HILLBILLY ELEGY: Directed by Ron Howard, this is based on the best- selling novel of the same name. It keeps the viewer guessing about where the story is going, in part because it is not told in chronological order. Glenn Close plays the matriarch of the family and completely disappears in the role. The theme is summed up by one of her epigrams: "Family's the only thing that means a good goddam." Released 11/24/20 on Netflix streaming. Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4)

					Mark R. Leeper
					Copyright 2021 Mark R. Leeper