Absolutely. THAT is normal language for these poor small towns .
If you grew up there you would understand that. F%$@$ was a word I heard as child as commonly as rich people hear " yes sir" . It was necessary for them accurately portray these people .
This movie made me cry , because it was TRUE TO LIFE . It brought back many memories for me . I lived this . I too chose to leave and " be someone."
Thank you Glen Close for portraying " Meemaw" so incredibly well .
I know . I had a Meemaw just like that .
THIS is a GREAT movie . And if you " don't get it" ... maybe it's because you were born with a SILVER SPOON in your mouth and it is probably STILL THERE.
Get out and see some of the REAL WORLD .
Definitely Uncomfortable but Don't Listen to the Critics
eejohnston-5637425 November 2020
Trying to figure out why the critics' score is so different from the user score and all I can think is because the former is detached from the reality of rural white poverty. Living and teaching in an area similar to where J.D. comes from, I see his struggle of trying to escape poverty through education and the impact of drug abuse on communities on a regular basis. It's easy to dismiss this as "Oscar bait" and it definitely is...but it's also a movie, though really difficult to watch at points, that tells the uncomfortable reality for far too many.
Powerful Hits Home
ty-2929824 November 2020
I don't understand the low ratings. I cried through this movie and couldn't help but think of my own, imperfect family and the life I've made for myself dispute it. Beautiful. I have not read the book but will and can't wait.
Glenn Close e Amy Adams: superb!
epcamillo22 November 2020
Why the bad reviews?
deanrohrbeck24 November 2020
This movie was very touching, I usually do not watch movies revolving around family issues, but this really hit me. The acting is super and the storyline plain, but the storyline with the acting is super. I would recommend this movie.
A Hillbilly's Review
tms-6017027 November 2020
As a born and raised Kentucky girl, I could relate to this story. I was disgusted by the negative reviews from the media and Hollywood folks. It's obvious they know very little about poverty, family and all the trials of being poor white people.
We hear so much about race and how every white person is privileged, well this story proves that poor folks suffer and have suffered just as much as anyone.
Not great but not as bad as you've heard
PhilGuest24 November 2020
For some reason, the critics have really piled in on this film. So is it the Cats of 2020?
Not at all. Admittedly it's not as good a film as you'd expect from Ron Howard but it's perfectly watchable. The cast is great - Glenn Close will surely be up for another Oscar nomination.
Worth a couple of hours of your time.
Not at all. Admittedly it's not as good a film as you'd expect from Ron Howard but it's perfectly watchable. The cast is great - Glenn Close will surely be up for another Oscar nomination.
Worth a couple of hours of your time.
Absolutely Worth Watching
garyhammerma27 January 2021
Like other reviewers here, I'm puzzled as to why this film received such poor or lukewarm reception in the press. Glenn Close is superb as Mamaw. Those who think she is somehow an exaggerated caricature clearly don't have much first-hand knowledge of this segment of our population. I never knew Mamaw but I certainly knew plenty of people like her, and Close's portrayal is spot-on. Don't be put off by the bad reviews. This is a powerful and moving film.
Messy at Times but Fine
Neon_Gold25 November 2020
I am pretty confused why all the critics hated this movie so much. Is it the best thing since sliced bread, no absolutely not. But it is completely watchable.
I think it falls down with the script and directing. They just have a strange flow sometimes. Some parts are just really odd for lack of a better work. I can't really explain why it didn't work.
I think the score stands out. It fits the tone perfectly. I think it could definitely be nominated.
The acting is also great with Glenn Close being the obvious stand out. She does steal every scene that she is in and i think the make up department did a fantastic job making her look like the actual Mawma. Watching the home video clips at the end you would swear that it was actually the same person. I do think they leaned in a bit too heavy into the quippy dialogue with Glenn but that is on the writer not her. It was a little bit too sitcom-y at times but most of the time her scenes were the most impactful.
Also Haley Bennett was great too. She wasn't a huge focus but i found my self wanting more of her because she was great to watch. She played the role really grounded and earnest i thought she was really good.
Sometimes i found this movie to be a bit manic, it kind of tapers off towards the end but at the start it really is like a lot of screaming matches and like just strange choices. I think it hinders Amy Adams because it tends to be scenes that involve her. The more subdued parts work so much better for me.
I think it had a lot of heart and i really appreciated the message, would i ever watch it again? No. But it was perfectly fine.
