While critics found “Hillbilly Elegy” bad, viewers quite liked it. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score is a very respectable 82%, and the movie was the 7th-most watched release on Netflix during the 2020 Thanksgiving weekend. This is not exactly a surprise considering the sheer number of major names behind the film.
“Hillbilly Elegy” was directed by none other than Ron Howard, and its adapted screenplay was written by Vanessa Taylor of “The Shape of Water” fame. If that wasn’t enough to direct viewers in the movie’s direction, Gabriel Basso’s Vance has an Appalachian family circle with colorful characters played by the likes of Glenn Close and Amy Adams. Both do an admirable job in their roles, with Adams’ “Hillbilly Elegy” accent proving she can do it all and Close making us love her even more by completely embracing the comparatively unflattering role of Vance’s grandmother, Mamaw.
Close ended up getting an Academy Award nomination for her role, and “Hillbilly Elegy” also received an Oscar nomination for its impressive makeup and hairstyling achievements. However, as if to highlight the duality of its critical and audience reception, the film also raked in three Razzie Award nominations … including a worst actress nod for Close.
