#Middlebury
Mackenzie Davis, Charlize Theron in “Tully” (Focus Features photo)
“Tully” (R) – A searing and earnest portrait of post-partum maternal deprivation, “Tully” stars Charlize Theron as Marlo, a mother stretched to her physical and psychological limits. With her third child on the way and a son who has an undiagnosed condition with special needs, Marlo is overwhelmed, but she rebuffs her brother’s (Marc Duplass) offer to spring for a night nanny. Then the baby comes, and so does a desperate need for Tully (Mackenzie Davis). Mother and young nanny form a tender bond and explore what sometimes gets left behind when a woman becomes a mother. It is the fourth collaboration between director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody and the second joint project including Theron (“Young Adult”). Ron Livingston also stars as Marlo’s husband, Drew.
“Overboard” (PG-13) – In a modern reboot of the 1987 classic, “Overboard” stars Anna Faris (eerily reminiscent of Goldie Hawn, star of the original) as Kate, a hardworking single mom who gets stiffed on a carpet cleaning job by a snobby playboy named Leonardo (Eugenio Derbez) whose yacht is in port. When Leonardo takes a tumble off the bow and the yacht keeps going, he’s left behind with a case of amnesia, which Kate fully takes advantage of by convincing him that he’s her working-stiff, chore-completing husband. Stereotypes are broken down and sparks fly, but this ship has sailed – it’d take more than a gender swap for this to be anything but a poor copy of the original.
“The Miracle Season” (PG) – Based on the story of a real life high-school volleyball player, Caroline “Line” Found is the heart and soul of her West High volleyball team, until a tragic moped accident takes her life and leaves her teammates shattered. The following season, coach Kathy Bresnahan (Helen Hunt) browbeats Line’s best friend Kelly (Erin Moriarty) into rebuilding the team with her, and taking it all the way for Line. After much hemming and hawing, Kelly agrees. They rally, they have a big rivalry, they overcome the loss in more ways than one, but it was too heavily mawkish for me. The tagline is truth in advertising, “Every point, every game, every match, was for her” is pretty much literal here.
“Final Portrait” (R) – Who might have suspected that a film about painting a portrait would be entertaining and an instructive look into the creative mind of a genius sculptor and artist, as well as a view to the unfathomable creative process? Stanley Tucci is the writer and director of this quirky little gem. Geoffrey Rush stars as Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. It’s Paris, 1964, and Giacometti runs into American writer and critic James Lord (Armie Hammer), a friend, whom he asks to sit for a portrait. Hours turn to days, which turn to weeks, as the painter and subject interact to our delight.
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(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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