I think it falls down with the script and directing. They just have a strange flow sometimes. Some parts are just really odd for lack of a better work. I can't really explain why it didn't work.
I think the score stands out. It fits the tone perfectly. I think it could definitely be nominated.
The acting is also great with Glenn Close being the obvious stand out. She does steal every scene that she is in and i think the make up department did a fantastic job making her look like the actual Mawma. Watching the home video clips at the end you would swear that it was actually the same person. I do think they leaned in a bit too heavy into the quippy dialogue with Glenn but that is on the writer not her. It was a little bit too sitcom-y at times but most of the time her scenes were the most impactful.
Also Haley Bennett was great too. She wasn't a huge focus but i found my self wanting more of her because she was great to watch. She played the role really grounded and earnest i thought she was really good.
Sometimes i found this movie to be a bit manic, it kind of tapers off towards the end but at the start it really is like a lot of screaming matches and like just strange choices. I think it hinders Amy Adams because it tends to be scenes that involve her. The more subdued parts work so much better for me.
I think it had a lot of heart and i really appreciated the message, would i ever watch it again? No. But it was perfectly fine.
This movie is NOT bad but characters and content can make some viewers uncomfortable
mlcruz-0721930 November 2020
This is not an Everyman movie. It is not meant to be entertaining but it is educational, revealing and truthful about what it's like to deal with poverty, addiction and abusive family dynamics. Not everyone can relate because at times, it is uncomfortable to watch. Putting judgment and raw emotions aside, in the end, it is about hope, tough love, determination, resourcefulness and survival.
So glad I ignored the reviews saying it was a "bad" movie because the movie itself is not bad. It's very well-done. I think it's just the cringe-worthy character defects that cause many reviewers pan it because maybe they were not expecting such a giant dose of reality showing up - a reality they want no part of and don't want to understand because it scares them.
It shows the ugly side of the human condition and it highlights moments when we have an opportunity to make decisions that can be life-altering. It's a story about connections, and about learning when and how to either strengthen them or release them in order to keep moving forward in life.
NOTE: This should be required viewing in all addiction recovery programs.
So glad I ignored the reviews saying it was a "bad" movie because the movie itself is not bad. It's very well-done. I think it's just the cringe-worthy character defects that cause many reviewers pan it because maybe they were not expecting such a giant dose of reality showing up - a reality they want no part of and don't want to understand because it scares them.
It shows the ugly side of the human condition and it highlights moments when we have an opportunity to make decisions that can be life-altering. It's a story about connections, and about learning when and how to either strengthen them or release them in order to keep moving forward in life.
NOTE: This should be required viewing in all addiction recovery programs.
Kept My Attention
msjarob28 November 2020
I enjoyed the movie very much. As a Black American, I know the struggles of my culture, so to see the trials and tribulations of another culture is eye opening.
Ron Howard is an A-list Director and doesn't produce anything that is subpar. The critic reviews and low ratings for this movie are puzzling. Yet I'm seen high ratings for movies to me that weren't so great.
The movie is good, don't believe the critics.
Ron Howard is an A-list Director and doesn't produce anything that is subpar. The critic reviews and low ratings for this movie are puzzling. Yet I'm seen high ratings for movies to me that weren't so great.
The movie is good, don't believe the critics.
Great acting and a good story.
gideonzack24 November 2020
These critics are ridiculous! This is a nice story, very well acted. Amy Adams and Glenn Close did a fantastic job. I found the first third to be a bit much, erratic and lots of yelling, but if you can get though that it's a rewarding film. It kind of grows on you over 2 hours and by the end you feel more connected to the characters. Overall 6/10.
Thank you.
friesjeler24 November 2020
This movie makes me want to be a better man, period. Thank you for all the actor and actresses that made this happen and gave it their all. I quess i will be seeing glenn close at the oscars again. It just made me feel. Thank you!
A harsh truth.
staciarose2024 November 2020
In many ways things have not changed. The child abuse, drugs, poor education, etc. Massive struggles. These are still issues throughout the Appalachian Mountains, but they're also scattered everywhere else too. The only thing that differs is most kids in these situations don't end up at Yale.
