Breaking Down the Critical Response to J.D. Vance’s Movie Hillbilly Elegy

While critics found “Hillbilly Elegy” bad, viewers quite liked it. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score is a very respectable 82%, and it was the 7th-most watched Netflix release during the 2020 Thanksgiving weekend. This is not surprising given the sheer number of major names behind the film.

“Hillbilly Elegy” was directed by Ron Howard, and its adapted screenplay was written by Vanessa Taylor, known for her work on “The Shape of Water.” Gabriel Basso stars as Vance, who has an Appalachian family circle filled with colorful characters portrayed by the likes of Glenn Close and Amy Adams. Both do an admirable job in their roles. Adams’ accent in “Hillbilly Elegy” proves she can do it all, while Close shines in the comparatively unflattering role of Vance’s grandmother, Mamaw.

Close ended up receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role. “Hillbilly Elegy” also garnered an Oscar nomination for its impressive makeup and hairstyling achievements. However, the film’s reception also highlighted a stark duality. It raked in three Razzie Award nominations, including a worst actress nod for Close.