Hillbilly Elegy

  • 2020


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Positive Reviews 79
Negative reviews 130
Average Rating 2.4/5
emotional interesting important convoluted

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  • Negative
1.5
If you want to watch a sensitive character study about intergenerational trauma in Appalachia, theres Barbara Lodens Wanda. Av Club
3.0
The soap opera ish aspects of Hillbilly Elegy doesnt take away from the strength of the individual performances and the sense of empathy toward the ch .. Den Of Geek
3.0
Theres no delicacy here, just dialogue thats limp when it isnt hilarious. EW
3.1
It feels realistic and right, and validates something we know to be true: you cant save others if they wont save themselves. Rogerebert
3.0
But none of this will matter as much to newcomers to Vances tale, and the movie doesnt construct as compelling a life story as the source material did .. Common Sense Media
3.0
A shot of Close holding one of J.D.s algebra chests to her heart like a love letter from the future is powerful enough to cut through all the hokum ar .. Indie Wire
4.5
She doesnt want help; shed rather stew in her toxic juice of rage and self pity. Variety
1.0
And if ever there was a time for movie stars to ugly themselves up to play impoverished Appalachians, this surely isnt it. Time Out
2.0
This is a well meant story of someone pulling himself up by his bootstraps, with some help from his grandma. But it feels contrived and self conscious .. The Guardian
1.3
Hillbilly Elegy feels like a bland feel good story rather than one part of a longer tragedy with no clear end.
1.9
A story that is painted with a brush that seems both narrowly specific and overly broad.
4.5
A high spec, high wattage drama which is both entirely suitable for, and should play well on, the streaming service which supported it. Screen Daily
2.0
Ron Howards movie frequently mistakes mawkishness and cloying sentimentality for empathy to hilarious results. Collider
1.5
The film is like a package of assorted chicken parts that cant be assembled back into something approximating the shape of an actual animal theres way .. Vulture
1.5
The film is like a package of assorted chicken parts that cant be assembled back into something approximating the shape of an actual animal theres way .. Vulture
2.0
Its a film that just doesnt get it: Like the sequence in one of an interminable series of cookouts (does no one use their kitchen in Kentucky), the co ..
1.5
The strange stew of melodrama, didacticism and inadvertent camp that Howard serves up isnt the result of a failure of taste or sensitivity. The New York Times
1.8
As the central, self centered, self loathing, defensive hero, J.D. is lifeless as an adult and one note as a kid. Paste Magazine
1.5
Although the premise might suggest otherwise, Chick Fight is not a female driven variation of the lacerating social satire Fight Club. E Film Critic
2.0
The script saves Mamaws best scenes for last, which might be strategically wise but isnt saying much. Telegraph
1.5
That temper doesnt take much to ignite, and Maryse Albertis camerawork, hurtling past the chaos and clutter of Molly Hughes production design, seems t ..
2.0
This commitment to unpalatable honesty may suggest authenticity, but thats not what is delivered.
2.0
Save for its best performances, its merely another rote story about basic family drama and accepting ones own roots, and is unable to possess any real .. Cinema Blend
2.5
Too bad Ron Howards well intentioned but tone deaf film doesnt do the story it tells or the community it depicts justice. JoBlo
1.5
Full of repetitive flashbacks and constant yelling, Hillbilly Elegy strives to be the next great domestic drama, but falls short in several ways. Screen Rant
1.9
The directors professional, too smooth to trust hands usually mash whatever material is chucked his way into a curiously flattened state of bland noth .. The Globe And Mail
3.0
Film version of the memoir of a true believer in the traditional values of the American Dream. Spirituality And Practice
2.0
Structurally messy and, despite a highly histrionic tone, doesnt deliver the emotional wallop its obviously straining for. One Guys Opinion
1.9
Howard doesnt make awful films, and as somebody who spent much of my earlier life in Appalachia, Im not inclined to write this problematic portrayal o .. Rogers Movie Nation
3.8
Heres a rare example of a Netflix prestige film that neither runs too long nor overstays its welcome. ReelViews
2.0
Netflix didnt want me to review Hillbilly Elegy, and now I understand why. Blu Ray
1.5
Glenn Close and Owen Asztalos, Hillbilly Elegy Lacey Terrell/NETFLIX But for better or worse, this isnt the story director Ron Howard and screenwriter .. Tv Guide
2.5
Its all over the place, really, although theres one position upon which the movie never genuinely stops: compassion. Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
Hillbilly Elegy does a good enough job portraying the obstacles many forgotten Americans face, it just doesnt give them any historical perspective.
