Hillbilly Elegy Review: An Awards Season Miss for Ron Howard and Netflix

Based on J.D. Vance’s memoir, Ron Howard's film focuses on the relationship between J.D. (Gabriel Basso/Owen Asztalos), his grandmother (Glenn Close) and his mother (Amy Adam) by jumping back and forth between the events of his childhood in Middletown, Ohio and 2011 when he's pursuing a potentially game-changing law internship. Catch my thoughts in this Hillbilly Elegy review!

#HillbillyElegy #Netflix #RonHoward


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[rhitmanandhar]

Thank God I watched the movie before watching the reviews. Cause it was a great experience for me and seeing the reviews first would not make me want to watch the movie.

[heidilawrence]

I clearly watched a different film ! It was a fantastic film loved it now I want to read the book x Glenn close is amazing as his grandmother

[kylerobin]

When I heard your review it was clear to me that you’ve never been in a position like JD’s thru childhood and an adult trying to find their path despite all the upheaval and dysfunction in their lives, past and present. Anyone who cannot relate to this story and how one has to manage their emotions, their lens and navigate thru years of dysfunction is fortunate to not have walked a path like JD’s. So the criticism seems entitled and self righteous and sits poorly with those of us who had to overcome such dysfunction and find ways to subdue childhood demons and find reasons to celebrate flawed yet beloved heroes.

[skyhigh]

It seems the critics are all agreeing to destroy this movie....but not he public...I loved this movie and the acting....great movie people watch it before you all these call themselves critic s change your m8 d...watch it yourself ....is a good movie

[OrdinaryGK-SF]

I disagree wholeheartedly with this review. I thought the film was great. Excellent story, excellent performances. There's a real split in opinion on this film: Critics seem to not like it, while audiences do. Fortunately, I think this film will still do well on Netflix, as most people will not look at reviews first.

[SuperMessiah]

I disagree! This film was a beautiful watch! I think we may have watched a different movie.

[dejahawkins]

Is Netflix showing all of us the same movie ?? I so don’t see the negativity in this film?! Meanwhile a movie like “cuties” is over here getting high percentages on rotten tomatoes makes you really think about the people who rate these films

[lochmana]

I can summarize what this review in that she doesn't understand poor America this is what the south looks like

[dieniefay]

Hubby & I thought this movie was brilliant, it certainly deserves to win big time . I really believe that you are way to young to be a critic on this movie as you have not lived yet, take care, cheers from OZ

[bdogstone-]

It is not about him having to go back home it’s about where he got in the middle of chaos and even tho his mom made his life so hard he still cares about her because family is everything and he would risk loosing his internship so he can help his mom

[californero]

As Latinos we 💯 loved this movie Great Movie 🎥

[vdjkdlp]

"The way he goes about that doesn't sit quite right with me" This is WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID. this is his life story. It's not a directorial choice. This is also a pathway that a lot of other people take out of generational poverty and abuse.

[Drithe]

Wow. Has this reviewer ever raised kids? She says this movie is blunt. In other words this movie pushed her to find her safe place. Seems a little political to me or something. Cant put my finger on it.

[nancyjames]

You haven’t had enough time on this planet to understand human beings. If you did, your critique might actually be meaningful. Obviously, you have never dealt with people who have to deal with serious mental health issues, otherwise, you would’ve understood one of the most important points of this movie. That is, how extraordinary this man’s journey to success was, and that this successwas predicatedon his ability to overcome his childhood difficulties/abuse. By achieving his goals, he was able to help lift up his entire family. It is his ultimate strength, and the ability NOT to fall into the trap of failure, that is the whole point of this movie. That is why, “regular“ people love this movie, and we understand how incredibly difficult it was for the actors in this movie to be subtle (what you call “wooden”) and not over-act these nuanced emotions. I thought every single actor in this movie did a fabulous job, Ron Howard is one of the best Directors we have in in America today. You have demonstrated through this posting a nice “performance” as a pretentious, uneducated, uninformed, entitled “critic”. Please go back to film school and learn something this time. Also, I suggest you actually talk to people outside of your classroom, the ones that actually work for a living. Then, you might know and understand this film, the actors and the director better.

[fredshao]

I think critics and public talk over each other. The critique says that the movie should have been more subtle considering the book itself is so good. Audience just thinks the story as a whole is very touching, because most of them don’t read JD Vance’s book in advance and they likely credit the movie rather than the book. Being a listener is important.

[leegusman]

The movie was great! Ur review is ur own opinion. U might aswell make ur own movie

[UtsabDas]

I dnt care abt the film. Amy will still get chances for oscar glory. But glenn is 70+ .. Well her performance is nt that bad compared to the film overall isn't it.. Then why can't she win.. When we see Laura Dern won last year for Marriage story, was it a splendid performance? It was pretty ordinary..

[sunday]

Better than 99% of the garbage on Netflix.

[christopherjeverud]

What utter self rigtheous, pretentious and elitist nonsense this review was, honestly I think I disagree with pretty much all that was said in this review and would highly recommend everybody to go watch the movie because it IS a good movie through and through

[BG-mjwp]

Funny, I thought exactly the opposite of what you say. I found so much nuance and layers and complexity, with substantial dialogue and development that is missing from so many other productions. I was moved to tears and struck by the authenticity of the portrayal of people I grew up around. Have to disagree with you.