The line "You don't know shit," spoken by the grandmother to a young JD Vance, had me genuinely laughing. Her character seemed wonderfully eccentric, complete with striking makeup and clothing choices that added to her personality. It was quite affecting to then see actual photographs of JD Vance’s family at the film’s conclusion—the production team clearly captured her appearance perfectly. It might not be an ex…

This feels like another addition to that difficult category of movies centered on troubled families, often associated with Oprah's book club selections. The problems span across multiple family members, providing ample opportunity to depict poor parenting decisions and uncomfortable situations reminiscent of reality television. While competently made—as one would anticipate given Ron Howard’s involvement—I find th…

The narrative possesses a certain charm and substance that allows *Hillbilly Elegy* to rise above its shortcomings as a movie. The acting was definitely something I appreciated. Gabriel Basso delivers an acceptable portrayal of J. D. Vance, but Owen Asztalos, in the role of the younger Vance, is more memorable. Amy Adams and Glenn Close also provide solid supporting performances; Freida Pinto appears too, though h…

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com. This film is based on a memoir of the same name written by J.D. Vance, who also lends his name to the main character—the person whose perspective shapes what we see onscreen. As I usually do when preparing for a movie, I avoid trailers and try not to learn too much about the story beforehand. I knew this film was adap…