Like the book, this movie is good, but not great
maclock18 November 2020
Hillbilly Elegy is just a nice story about salvation, redemption, and self-preservation. Some people might be ambivalent about it because it doesn't offer much in the way of social commentary or political analysis. Not every movie needs to do so and I don't believe that this movie is particularly weak because it doesn't veer into such matters. All in all, I can recommend Hillbilly Elegy to potential moviegoers even if it isn't one of the better films I've watched over the years.
Not As Bad As the Reviews But Still a Mess
sweidman-2801618 November 2020
"Family's the only thing that means a goddamn. You'll learn that."
Before I actually get to the review portion, I think it's crucial to discuss the significance of Hillbilly Elegy. I didn't know anything about it till after watching it. The only thing I knew was it's based on a memoir and that there was a bunch of hype around it. The hype I knew about was for awards and all that. Turns out there's much more to this. Hillbilly Elegy is about the "American Dream" and is a voice for Appalachian individuals coming from the point of view of J. D. Vance. Well J. D. Vance has some controversy around him. He has different views than others, is very conservative, and made some comments about Appalachians and how they "talk about working more than they work." He kind of trashed talked the roots where he came from because he built his way up into society. This focuses on both his childhood and his return back home in 2016. His mother struggled with drug addiction which altered his childhood significantly. J. D. worked hard in school, joined the marines, and graduated from Yale law school. Because of his work ethic it's kind of known that he thinks he's above some of these Appalachians who won't achieve the "American Dream." The memoir supposedly discusses themes of the culture of poverty since he grew up in not the greatest conditions. Anyway, that's as much as I know. Some people think this is a great story and some find it offensive. So there was hype for not only awards but for this project in general.
Now that we've covered that, this movie throws all that away. Most everyone, whether you follow movies or not, knows about the scathing reviews this received. I understand that. And Rotten Tomatoes goes by either liking it or hating it. Only 28% actually gave this a positive review. What I'm more focused on is the MetaScore review since it's a most accurate score of every critics review. A 40 is still not great but that makes more sense. Hillbilly Elegy is a mess, but it's not as bad as some of the reviews say it is. Everyone has hype around certain movies. This had a lot going for it. First there's the source material. Then the stacked cast including Amy Adams and Glen Close. Venessa Taylor wrote the screen play who previously was nominated for an Oscar for The Shape of Water. And this seemed to be the comeback movie for Ron Howard who hasn't been consistent, well kind of ever. Rush feels like the last good movie he made. This just isn't it. Mainly due to the poor writing. Venessa Taylor has good moments of writing with some dialogue that could win the actors Oscars, but those moments are only once in a while. Most of it is either basic or cringe-worthy. I feel so bad for Amy Adams because of the writing, but I'll get to that later. The storytelling is inconsistent. Jumping back and forth between past and present can be difficult to get a constant full effect. The present 2016 moments have no effect whatsoever. I felt nothing for these characters at this point. The past scenes have more entertainment value and a more interesting story. There's just never a moment of normalcy. Every scene must have something significant happening where a character has to be demonized. A chance to slow down a breathe never really happens. For those excited for the screenplay, this might be one of the worst of the year.
Remember when I mentioned Amy Adams earlier, now's the time to tackle the acting. Adams doesn't deserve all the hate she's getting for this role. She's being accused of overacting and giving a terrible performance. But when the only scenes she has are her having a meltdown, flailing around, and just being an overall terrible mother it's hard to get to the route of the character. It's not her fault and I do genuinely think she gave an excellent performance, but her chances of an Oscar nomination are basically gone. Then Glen Close. We all thought this would be the year she finally wins her first Oscar. She's extremely overdue and gives a great performance. This just isn't her best ever. Once again the writing is taking those chances away. Close has a transformative performance and gives her all every minute on screen, but to give an Oscar for this performance wouldn't be appropriate. Mamaw is the one who is there to keep J. D. in line when his mother can't do so. But all she does is say stuff like "you need to do better" and "family is all that matters" and "I wasn't always a good person but you can be." There's not a moment to slow down with her. Olivia Colman might win the Oscar over her again. It seems unanimous that Owen Asztalos playing younger J. D. has a better performance than Gabriel Basso who plays him in 2016. Older J. D. is just an asshole to me. I hated him almost every minute. He's so cocky and thinks he's the one who is in charge of this family. I was in utter disbelief at the end of the third act with him. A decision is made that I understand is important to him but no decent person would ever do that. What's even worse is he's painted as a saint because he got everything he wants. If this weren't a true story I think everyone would be so mad at how this ends. Younger J. D. on the other hand gives a more genuine performance and is good. The last person that must be mentioned is Haley Bennett. When will she land a role with a movie that will be appreciated? She great in every role and I actually liked her in this, both acting and character. Even with Swallow and The Devil All the Time (both movies I really enjoyed) those movies have not gained the appreciation needed to have her well known. Good performances by most of the ensemble but can't get to their fullest potential with the bad writing.
