To describe Ron Howard’s career as a film director, distinguished, could almost be considered mild. He has made films of every genre from fantasy to sports to comedy to dramatic. Amongst all these genders and films he has made movies that are staples and now considered classics and he has yet to show signs of slowing down.
Howard’s latest project features a great cast which is both new when it comes to Howard films. Two of the world’s greatest working actresses go head to head for the first time on film with Glen Close and Amy Adams playing a mother daughter team that has a contentious relationship to say the least.
Hillbilly Elegy is the memoir of J.D. Vance who had to deal with the relapse of his mothers drug addiction at a most critical time while he is at Yale law school and is struggling to keep his head above water. He is out of place at one of the most prestigious institutes in the world coming from a background that many would consider by many as white trash, but is a proud background to those who lived in those very hills.
As J.D. fights to get his mom straight and keep his hopes of law school alive he looks back at his upbringing and that very strained relationship between his mother and grandmother and how it shaped him into who he is and even how he could have gone in a different direction in life if it weren’t for his grandmother.
The adult J.D. is played by Gabriel Basso who did some fine work as a young actor in Super 8, The Kings Of Summer and the Showtime series, The Big C. He has really come into his own showing some range he didn’t really have early on and that his ability to play convicted characters is not out of reach.
Glen Close and Amy Adams give truly powerhouse performances and will without a doubt land them each Academy Award nominations just as one would expect. As much as fans of Amy Adams are used to seeing her nominated every year or two and hoping that this will be the year for her to bring home the gold this feels very much like it is Close’s award to lose at the moment. It is the performance of her long and storied career.
Close and Adams have 13 nominations between them both and zero wins. It currently feels like the streak (especially for Close) will come to and end. There will most likely be other nominations to come but aside from Close I don’t really see any other wins coming its way.
Hillbilly Elegy is available on Netflix now for your viewing pleasure. I must say that it isn’t exactly a feel good film but that takes nothing away from the great performances and well made film that it is. Ron Howard has once again delivered a fine film that is worthy of his mantle of excellent works.
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Reviews haven’t been good–will see it next week–I am a huge Close fan–will let you know what I think! :O)