Review of Tully (2018) by Farah R — 31 Dec 2018

This is a lesser known independent movie that was released this summer, and it's worth seeking out. It's probably one of the most accurate depictions of how motherhood can drive you to madness (I say "probably" because I do not have kids and so I don't really know, but damn, this movie seems really authentic).

It's about a mother of three - including a newborn and a child with shades of Autism - who is basically at her wit's end. Her wealthy brother commissions a "night nurse" (the titular "Tully") to help out in the evenings, which turns out to be a game changer for both her and her family.

It's an odd message... you can't buy happiness, but someone else can buy it for you? Whatever, don't think about it too much. The film is brought to you by slam-dunk writer/director combo Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody (respectively), the same pair who made "Juno", so that'll give you a good idea of what to expect with this movie - it rides that delicate line between funny and serious to perfection.

I know in my head that Charlize Theron is a good actress, but sometimes it takes a movie like this to come along to remind me how awesome she really is. She totally immerses herself in this role, body and soul.

Her performance is completely devoid of vanity; one look at her and you feel all of her exhaustion and hopelessness. If nothing else, this movie is a showcase for her talent. Be wary, there are times when it gets a little weird, but stick with it.

.. it's not going where you think it's going. This is a funny, thoughtful, and sweet film that's also a little sad, and it really works on all of those levels. I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed it.