2.5
Without a truly distinguishing Hillbilly charm, its simply a middling dysfunctional family drama with A list actresses. Usa Today
1.5
I found it to be blunt emotional manipulation with no valuable takeaway. You Tube
4.5
Its surprising, with so much going for it, how the film never felt like it inhabited the spirit of its material. You look at it, rather than watch it. .. You Tube
1.0
A bloated, meandering, histrionic nightmare melodrama that at least answers the question: What would the White People version of a Tyler Perry movie b .. You Tube
4.5
A heartfelt celebration of ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things in the face of adversity. You Tube
3.0
The acting is great but Ron Howard, where is the heart of the story You Tube
1.5
Awful. Howard strips out all the controversy of today, while Taylors script refuses to pick a lead. Doesnt help Hollywoods image of being out of touch .. You Tube
1.5
The movie never allows us to empathize with the characters. Instead it just drags us into a terrible vortex of drama filled up with more drama. You Tube
2.0
The performances are wildly uneven and range from the naturalistic to the cartoonish. The Times
2.0
Theres something different about Middletown, all right. Kinda like something was missing. Maybe subtlety. The Times
3.0
Hillbilly Elegy is never less than watchable, but it does rather give off a distracting aura of Hollywood A listers artfully slumming it. Radio Times
2.8
I wouldnt say its the Oscar contender that Im sure those behind it were hoping for, but its a decently told if not particularly novel tale with good p .. Screen It
2.0
As Bev, Adams is almost always throwing a histrionic fit, while Closes Mamaw offers piquant commentary. Shadows On The Wall
1.5
All thats left is a not very interesting story about a man who doesnt come off looking particularly good. Decider
0.5
It isnt interested in the systems that create poverty and addiction and ignorance; it just wants to pretend that one straight white guys ability to ri .. The Wrap
2.5
Hillbilly Elegy is a series of rotten choices occasionally by the characters, but mostly by Hollywood. New York Post
3.5
Whether thats a good or a bad thing, youll have to decide after youve seen it. Az Central
4.0
The books hard political edges have been planed away, leaving a highly polished piece of storytelling in the great Hollywood tradition of working clas .. Smh
4.5
This Netflix offering showcases stunning acting by Glenn Close and Amy Adams. Despite confusing flashbacks in the film, they should be major contender .. Reel Talk Reviews
4.0
Vanessa Taylors screenplay jumps fashionably backwards and forwards in time, making it difficult, initially, not just to understand how J. D. escaped .. Daily Mail
3.0
The film is beautifully shot by Maryse Alberti (Creed), who captures these flawed, flailing people through a warm, non judgmental lens, and theres som .. Flim List
4.5
This gives Hillbilly Elegy the air of competency it doesnt quite deserve. Film Inquiry
2.0
A trite reflection on a subject rarely given its due in mainstream cinema, this mass of clichs only serves to further obscure what it professes to rev .. Eye For Film
2.5
Country fried family drama, a resonant slice of rural Americana, filled with sociopathic characters in search of a story. Susang Ranger
1.5
This years Green Book, and coming from me, thats not a compliment. Truly a made for TV movie with better actors. Flickering Myth
2.0
For Hillbilly Elegy, its a shame that the film doesnt lock in until the final 30 minutes. Flickering Myth
3.5
Theres a lot to unpack in this deceptively straightforward rags to riches parable. Flim Threet
1.5
Howards movie doesnt include a single line of such ideological advocacyit doesnt suggest that the character of J.D. has any political thoughts at all. New Yorker
1.5
If you dont get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Time
3.0
If Close gives a mildly restrained performance, and she really is the best thing in the film, Adams shockingly miscalculates, playing every scene up t .. The Film Stage
2.5
But thats the way Hillbilly Elegy portrays these people and the way a lot of viewers feel comfortable seeing them: As indomitable victims of their own .. Boston Globe
1.5
Yeah, I know, Um, east coast media lib doesnt like the Hillbilly movie. Uproxx
3.0
Ron Howard turns a tale of entertaining hillbilly dysfunction into a repetitive after school special. Uproxx
1.0
But ones brain aches pondering why anyone thought this would be a good idea. The Irish Times