Ron Howard just seems to have lost clear direction. Maybe not his worst movie like most are saying but there's a lack of fluid direction. Right away it comes off as a basic movie. Honestly if the writing was just better I still believe this would still be pretty basic. He can get some emotional scenes down. I did feel bad for the situation and wanted everything to get better. And there are some enjoyable and entertaining moments. I didn't find myself hating this. But it's just a disappointment from the some choices made both in the story and a filmmaking standpoint. For example, the past scenes are all in handheld mainly. I felt motion sick at some points. It's a common technique to get more immersed into the story but it was just too much. Also the fact to neglect the whole voice of poverty and all that doesn't help. This might be more of a writing thing but it's those topics aren't discussed as much as they should. I really can't say I hated this. I wanted to finish the movie unlike the other two people in the theater who left halfway through. Hillbilly Elegy is a mess, but it's not a movie to skip completely. It'll be on Netflix soon so you won't be wasting any money. I for one just wanted to see it in theaters while available to me because I'm pretentious. It's a shame that the final product couldn't live up to the hype. To make it quite simple, this is 2020's The Goldfinch: so much hype around to only time get awful reviews and a disappointment.
Before I actually get to the review portion, I think it's crucial to discuss the significance of Hillbilly Elegy. I didn't know anything about it till after watching it. The only thing I knew was it's based on a memoir and that there was a bunch of hype around it. The hype I knew about was for awards and all that. Turns out there's much more to this. Hillbilly Elegy is about the "American Dream" and is a voice for Appalachian individuals coming from the point of view of J. D. Vance. Well J. D. Vance has some controversy around him. He has different views than others, is very conservative, and made some comments about Appalachians and how they "talk about working more than they work." He kind of trashed talked the roots where he came from because he built his way up into society. This focuses on both his childhood and his return back home in 2016. His mother struggled with drug addiction which altered his childhood significantly. J. D. worked hard in school, joined the marines, and graduated from Yale law school. Because of his work ethic it's kind of known that he thinks he's above some of these Appalachians who won't achieve the "American Dream." The memoir supposedly discusses themes of the culture of poverty since he grew up in not the greatest conditions. Anyway, that's as much as I know. Some people think this is a great story and some find it offensive. So there was hype for not only awards but for this project in general.
Now that we've covered that, this movie throws all that away. Most everyone, whether you follow movies or not, knows about the scathing reviews this received. I understand that. And Rotten Tomatoes goes by either liking it or hating it. Only 28% actually gave this a positive review. What I'm more focused on is the MetaScore review since it's a most accurate score of every critics review. A 40 is still not great but that makes more sense. Hillbilly Elegy is a mess, but it's not as bad as some of the reviews say it is. Everyone has hype around certain movies. This had a lot going for it. First there's the source material. Then the stacked cast including Amy Adams and Glen Close. Venessa Taylor wrote the screen play who previously was nominated for an Oscar for The Shape of Water. And this seemed to be the comeback movie for Ron Howard who hasn't been consistent, well kind of ever. Rush feels like the last good movie he made. This just isn't it. Mainly due to the poor writing. Venessa Taylor has good moments of writing with some dialogue that could win the actors Oscars, but those moments are only once in a while. Most of it is either basic or cringe-worthy. I feel so bad for Amy Adams because of the writing, but I'll get to that later. The storytelling is inconsistent. Jumping back and forth between past and present can be difficult to get a constant full effect. The present 2016 moments have no effect whatsoever. I felt nothing for these characters at this point. The past scenes have more entertainment value and a more interesting story. There's just never a moment of normalcy. Every scene must have something significant happening where a character has to be demonized. A chance to slow down a breathe never really happens. For those excited for the screenplay, this might be one of the worst of the year.
