leon schmidt

This is one movie that the critics hated but the audience loved for the most part. You have to remember that JD Vance turned down several other directors prior to meeting Ron Howard. Vance agreed to let Howard make the film and now that the project is complete and on the screen he and the Vance family are pleased with the results. That should tell you something. I read the book by Vance and I am surprised that anyone would even attempt a screenplay on this complicated emotional tale of one proud working class family. Howard was wise not to cast too wide a net in bringing the story to the screen; he is not responsible for solving the entire cultural crisis of this one particular socioeconomic group. This is where most critics get it wrong and the audience gets it right. Lets put the white liberal guilt on shelf for this one and give Vance, Howard and the incredible cast the praise they deserve