0.5
Hillbilly Elegy is an Oscar friendly narrative of personal triumph in the face of great hardship, a movie designed to end with an uplifting epigraph; .. The Atlantic
2.0
Suffice to say, unless youre a silly billy, youll see through the pantomime. Standard
1.5
Its a film that treats its subjects Appalachia hill folk as curiosities, and it mistakes a series of unfortunate events for plot. Pajiba
2.0
Hillbilly Elegy is more interested in histrionics, of which theres plenty. Detroit News
1.5
These would theoretically be juicy roles for Adams and Close, but even with those stars letting loose, the conversations about broader cultural and ec .. Cnn
2.5
Because we never truly grasp how terrible these people have it, that doesnt happen. Aisle Seat
2.0
When your big dissection of American poverty is less insightful and less intellectually honest than the Dukes of Hazzard movie and Joker, thats a prob .. Forbes
2.0
The end result A brilliant music concert movie in the same exalted company as Stop Making Sense itself. Herald Sun
3.0
And as director, Howard doesnt really step up with the material either. Consequence Of Sound
1.0
An elegy is a mournful poem of reflection. Often, its a lament, a song sung for the dead. But Hillbilly Elegy is no elegy. Its not reflective enough t .. Vox
3.0
Howard has made several great movies, and many more reasonably good ones, but hes making amateur mistakes here. The Play List
2.0
Director Ron Howard seems particularly uneasy with the material, unable to frame Bev and Mamaws stories in a way that makes them human. Now Toronto
4.5
At a fancy dinner party with the law firm thats recruiting him, hes at a loss for small talk and utterly baffled by the array of silverware confrontin .. Maki At The Movies
2.0
Instead of tapping into that dramatic potential by asking difficult emotional and systemic questions, Howard habitually reaches for the comfort of sen .. Cine Vue
1.5
This adaption of J.D. Vances memoir means well, but Howards cliched approach to filmmaking makes it hilarious for all the wrong reasons. La Weekly
2.0
Image: Lacey Terrell/NETFLIX) Ultimately, the conflict at the heart of Hillbilly Elegy is rather simplistic and doesnt stray into much uncomfortable t .. Mirror
3.0
Whats more, J.D.s push/pull between his family/future doesnt feel particularly urgent. Games Radar
2.0
I dont think Ron Howard or screenwriter Vanessa Taylor ever figure out what story theyre trying to tell. You Tube
2.5
The performances are great, but Hillbilly Elegy features a convoluted story with execution that falls flat. You Tube
2.0
While Ron Howard should certainly be ashamed of the finished product, the core rot at the heart of this project traces all the way to the source mater .. You Tube
1.0
A spineless, trite melodrama that leans on easy moralising and lazy stereotypes. Lw Lies
1.9
It is as if Howard does not fully understand the people whose story he is telling, so he feels compelled to force feed the audience with the obvious p .. Stl Today
2.0
On the page, Vances Mamaw at least had complexity, a bad parent herself born of others. Howard smooths and syrups until she is no more than a Pez disp .. Ft
3.5
Its a solid production, worthy of your time if youre so inclined, but there is an Oscar baitiness about it that you cant quite shake. Stuff
1.5
It isnt much good, but theres enough effort put in from its cast in one case, perhaps a bit too much effort to keep it from completely collapsing. Whe .. Ar Kansas Online
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy is both witless cosplay and a failure to interrogate any of the books controversial insinuations. Vanity Fair
3.0
In one important respect, though, the film succeeds as social realism. The Arts Desk
1.0
Ron Howards cinematic mess of a movie, out November 24, has unlikeable characters and your sympathy lies with no one. The Sun
2.0
It doesnt have anything interesting to offer in terms of direction, performance, or artistic vision. Daily Dot
4.0
A brave and largely successful attempt to depict the kind of culture and lives that Hollywood usually treats as a zoological exhibit. The Filmy Ap
2.5
Hillbilly Elegy is a portrait of humble beginnings and trying to find your own place in life, only to realize you cant outrun your family. Big Picture Big Sound
3.5
Its a terrifically captivating performance from Close, and one that awards bait or not more than merits her winning that long overdue Oscar. Scmp
3.8
Howards direction doesnt quite capture that, nor does Vanessa Taylors script.