Remember when I mentioned Amy Adams earlier, now's the time to tackle the acting. Adams doesn't deserve all the hate she's getting for this role. She's being accused of overacting and giving a terrible performance. But when the only scenes she has are her having a meltdown, flailing around, and just being an overall terrible mother it's hard to get to the route of the character. It's not her fault and I do genuinely think she gave an excellent performance, but her chances of an Oscar nomination are basically gone. Then Glen Close. We all thought this would be the year she finally wins her first Oscar. She's extremely overdue and gives a great performance. This just isn't her best ever. Once again the writing is taking those chances away. Close has a transformative performance and gives her all every minute on screen, but to give an Oscar for this performance wouldn't be appropriate. Mamaw is the one who is there to keep J. D. in line when his mother can't do so. But all she does is say stuff like "you need to do better" and "family is all that matters" and "I wasn't always a good person but you can be." There's not a moment to slow down with her. Olivia Colman might win the Oscar over her again. It seems unanimous that Owen Asztalos playing younger J. D. has a better performance than Gabriel Basso who plays him in 2016. Older J. D. is just an asshole to me. I hated him almost every minute. He's so cocky and thinks he's the one who is in charge of this family. I was in utter disbelief at the end of the third act with him. A decision is made that I understand is important to him but no decent person would ever do that. What's even worse is he's painted as a saint because he got everything he wants. If this weren't a true story I think everyone would be so mad at how this ends. Younger J. D. on the other hand gives a more genuine performance and is good. The last person that must be mentioned is Haley Bennett. When will she land a role with a movie that will be appreciated? She great in every role and I actually liked her in this, both acting and character. Even with Swallow and The Devil All the Time (both movies I really enjoyed) those movies have not gained the appreciation needed to have her well known. Good performances by most of the ensemble but can't get to their fullest potential with the bad writing.
Ron Howard just seems to have lost clear direction. Maybe not his worst movie like most are saying but there's a lack of fluid direction. Right away it comes off as a basic movie. Honestly if the writing was just better I still believe this would still be pretty basic. He can get some emotional scenes down. I did feel bad for the situation and wanted everything to get better. And there are some enjoyable and entertaining moments. I didn't find myself hating this. But it's just a disappointment from the some choices made both in the story and a filmmaking standpoint. For example, the past scenes are all in handheld mainly. I felt motion sick at some points. It's a common technique to get more immersed into the story but it was just too much. Also the fact to neglect the whole voice of poverty and all that doesn't help. This might be more of a writing thing but it's those topics aren't discussed as much as they should. I really can't say I hated this. I wanted to finish the movie unlike the other two people in the theater who left halfway through. Hillbilly Elegy is a mess, but it's not a movie to skip completely. It'll be on Netflix soon so you won't be wasting any money. I for one just wanted to see it in theaters while available to me because I'm pretentious. It's a shame that the final product couldn't live up to the hype. To make it quite simple, this is 2020's The Goldfinch: so much hype around to only time get awful reviews and a disappointment.
Life can be hard....
burritosburritos25 November 2020
The emotion didn't strike that much
pronitmallick25 November 2020
Hillbilly Elegy is a film that starts with a soothing vibe and goes on introducing all the characters. Pacing of the first arc goes smoothly but starts to feel kinda boring after some time. Right at the end of the first arc things start to feels repetitive where the story is just circling around the family drama. The film tries to strike us with all the emotional moments where sometimes it works fine but sometimes it doesn't. Amy Adams delivered a fine performance throughout the whole movie but in the end it wasn't enough to lift up a whole movie. overall it's a film that you can definitely watch for once.
Hillbilly Elegy is not as bad as it seemed, but it's not good either...
msbreviews18 November 2020
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This film is based on a memoir of the same title written by J.D. Vance, the man who gives name to the main character or, in better words, the character whose point of view is what the movie describes. As I always do, my preparation for any film means I don't watch trailers nor try to know too much about the story. I knew this movie was based on a supposedly true story or in some sort of book, and I knew that this could very well be an Oscar-bait due to the talented cast and late date of release. That's it. I had no idea about its political background nor Vance's personal statements. I'm from Portugal, so I don't live in a Republicans vs. Democrats or a Red vs. Blue country. Politics is and always will be an extremely irrelevant, depressing, unimpactful topic in my life.
