Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Movie Review
Directed by Ron Howard and adapted by Vanessa Taylor from J.D. Vance’s 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy” brings to life the tumultuous upbringing of Vance, who is now the current Trump pick for VP in the upcoming presidential election.
The film stars Amy Adams and Glenn Close and also features performances by Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, Freida Pinto, Bo Hopkins (in his final film appearance), and Owen Asztalos.
The narrative unfolds through Vance’s reflections on his childhood in Middletown, Ohio, under the care of his mother, Beverly “Bev” (Amy Adams), and her parents from Jackson, Kentucky. Set in 1997, the young J.D. (Owen Asztalos) and his older sister, Lindsay, grapple with their mother’s drug addiction and erratic behavior.
A harrowing incident occurs when an argument leads Bev to threaten a car crash and subsequently attack J.D., prompting him to seek refuge at a nearby house. Bev’s aggressive attempt to retrieve J.D. nearly results in her arrest, but he lies to protect her.
The family faces further turmoil when Bev’s father, Papaw, passes away, triggering a downward spiral for Bev, who loses her job for erratic behavior and stealing pills, culminating in a public breakdown.
J.D. finds solace in his maternal grandmother, Bonnie “Mamaw” Vance (Glenn Close), who strives to keep the family together. Mamaw convinces J.D. to provide clean urine for Bev’s drug test to save her job, but the family’s troubles persist.
Mamaw is hospitalized with pneumonia, and J.D. begins acting out, joining his stepbrother in reckless behavior that leads to the wreckage of Mamaw’s car. Upon learning of J.D.’s actions, Mamaw checks herself out of the hospital and takes J.D. in, determined to set him on a better path.
“Hillbilly Elegy” paints a raw and poignant portrait of a family’s struggle with addiction and instability, driven by standout performances from Adams and Close. Howard’s direction and Taylor’s screenplay effectively capture the essence of Vance’s memoir, delivering a powerful exploration of resilience and the quest for a better life amidst adversity.
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