I've not had the privilege of bearing a child. And after watching Tully, I am pretty sure that I made the right decision.
Want a non-mother to understand motherhood? Tully should be mandatory watching.
Most movies today invoke what seems to be mandatory montage to demonstrate the passage of time. Tully implements it as well, but to a most shattering effect.
We watch a mother after the birth of her third child deal with the relentless feeding of a newborn. It's shockingly real and Charlize Theron exposes a less-than-perfect self to near the same scale as she did in Monster, for which she won an Oscar.
The writer Diablo Cody and the director Jason Reitman impeccably portray a middle-class woman's aspirations for a better life for her children.
I credit Diablo Cody, who also wrote Juno and Young Adult (Charlize appeared in this one as well), for capturing the truth of motherhood.
If you don't have a library card, get one. Why? Because you need to access Kanopy. Now. If for no other reason than to stream Hearts Beat Loud.
In their own words, Kanopy "stream[s] thoughtful entertainment to your preferred device with no fees and no commercials by partnering with public libraries and universities."
With Kanopy, I never would have seen this little gem, Hearts Beat Loud.
Father Frank (Nick Offerman) is a failed musician who owns a dying record store. Daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) is sensibly pursuing a career as a doctor despite ludicrously real musical talent.
The story examines the space between a parent and a child after high school graduation and before college. Father Frank and daughter Sam are learning to let go: adulthood, dreams, ambitions, relationships.
Although I'm not a big Parks and Recreation fan, I have come to adore Nick Offerman, particularly after watching him as the pontificatingly drunken barrister, Karl Weathers, in the second season of Fargo (Rhinoceros was my favorite episode). His leathered face and pugnacious eyes never quite prepare me for his irony-filled drawl.
Couple him with his onscreen daughter, Kiersey Clemons, and his maybe/maybe not lover, Toni Collette, and you have quite a trifecta. Then for a real throwback, Ted Danson resurrects his Cheers chops as a loopy bartender. Round out this unexpected ensemble with Blythe Danner as the klepto grandma.
The music is unexpectedly good and Kiersey Clemons voice, in and of itself, is worth the watch.
Director: Brett Haley
Writers: Brett Haley, Marc Basch
Stars: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Blythe Danner
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 8 June 2018 (USA)
Filming Locations: Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York City, New
York, USA
A heavier read than I expected. The lead wasn't very likeable and bit rough for me. Not a big fan of alcoholic or drunk detectives. I won't be reading any more in this series.