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy isnt a total loss, thanks mostly to energized performances, but it also doesnt quite deliver the message it wants to deliver. Ign
5.0
Director Howard isnt one for flashy tricks and gimmicks, but he displays his usual deft touch for the material... Chicago Sun Times
3.0
Certainly, Gabriel Basso as Vance himself doesnt have the screen presence to keep up. Punch Drunk Critics
4.5
That said, there isnt anything flashy or standout about Howards direction of Hillbilly Elegy. We Live Entertainment
2.5
The problem comes down to the films choice of highlighting performance over inspiration and impact. We Live Entertainment
1.5
Making matters worse, J.D. isnt a particularly likable character. The Ringer
4.0
I cant think of better timing for this heart wrenching and deeply affecting story of family. Dead Line
1.0
Yet the film is staunchly uninterested in offering any political commentary, preferring to offer more genial, non specific ideas of working hard and e .. One Room With A View
2.0
This is one where the book is a bestseller and the film doesnt live up to the expectations. Solzy At The Movies
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy isnt expected to be a complex treatise on intersectionality. Bitly
2.0
Erskine, though, doesnt make the mistake of giving the stories equal weight, and hes smart enough to let the material directly and obliquely address t .. Scots Man
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy conflates one mans story as emblematic of a community, in short sighted terms. It isnt just a disservice to Vance, but to the inhabita .. Polygon
3.0
If you want to watch a sensitive character study about intergenerational trauma in Appalachia, theres Barbara Lodens Wanda. Film Avclub
1.5
The film strips away much of what was insightful, if controversial, about Vances memoir to tell a rote tale of suffering and survival. Cbr
3.0
The sum of the parts never quite add up. This is a film that is competently made and has some interesting work from Close, but its a bit inconsistent .. Bowling Green Daily News
2.0
These are blatant Oscar courting turns from two of our most Oscar hungry performers, and neither one rises above the clichs built into the womens appe .. Alternate Ending
4.5
Who left Vanessa Taylor holding the bag Of course, the book isnt very good and obviously Ron Howard had no interest in engaging with the politics of i .. Lainey Gossip
2.0
Plus, the eye roll inducing bromides putting a bigger emphasis on their family values in the bookending narration cheapen the value of whats being sho .. Fresh Fiction
1.5
Not since I, Tonya or Citizen Ruth or maybe Gummo or even Deliverance, have we been treated to such a gaudy display of miscalculated, down scale exube .. East Bay Express
2.0
But the resulting debates are tangential to the movie, which doesnt come across as timely or provocative or, really, as anything much besides syrupy O .. Seven Day Svt
4.0
Hillbilly Elegy delivers a moving portrait of a family undone by substance abuse, and also examines the kind of intergenerational supports that are so .. National Post
3.5
...the timeliness and relevance of this fine movie has not diminished. The Australian
2.5
There are harrowing moments when Bev seems more like shes suffering from bipolar disorder than drug addiction, but thats never really explored. Third Coast Review
2.0
And while Adams feels neglected, here comes Glenn Close roaring to life like a lioness as menthol chain smoker Mamaw. Ion Cinema
0.5
Advertisement Class issues are what make this auto biopic insulting. National Review
1.5
With the plucky rural folk, its always about hearts overflowing with kindness or sinks overflowing with dirty dishes. National Review
3.0
Nobody can dispute that the acting here is first class. So even though Hillbilly Elegy is hardly poetry in motion, neither is it all downhill. The New Paper
2.0
Thats not to say the film isnt well acted, well shot, or well scored. Cultured Vultures
3.0
Looking like a heap of unwashed laundry, shes a study in grizzled tough love, the type of woman whose good heart finds expression in growls and coerci .. Tiny Url
3.0
For genuine and meticulously researched understanding, try White Trash by Nancy Isenberg.) Movie Mom
3.5
Audiences will find a story dedicated to those who have not yet overcome adversity.
