Hillbilly Elegy Review

The powerhouse performances from Amy Adams and Glenn Close in Hillbilly Elegy, the new Netflix drama from director Ron Howard based on the bestselling memoir from J.D. Vance, cannot protect the movie from its structurally messy plot and weightless progression. Though palpable themes of family adversity are prominent, the fragmented presentation that Howard and writer Vanessa Taylor have decided upon drains the film of any gripping fluidity. Instead, much of Hillbilly Elegy becomes messy vignettes that are loose in meaning, resulting in a dreary slice-of-life drama with little impact.

Hillbilly Elegy is the story of J.D. Vance, a Yale Law student who is on the verge of landing his dream job when a family emergency suddenly requires him to return home to his state of Kentucky. There, J.D. must navigate through complex dynamics, including the imploding relationship he has with his mother, Bev.

The countless elements of melancholy and attempts at stark realism fuel Hillbilly Elegy. However, the narrative moments that the film produces are too often unchallenging and predictable. Jagged editing and tedious storytelling make the film feel as if it's just going through the motions. If not for its cast's compelling performances, the emotional resonance of Hillbilly Elegy would be nearly non-existent.

Much of the movie feels like a playground for Amy Adams and Glenn Close, who utilizes the most of what little emotional originality the film has to offer, elevating many drab moments and often being the catalysts for the few compelling scenes that are achieved. While the range of Adams and the transformation of Close is impressive, it proves to be the only steady component the film can maintain.

Overall, the non-fictional stance yet scattered editing of Hillbilly Elegy produces a story of foreseeable events with little creativity. The lack of a solid narrative foundation too often forces the film to depend on its cast's emotional performances. Although Adams and Close alleviate some of the movie's blander moments, the bloated runtime and mediocre filmmaking from Ron Howard make Hillbilly Elegy lamentable.

Mundane and unchallenging, the entertainment of Hillbilly Elegy is too reliant on the notable performances from Amy Adams and Glenn Close.

Produced By: Netflix
Runtime: 116 minutes
Rating: R