I don't live in the USA, so unless the controversies surrounding films are global problems, I couldn't care less about them. To me, Hillbilly Elegy looked like another family melodrama featuring lousy parenting, drug addiction, bullying, discrimination, and all those formulaic plot points developed in this type of movie. Expectations-wise, I couldn't avoid the first (tremendously negative) reactions from fellow critics on social media, so I prepared myself for the worst. However, there's a reason why I wrote this prologue above, explaining my origins and what I consider to be important in my personal life...
Not trying to justify other people's opinions (everyone has their own right to love/hate any film for whatever reasons they choose to), but it feels awfully clear to me that a lot of American critics were influenced by the real-life J.D. Vance, his memoir, and what some people interpreted about his point of view. I repeat: everyone is in their own right to hate this movie (it has more than enough reasons to, and I'll get to those), but I find "the worst film of the year" statement as exaggerated as the movie's overdramatic sequences. My biggest issues with Hillbilly Elegy concern its editing choices and its looping narrative structure, besides its generic developments of known cliches.
Starting with the first problem, Ron Howard (Solo: A Star Wars Story) should have managed to create a really great film from the original story. At its best, Hillbilly Elegy could have been a heartbreaking account about the emotional struggles of living in such a violent, problematic family and about trying to escape this harsh lifestyle and reaching a better life overall. However, the constant flashbacks to J.D.'s young life damage the viewer's connection to the character and the rest of his family members, especially his mom, Bev. The non-stop back-and-forward in the timeline breaks the movie's pacing (James D. Wilcox's editing lacks consistency and coherence) and leads me to my next issue.
The entire film is a cycle of dramatic scenes quickly escalating to unbelievable actions. From the repetitive drug abuse and consequent relapses to the horrible parenting displayed in the most random of fashions (in one minute everything's fine, in the next one, chaos ensues), Vanessa Taylor couldn't break her screenplay loop, and Ron Howard failed to realize these sequences in a distinguished manner. In addition to all of this, Hillbilly Elegy also does very little to avoid the common formulas regarding this type of narrative, possessing zero surprises throughout the entire runtime, ultimately being entirely predictable practically from the beginning.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned before, this is far from being a contender for the worst piece of cinema in 2020. In fact, it might even get some nominations in the awards season, including the Oscars. As usual with "real-life stories", their cinematic adaptations always fill the end credits with images or videos of the real people portrayed in the movie. It's easy to notice the impressive work made by the make-up department. Glenn Close looks incredibly similar to the real Mamaw, and her charismatic portrayal is definitely getting her some nominations, at least in other ceremonies besides the main ones. She delivers yet another emotionally compelling performance, packed with powerfully handled dialogues, detailed expressiveness, and a phenomenal physical display.
Amy Adams (Justice League) doesn't fall behind. If Glenn Close has chances as a supporting role, Amy Adams might receive a few Best Actress nominations. Her character, Bev, doesn't receive a fair treatment script-wise, but Adams tries her best to compensate for that flaw. Her performance might be considered extremely over-the-top for many viewers, and I do acknowledge some exaggeration in a couple of scenes, but overall, she delivers a superb interpretation. Gabriel Basso is also pretty great as J.D. (as is Owen Asztalos), same for Haley Bennett (The Devil All the Time) as Lindsay. Hans Zimmer and David Fleming's score is sweet, but it doesn't get too many moments to shine.
In the end, Hillbilly Elegy suffers from its formulaic narrative stuck in a tiresome loop of overdramatic scenes that escalated incomprehensibly way too fast. The predictable melodrama features questionable editing decisions that hurt the film's pacing and overall story consistency, as well as the viewer's emotional bond with the characters. Ron Howard and Vanessa Taylor fail to depict an interesting premise in a distinctly captivating manner, consequently resorting to the award-worthy performances of Amy Adams and Glenn Close to save the whole movie from total disaster. In addition to the outstanding displays from the two actresses, the remarkable performances from the remaining cast elevate the flawed screenplay, ultimately delivering a few scenes worth hanging on to. Technically, impressively accurate make-up (guaranteed awards buzz) and a lovely score deserve a much better film. I still recommend it to everyone who enjoys melodramatic family stories, but don't expect anything remotely special.
Rating: C+
This film is based on a memoir of the same title written by J.D. Vance, the man who gives name to the main character or, in better words, the character whose point of view is what the movie describes. As I always do, my preparation for any film means I don't watch trailers nor try to know too much about the story. I knew this movie was based on a supposedly true story or in some sort of book, and I knew that this could very well be an Oscar-bait due to the talented cast and late date of release. That's it. I had no idea about its political background nor Vance's personal statements. I'm from Portugal, so I don't live in a Republicans vs. Democrats or a Red vs. Blue country. Politics is and always will be an extremely irrelevant, depressing, unimpactful topic in my life.