3.8
If you dont, youll never get out of whatever it is youre trying to get out of. Datebook Sfchronicle
2.5
Its a jumble of timelines but the basic shape of Hillbilly Elegy is a reluctant homecoming. Ap News
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy tries and fails to be something it isnt an honest look at the strife of growing up poor in Appalachia. Columbus Alive
1.5
But the new movie adaptation, directed by Ron Howard, doesnt really try to do all that. Mash Able
4.5
Amy Adams and Glenn Close are acting their buns off in a story of rescue and survival illustrating how one person in a family can change the trajector .. Wp Me
1.5
There is little narrative arc, only a raw glimpse of this flawed family, so Howard and his collaborators strain for significance that always eludes th .. Washington City Paper
3.0
Hillbilly Elegy doesnt quite manage to become the capital I Important film it wants to be.
1.5
Without exactly giving away the closing beat, its difficult to overstate how much Hillbilly Elegy fizzles upon conclusion. Thril List
3.1
Amy Adams is asked to do too much but still ekes out a sympathetic portrait, while Asztalos is quite good and Glenn Close is Oscar worthy as J.D.s cur .. Cambridge Day
3.0
For every A Beautiful Mind which notched Howard the best directing Oscar theres always The Dilemma. The Only Critic
4.5
If anything, Hillbilly Elegy proves even the best actors dont always make the best choices. Firstpost
1.9
I have no idea how fans of the book will react to this adaptation, but as someone coming in cold, I didnt warm up nearly enough. Film Festival Today
2.0
There is too much talent in front and behind the camera to make something this overly dramatic, sappy, and emotionally empty. Mac Guff
4.5
Its hard to say what made it so great that it was deemed worthy of so much attention from the film industry Battle Royale With Cheese
1.5
All and all, its just a mess, one that isnt particularly endearing considering its contrived origins. Battle Royale With Cheese
1.5
Unfortunately, Howards version of Vances story offers nothing deeper than a pastiche of white poverty. World Wng
4.5
The storytelling can be uneven, but to ignore Hillbilly Elegy would mean missing a chance to watch Close build a character from the hard, gravelly soi .. Denerstein Unleashed Blog ..
1.5
Instead, it rings hollow and doesnt come across as a barrier shattering success story, but plays more like an episode of Jerry Springer. Screen Zealots
1.5
Howards strength is his weakness: hes a journeyman director, with no real personal style of flair. The Spool
1.5
Adams doesnt have space to utilize the quieter, more reactive style shes perfected elsewhere. The Week
2.5
Sadly, the sociological edge of Vances book is barely a remnant in the softened film version. Abc News Go
1.5
Ron Howard, who apparently learned nothing during his days as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, has given us a flavorless film with only the thinnest ve .. Saportare Port
2.0
The film, now out in theaters before hitting Netflix on November 24, is a mediocre melodrama full of poverty porn, one that moves slowly and doesnt de .. Splice Today
2.0
Watching the toxic malfunctions of J.D.s situation, a parade of Southern culture on the skids, often just isnt very pretty, or very enjoyable. Parade
2.0
Solid performances by Amy Adams and Glenn Close cant save this too on the nose soap drama that tries too hard to move you, but doesnt. Offers some tou ..
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy is ostensibly a true story told in the fakest, most insulting fashion possible. The Gate
2.5
Its not just that the film doesnt seem to understand rural Appalachia, its that it doesnt even seem to try, creating a self satisfied piece of poverty .. From the Front Row
4.5
Who better to tell this distinctly down home American tale But it aint pretty. At Home In Hollywood
2.0
Its less a character than a collection of outbursts, so I cant even say whether shes good. Maddwolf
2.0
We should be raving about a marvellous film with biting commentary and provocative ideas that seek to challenge an audience. The Jam Report
3.0
Given the familiarly delivered storytelling techniques, the small screen allure of Netflix is enhanced by Howards slick direction, and DP Maryse Alber .. Worldo Free L
2.5
The film is crippled by many of the books issues. is an exception, but the rule he proves isnt the one he thinks. Jaredmobarak
1.5
The script is chock full of the empty kind of Live Laugh Love platitudes that clog the aisles of Marshalls and stores targeting wine moms.
