Andrea Riseborough is on the screen every minute showing every emotion, and mood swing in a committed performance as a depressed mess. Michael Morris directs Riseborough as single mother, Leslie, who has completely lost her way. After winning $190,000 in the lottery in her small West Texas town, drinks it away, destroys the relationship with her son and everyone else, becoming a homeless alcoholic.
Writer Ryan Binaco wrote this film drawing from experience when his real-life mother won the lottery and she tried to find redemption after squandering it all.
It’s so painful to watch her in constant agony, we almost gave up half-way through this film, until Sweeney (Marc Maron) showed this disgusting human being some compassion and tough love. You have to stick with it. This may be Maron’s best role, with a good supporting cast including André Royo playing a wild role along with Allison Janney and Stephen Root as Leslie’s bad-ass friends who treat her with nothing but disdain. Owen Teague rides the gamut of emotion playing more her parent than Leslie’s grown son, James.
Watch our interview with Producer Ceci Cleary, who tagged Riseborough’s performance as Oscar worthy in our interview during the Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre, last May.
Riseborough plays Leslie showing absolutely no limit of understanding of how revolting she is. Her self-identity is completely tied up to the fame she had winning that money. She is loathsome, always looking for someone to take care of her because of her notoriety. When she parks herself leaning up again a motel wall, lonely motel clerk, Sweeney, takes pity on her. He runs the motel with a crazy Indian Royal (Andre Royo), who owns it. Royal is a real character who goes running off into the desert periodically dancing and screaming his head off to let off steam. Royo is actually pretty funny.
Sweeney tries to help poor Leslie by offering her a room as long as she helps clean the other rooms at the motel. Both of them, uncomfortable and apprehensive, finally reach a tentative agreement give her a chance to work there to make some cash. This is a different kind of role for normally caustic comedian, Maron, and he proves he’s come a long way as an actor. Here he is soft-spoken, sweet, showing concern and compassion when it counts.
Janney and Root are tough as nails on Leslie as payback for the rotten treatment of Leslie’s son, James. He is well aware of the pain his mother can inflict when liquored up, not really willing to give her a second chance. He’s just not sure she can stay off the sauce.
It’s disturbing watching Riseborough in the local bar willing to suck up to any man who’ll buy her a drink. Her acting is fearless, loud and so ugly, she is completely immersed in her character. It is painful to watch, but Riseborough really loses herself in it. There are more emotional ups and downs where you think Leslie might self-destruct again, but the film takes a couple of unexpected turns. We’re not fond of the ending which seems a bit unrealistic, but you will have already seen the best acting in the film.
Many were surprised that the star of a movie that made less than $30,000 at the box office would become Oscar nominated with so many great female performances this year. But once you watch Riseborough embody this rough character, you’ll see why her fearless performance makes an impact.
Momentum Pictures. 1 hour 59 minutes. R
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