I don't live in the USA, so unless the controversies surrounding films are global problems, I couldn't care less about them. To me, Hillbilly Elegy looked like another family melodrama featuring lousy parenting, drug addiction, bullying, discrimination, and all those formulaic plot points developed in this type of movie. Expectations-wise, I couldn't avoid the first (tremendously negative) reactions from fellow critics on social media, so I prepared myself for the worst. However, there's a reason why I wrote this prologue above, explaining my origins and what I consider to be important in my personal life...
Not trying to justify other people's opinions (everyone has their own right to love/hate any film for whatever reasons they choose to), but it feels awfully clear to me that a lot of American critics were influenced by the real-life J.D. Vance, his memoir, and what some people interpreted about his point of view. I repeat: everyone is in their own right to hate this movie (it has more than enough reasons to, and I'll get to those), but I find "the worst film of the year" statement as exaggerated as the movie's overdramatic sequences. My biggest issues with Hillbilly Elegy concern its editing choices and its looping narrative structure, besides its generic developments of known cliches.
Starting with the first problem, Ron Howard (Solo: A Star Wars Story) should have managed to create a really great film from the original story. At its best, Hillbilly Elegy could have been a heartbreaking account about the emotional struggles of living in such a violent, problematic family and about trying to escape this harsh lifestyle and reaching a better life overall. However, the constant flashbacks to J.D.'s young life damage the viewer's connection to the character and the rest of his family members, especially his mom, Bev. The non-stop back-and-forward in the timeline breaks the movie's pacing (James D. Wilcox's editing lacks consistency and coherence) and leads me to my next issue.
The entire film is a cycle of dramatic scenes quickly escalating to unbelievable actions. From the repetitive drug abuse and consequent relapses to the horrible parenting displayed in the most random of fashions (in one minute everything's fine, in the next one, chaos ensues), Vanessa Taylor couldn't break her screenplay loop, and Ron Howard failed to realize these sequences in a distinguished manner. In addition to all of this, Hillbilly Elegy also does very little to avoid the common formulas regarding this type of narrative, possessing zero surprises throughout the entire runtime, ultimately being entirely predictable practically from the beginning.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned before, this is far from being a contender for the worst piece of cinema in 2020. In fact, it might even get some nominations in the awards season, including the Oscars. As usual with "real-life stories", their cinematic adaptations always fill the end credits with images or videos of the real people portrayed in the movie. It's easy to notice the impressive work made by the make-up department. Glenn Close looks incredibly similar to the real Mamaw, and her charismatic portrayal is definitely getting her some nominations, at least in other ceremonies besides the main ones. She delivers yet another emotionally compelling performance, packed with powerfully handled dialogues, detailed expressiveness, and a phenomenal physical display.
Amy Adams (Justice League) doesn't fall behind. If Glenn Close has chances as a supporting role, Amy Adams might receive a few Best Actress nominations. Her character, Bev, doesn't receive a fair treatment script-wise, but Adams tries her best to compensate for that flaw. Her performance might be considered extremely over-the-top for many viewers, and I do acknowledge some exaggeration in a couple of scenes, but overall, she delivers a superb interpretation. Gabriel Basso is also pretty great as J.D. (as is Owen Asztalos), same for Haley Bennett (The Devil All the Time) as Lindsay. Hans Zimmer and David Fleming's score is sweet, but it doesn't get too many moments to shine.
In the end, Hillbilly Elegy suffers from its formulaic narrative stuck in a tiresome loop of overdramatic scenes that escalated incomprehensibly way too fast. The predictable melodrama features questionable editing decisions that hurt the film's pacing and overall story consistency, as well as the viewer's emotional bond with the characters. Ron Howard and Vanessa Taylor fail to depict an interesting premise in a distinctly captivating manner, consequently resorting to the award-worthy performances of Amy Adams and Glenn Close to save the whole movie from total disaster. In addition to the outstanding displays from the two actresses, the remarkable performances from the remaining cast elevate the flawed screenplay, ultimately delivering a few scenes worth hanging on to. Technically, impressively accurate make-up (guaranteed awards buzz) and a lovely score deserve a much better film. I still recommend it to everyone who enjoys melodramatic family stories, but don't expect anything remotely special.
