Hillbilly Elegy

Netflix | Release Date: November 11, 2020

7.5	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 220 Ratings

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fabsrochaJan 15, 2021

There are people that are pleased with little, poor quality. That's the explanation for a so terrible movie have more than a hundred positive votes lol. It's really a pack full of cliches and superficial characters that only will touch thoseThere are people that are pleased with little, poor quality. That's the explanation for a so terrible movie have more than a hundred positive votes lol. It's really a pack full of cliches and superficial characters that only will touch those who doesn't know the minimal of cinema. The screenplay is poor, the acting is emotionless, the dialogues are boring. The only thing that stopped me from giving it a 0 it's Glenn Close. She has some few good scenes, but yet, not enough to make it worth it.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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bertobellamyDec 13, 2020

This film feels like it was made in the 90's. Everything feels so antiquated about it. The use of music, the acting, the lame drama... And the story about "white suffering" can't be taken seriously. This very well may be Ron Howard's lowestThis film feels like it was made in the 90's. Everything feels so antiquated about it. The use of music, the acting, the lame drama... And the story about "white suffering" can't be taken seriously. This very well may be Ron Howard's lowest point in his career.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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UncleWillardDec 21, 2020

I haven't read the book, but I saw it got a lot of praise and was on a lot of lists. I was optimistic that with Glen Close and Amy Adams attached, this would be an exciting interpretation. If the book is anything like this; whiny, smarmy,I haven't read the book, but I saw it got a lot of praise and was on a lot of lists. I was optimistic that with Glen Close and Amy Adams attached, this would be an exciting interpretation. If the book is anything like this; whiny, smarmy, overwrought tale of family woe, then I'm glad I didn't waste my time. The movie immediately devolves into "woe is me. my mama was an alcy and a drug addict, but what else you gonna do? We're Hillbillies!" [cue banjo music].

It really is melodramatic and the scene where he gets all offended by "redneck" makes me want to punch that dick in the culture.

Unbearable is what this is.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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katezoeFeb 19, 2021

More like Hillbilly Tragedy. Performances by Glenn Close and Amy Adams are deplorable. Worse movie Ron Howard has done.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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marriottNov 14, 2020

I don't know why anybody decided to make this movie, this film is a mess and fails to do anything

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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chronicrenegadeNov 30, 2020

Dopesick (Beth Macy) is what you need to read/watch instead, and the movie that should have been made in place of this engineered narrative that Appalachians are all lazy hillbillies. The movie, and by proxy the book, entirely miss the pointDopesick (Beth Macy) is what you need to read/watch instead, and the movie that should have been made in place of this engineered narrative that Appalachians are all lazy hillbillies. The movie, and by proxy the book, entirely miss the point of systemic and generational poverty. The movie can be summed up in one ignorant statement: "poor people are poor because they're lazy." It's a bootstrap narrative, and a terrible one at that. The book even contains a passage where the author makes the claim he was held down and forced to drink sparkling water by socialites at a restaurant. Please.… Expand

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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ZaganEDFNov 26, 2020

It would have been a okay movie if not for the over romantization and so many cheesy fleeting youth moments. I understand that it's based on autobiographical materials and people tend to look at their childhood in romantic way but you're aIt would have been a okay movie if not for the over romantization and so many cheesy fleeting youth moments. I understand that it's based on autobiographical materials and people tend to look at their childhood in romantic way but you're a filmmaker, it's your job to make it work. Unremarkable cinematography, editing and directing. But a good story. My challenge to American directors: try not to **** up good american stories.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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ArtKNov 25, 2020

Amy Adams and Glen Close star in director Ron Howard's adaptation of J.D. Vance's 2016 memoir. Netflix released to the theatre's for a couple of weeks before moving to their platform this week. Glad I waited.

"Hillbilly Elegy" explores J.D.Amy Adams and Glen Close star in director Ron Howard's adaptation of J.D. Vance's 2016 memoir. Netflix released to the theatre's for a couple of weeks before moving to their platform this week. Glad I waited.

"Hillbilly Elegy" explores J.D. Vance's relationship with his troubled mother (Adams) and her ongoing addiction to heroin and the care of his supportive grandmother (Close). Close is very good in this film (and could be remembered during awards season), but Adams felt "off" in her role. I just didn't feel any empathy for her downward (and overacted) spiral. J.D. (Gabriel Basso) also flatlined here. In a film that's supposed to challenge us on provocative social issues such as welfare, social rot, and the "hillbilly culture", Howard (who I normally love) was probably the wrong director to explore this world. Messages are largely lost and the film is simply a series of vignette's whereby J.D. (now finishing Yale Law School) remembers his troubled childhood. Netflix has a miss here.… Expand

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

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MattBrady99Aug 12, 2021

Man, Amy Adams and Glenn Close really want that Oscar that they will star in something like 'Hillbilly Elegy'.

A shallow, predicable, and the most obvious "Oscar bait" movie ever made. However, it's not the worst thing ever despite what someMan, Amy Adams and Glenn Close really want that Oscar that they will star in something like 'Hillbilly Elegy'.

A shallow, predicable, and the most obvious "Oscar bait" movie ever made. However, it's not the worst thing ever despite what some people have said. Nothing captures the human struggle of lower-class people than rich celebrities, who think they have a gasp on reality, but after filming has finished, they go back to their rich lives until the next million-dollar role comes to them. If you're going to make a movie around this type of topic, you better get it right.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Mauro_LanariDec 2, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
If they give the Oscar for the number of screamed, exaggerated, exasperated consecutive big scenes, this time Howard wins for I don't know how many years in a row.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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