5.0
This family is in every town and this town is in every state. Its a slice of life and one mans story of finding himself as he reclaims his background, .. Daily Journal
0.5
Its not young Louis Bassos fault that, as J. D., hes asked to play a pretty blank slate. The Movie Minute
1.0
He doesnt come from money, so how would he know cutlery nuance Dude, you dont have to have grown up rich, you only have to have seen Pretty Woman. Book & Film Globe
1.5
Howards Hillbilly Elegy feels rather toothless, too melodramatic without the requisite pathos its characters so achingly demand. That Shelf
2.0
Its a missed opportunity to transform a problematic memoir into a meaningful statement, so terrified of becoming a political hot potato it opts to say .. The Digital Fix
2.0
Close and Adams make this otherwise bland and unimaginative movie interesting and worthwhile, even if it is the most egregious example of Oscar bait I .. Awards Watch
0.5
Despite my issues, it doesnt lessen my feelings about vredal as a filmmaker, because theres good music and use of visual FX no surprise if youve seen .. Weekend Warrior Blog Tumbl ..
1.5
Elegy is another one of those maudlin journeys through an adults turbulent formative years. Nashville Scene
1.5
Hillbilly Elegys message seems too simple: you can survive if you just hang on long enough and have a tough grandmother who believes in you. Cocalecas
2.0
Vances original message of healing, hope, and the importance of family and community is sadly missing from Howards film, lost in a mess of weak storyt .. Reel Reviews
1.5
Witnessing an event doesnt mean the same event is replicating on a large scale. About Boulder
0.5
Then theres Ron Howard, a capable studio craftsman of genial, populist entertainments who blunders badly whenever he tries to make important prestige .. Wbur
2.0
Theres nothing really wrong with it, yet theres not really too much going for it other than its impressive ensemble. Movie Show Plus
2.0
Im not quite sure why Ron Howard was attracted to this project after reading this clunker of a script. Mad About Movies Podcast
2.5
Its convoluted narrative takes away all emotion to this lackluster family drama.
0.5
Amy Adams gives a bravura performance in 2 generations The standout of Hillbilly Elegy is Adams. Showbiz Cheat Sheet
3.0
More importantly, that point isnt what movie audiences need right now. KSDK
2.5
The biggest problem with Hillbilly Elegy is that it doesnt feel like anything we havent seen before: a character rises above their tough upbringing an .. The Lamplight Review
4.5
By the end I was completely won over. The storys nonsense with a lot of weird stuff happening, but there was enough holiday cheer and an emotional cor .. FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los A ..
1.5
It doesnt tell anyone anything about hill people, Appalachia, or the White Working Class. Bitch Media
1.5
Hillbilly Elegy seems more like a glimpse of a life still unfinished than a saga and social observation, rather than overt political commentary. Ncr Online
3.0
It simply turns into a well acted reflection on Vances meager upbringing, with bows to ancestors from the hills of Kentucky, opioid addiction in his m .. Jmuvies Blog Spot
3.1
A movie with obvious intent but little in the way of narrative depth. Reel Talk with Chuck and P ..
2.0
When shes in full mama bear mode, lecturing young J.D., shes pretty compelling. Asheville Movies
4.5
I am putting myself on the line by predicting that long over do Close might finally win an Oscar on her eighth try. Awfj
1.5
However, just because someone has the title of parent, doesnt mean they are immune from giving bad advice, deploying manipulative tactics, and acting .. Cinemacy
3.0
The narrative is sloppy but the story has, at its core, invaluable insight (about fealty to family) that makes it more honest and therefore more effec ..
3.0
If only Taylors screenplay would have been more ambitious and approached the material with a hacked documentary type movie akin to Adam McKays exubera .. Times Herald
1.9
A generic, dull witted drama of family dysfunction, addiction and shame that only pays lip service to the sociological import that made the book such .. Sound Cloud
2.0
A 2019 award winning book, Appalachian Reckoning, served as a blistering response. Should I See It
2.5
Even the characters are largely reduced to stereotypes and the movie doesnt bother much to delve deep into their psyches. Casey's Movie Mania
1.5
In real life, Vances depiction of his grandparents aroused controversy. Hillbilly Elegy stirs curiosity to read the book.