Rating: C+
A decent film but not a masterpiece
Aziz242 December 2020
A decent movie with a great acting performance from both Amy Adams & Glenn Close who I won't be surprised if she gets nominated for an Oscar. But, the film had some mistakes that prevented it from being a great motion picture that would be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars.
For those who don't know the movie is based on a true story and to be specific, it's based on a book called "Hillbilly Elegy". The story is so emotional and touching, the film was able to express that perfectly. But the problem is that we didn't get to know much in-depth about the characters except for J.D. Vance (played by Gabriel Basso) and the movie is just showing one side of the family which is the bad and negative side. For instance, Bev (Played by Amy Adams), we only saw one side of her which is the negative, bad mother, and addicted side except for one scene only which I cannot mention so I don't spoil anything. I didn't see much in-depth, I only saw what is from the outside.
The movie switches through different timelines, the past & present which was perfect because after each scene there was a scene from the past that explains why this specific thing happened in the present. The film was not causing any confusion and the film editing was perfect. The screenplay was okay, didn't find anything that would make it great, it was decent and normal which might be why the film is not a masterpiece.
On the other hand, hair & makeup was perfect in the film. The characters looked exactly like the ones in real life especially Bev (Played by Amy Adams) and Mawmaw (played by Glenn Close).
The film is dramatic & emotional and the acting performances made them more dramatic but one thing that kind of ruined a part of it was the music score that was annoying because the same music was playing over and over again throughout the film. I felt like there was one specific music that they used for the whole film.
Glenn Close's performance was so genuine and amazing, she was able to impersonate that character very very well that I hope she wins an Oscar for her performance in Hillbilly Elegy. For Amy Adams, she was not the problem at all, her performance was incredible. But her character is the problem. Like I mentioned we didn't get to know much about her character and therefore I was not able to sympathize with her except for one scene, and I blame the writers for that because Amy Adams could do better than that but her character didn't let her so.
In the end, the movie is not bad and deserves better than that. But this is a fail attempt for the production company which is Netflix to get this movie to the Oscars, I don't think the movie deserves to be nominated for any awards except Glenn Close's performance. The writers were capable of making this film a masterpiece especially that they had a great story in hand, but the result was a decent, dramatic, and emotional film.
My rating is 7/10
For those who don't know the movie is based on a true story and to be specific, it's based on a book called "Hillbilly Elegy". The story is so emotional and touching, the film was able to express that perfectly. But the problem is that we didn't get to know much in-depth about the characters except for J.D. Vance (played by Gabriel Basso) and the movie is just showing one side of the family which is the bad and negative side. For instance, Bev (Played by Amy Adams), we only saw one side of her which is the negative, bad mother, and addicted side except for one scene only which I cannot mention so I don't spoil anything. I didn't see much in-depth, I only saw what is from the outside.
The movie switches through different timelines, the past & present which was perfect because after each scene there was a scene from the past that explains why this specific thing happened in the present. The film was not causing any confusion and the film editing was perfect. The screenplay was okay, didn't find anything that would make it great, it was decent and normal which might be why the film is not a masterpiece.
On the other hand, hair & makeup was perfect in the film. The characters looked exactly like the ones in real life especially Bev (Played by Amy Adams) and Mawmaw (played by Glenn Close).
The film is dramatic & emotional and the acting performances made them more dramatic but one thing that kind of ruined a part of it was the music score that was annoying because the same music was playing over and over again throughout the film. I felt like there was one specific music that they used for the whole film.
Glenn Close's performance was so genuine and amazing, she was able to impersonate that character very very well that I hope she wins an Oscar for her performance in Hillbilly Elegy. For Amy Adams, she was not the problem at all, her performance was incredible. But her character is the problem. Like I mentioned we didn't get to know much about her character and therefore I was not able to sympathize with her except for one scene, and I blame the writers for that because Amy Adams could do better than that but her character didn't let her so.
In the end, the movie is not bad and deserves better than that. But this is a fail attempt for the production company which is Netflix to get this movie to the Oscars, I don't think the movie deserves to be nominated for any awards except Glenn Close's performance. The writers were capable of making this film a masterpiece especially that they had a great story in hand, but the result was a decent, dramatic, and emotional film.
My rating is 7/10
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