Review of Hillbilly Elegy (2020) by Jimmybaginski — 23 Dec 2020

A solid human drama with a lot of heart. Critics, of course, despised this as it runs contrary to their woke narrative. Sadly, their fanatical drive to promote their agenda has blinkered their ability to see a movie that should be evaluated outside of identity politics or the looming culture wars that it is embedded in. But, unfortunately everything is politically fair game these days and the fanatics can only see nails whilst wielding their monomaniachal woke hammer. It's a shame. Is this film the best movie ever made? Nope. It's not even in the conversation. But, the story is digestible, promotes individual human trying, family, community, self-belief and most of all, the power of good choices to overcome your situation. So, you can see why woke critics couldn't let this slide. The woke agenda sees the world as competing identity groups that think in groups, all vying for power. At the top of this hierarchy of power is the evil whites who are privileged and therefore unsympathetic. This film isn't trying to say anything about socioeconomics or ethnicity. It's simply portraying the reality of poor white families in America struggling under crippling unemployment, drug epidemics, loss of industry and the breakdown of the American family. That's all very real whether critics like it or not. But, you can see how it flies in their face if all they've been printing and writing about for the last 5 years is how racist and privileged white people are, and how the nuclear family is a patriarchal, outdated and oppressive model for human development. Well, one of the themes in this film is how when traditional family structure breaks down, through tragedy, drug abuse or anything else, you have to be extremely hard working and steadfast to get out from under. It took one of JD Vance's relative's (his grandmother) to actually support him and encourage him for him to claw himself out of poverty. We are left to imagine what a whole family that supports each other could accomplish. But, again that's 'white supremacy/capitalism/patriarchy' in full stride or something. Others think it's just common sense. Are the people portrayed in this movie likely Trump supporters? I'd say yes. Does it humanize them and breath empathy into the characature of rednecks the media has depicted? Yes. Are they all white supremacists? No. And, that's what makes critics uncomfortable. They want you and me to believe their nonsense, low-resolution version of reality. Lastly, the performances are to be commended. Even when the drama feels a little unbelievable or trite the actors elevate the material through raw emotion and believability. Like I said, this is no masterpiece. But, Amy Adam's and Glenn Close particularly are such arresting actors they hold you to your seat throughout. So, I'm glad this movie was made. If it's not a giant triumph of cinema exactly it is a victory for relatable human stories being made by Hollywood again. Remember: it's okay to be white and it's okay to be Conservative. It doesnt make you evil or even superior in any innate way. This film isn't even about those two things. It just doesn't apologise for them. Which is tantamount to sin these days. *sigh*.

Very lastly, I have no idea if any of JD Vance's story is true or if it's embellished and rounded off at the edges. I have no idea why the film doesnt explore his grandmothers steak in his own mothers failures. I think that was a heavily absent piece of the cause and effect puzzle to be quite honest. And, I've no idea what life is like in the Appalachian mountains. But, I do know his life circumstances. His situation echoes mine in multiple ways. And, I know that when you situation is totally **** and you have almost no one in your corner, society, the government, the culture or even a family member, all you have is your damn self. That's a tough rap. That part of the story is very real and deserves to be told.