Colleen Miller

In 2 hours, Ron Howard's film captures some of the most powerful images of J.D. Vance's memoir, where the audience gets the up-close and complicated story of Vance's upbringing in a suffering town in the rustbelt. Set in the state that gave political power to both Obama and then Trump, we see how this area, needs more political energy and ideas to help bring hope and a sense of purpose to an area that is fiercely loyal to family. Throughout the film is the tension of being responsible for someone who was not able to fulfill her parental responsibilities because of her addiction demons but was still able to teach the need and value of family, perhaps through the very ways that she failed and the rest of Vance's family becomes stronger as they are called upon in turn to contribute.