3.0
It is not Howards best film but it is his most emotional, and will resonate strongly with those with similar stories. QiiBO
5.0
With eloquent performances, particularly from Close, its a story that will resonate with many. Reel Honestre Views
1.5
What is possibly the films greatest asset is also its undermining. The strong female performances can make you feel like youre watching an audition ta ..
1.0
The most obnoxious thing about the film is that its award baiting is going to keep the film in the public consciousness much longer than it has any ri .. WhatToWatch
1.5
Both of those actresses are quite gifted at digging into characters, but this movie does not give them much tangible to grab hold of. This gets to the .. Lenoirauteur
3.0
Glenn Close transcends a career of stellar work with a performance for the ages. Galveston Daily News
2.0
Flashes of competence are in service of a fundamentally flawed film, one determined to present the authors reality and never once examine it. Box Office Prophets
1.5
If you badly want to understand Appalachians, maybe just talk to a few instead Hyperallergic
4.5
The guiding maternal presence is mule headed, cigarette smoking, take no prisoners Mamaw. As played by Glenn Close (perhaps Academy Award nomination n .. Niagara Gazette
1.5
Bettany is a decent actor and works hard, but he cant sell the old school, simplistic psychology; Macdissi, in a bad wig and a vat of mascara, comes o .. Arts At L
3.1
Unfortunately, the narrow script and depressing scenes dont explain how Vance was able to break the cycle. The narrow focus elicits anger rather than .. Sarahs Back Stage Pass
2.5
Again, though, her characters arc isnt helped by the nonlinear story structure. The News-Herald (Willoughb ..
1.9
Without the intention, Hillbilly Elegy is the most laughable movie of 2020. AMovieGuy.com
1.5
The books popularity, and apparent importance for helping understand 2010s America, made a film adaptation inevitable. The Gospel Coalition
1.5
The only good thing we have to say about the reactionary film adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy is that its so boringly told youll forget about it in an h .. Jacobin Mag
2.0
Fine turns from Amy Adams and Glenn Close are wasted in this wrong headed and awkward social drama. KKFI-FM (Kansas City)
3.0
Howards film embraces neither side and thats its primary failing. Akron Beacon Journal
2.0
But Hillbilly Elegy feels extraneous, less a poetic lament and more just lamentable. Chatham News + Record (NC) ..
3.1
That could work with a stronger central story, but Vances memoir doesnt quite present that. Awards Radar
2.0
For a drama with Oscar aspirations, its too earnest and completely safe. 1More Film Blog
4.5
Close performs with determination and fierceness, always providing a hint of vulnerability. La Estatuilla
3.0
Director Ron Howard miraculously finds the humanity in emphatically irresponsible and emotionally stunted characters, thanks largely to a cast that sh ..
3.8
Some of the language and the violence is cringe worthy its not a family film even though its about a family. OurQuadCities / WHBF-TV (I ..
3.5
Everything else is window dressing in an engaging movie that just misses the mark.
2.0
Much like Benefits Street, the fact its based on truth doesnt prevent it from feeling like a rather horrifying and misguided cartoon portrayal of work .. FILMHOUNDS Magazine
4.0
A brave and largely successful attempt to depict the kind of culture and lives that Hollywood usually treats as a zoological exhibit. The Film Yap
3.0
The film is well shot, well acted with an interesting story why doesnt it work Competent though theres nothing special about it does that make the qui .. Sundays with Cate
2.5
Its a meaty role and she sinks her teeth into it; Adams delivers a vibrant performance, one thats alternately heartbreaking and terrifying and just te ..
2.0
A truly awful movie actually makes choices. Sadly, Hillbilly Elegy should be a eulogy for Howards career. Rogers TV
3.0
A mildly touching melodrama boosted by some great performances by Amy Adams and Glenn Close. .
4.5
Thats the message here, despite a cloud of controversy and biting cynicism from critics.
3.0
Despite solid performances all around, the characters could have benefited from more development.



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