Based on the bestselling memoir by J.D. Vance, HILLBILLY ELEGY is a modern exploration of the American Dream and three generations of an Appalachian family as told by its youngest member, a Yale Law student forced to return to his hometown.... (Full plot summary below)
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Based on the bestselling memoir by J.D. Vance, HILLBILLY ELEGY is a modern exploration of the American Dream and three generations of an Appalachian family as told by its youngest member, a Yale Law student forced to return to his hometown.
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| Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperHillbilly Elegy is a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic about three generations of the Vance family. |
| San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonAdams, a six-time Oscar nominee, is likely headed to a seventh for an admittedly showy but nuanced turn that manages to bring Bev’s humanity bubbling to the surface even as her ugly side dominates — as Thoreau might say, a life of not-so-quiet desperation. Close is terrific as usual. |
| ReelViewsJames BerardinelliHere’s a rare example of a Netflix prestige film that neither runs too long nor overstays its welcome. While some of the A-list directors working for the streaming distributor have taken the opportunity to meander and add bloat to otherwise worthwhile projects, Ron Howard has developed this project exactly as he would have made it if it had been intended for a traditional release. |
| Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzIn effect this is a pretty standard overcoming-adversity story, particularly with the more politically oriented social observations removed. What isn’t standard is the acting. |
| Film ThreatBradley GibsonThe 7 rating is for his movie. Vance himself, in his preachy, condescending book, gets it wrong. |
| Total FilmJane CrowtherPolished but pedestrian, Hillbilly Elegy is a boilerplate underdog tale that lacks bite – but gives good Glenn Close. |
| RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzIt's not a great or even particularly distinctive movie, but it's heartfelt and plain-spoken enough that it might connect with viewers whose families have dealt with addiction and recovery, domestic abuse, financial deprivation, and other problems highlighted in the story. Advertisement |
| The Associated PressJake CoyleThis Hillbilly Elegy has stripped away the most sermonizing, debatable parts of the book, but it’s also denuded it of any deeper purpose, leaving us with a cosplay shell of A-list actors chewing rural scenery. |
| The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenElegy . . . embraces the emotional messiness of a heart-wringing country song, but lacks a haunting refrain to get under your skin. |
| Boston GlobeTy BurrWorse, by neutering the specifics of where these people live and come from, Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy renders the story meaningless. |
