Steph:
In an ideal world, a performance like Andrea Riseborough’s gets nominated for all the awards, but the film has flown under the radar for the most part, which is a shame because it’s a tender character study about a woman trying to pull her life together, and it rarely feels over the top or exploitative the way poverty is often shown onscreen, thanks mostly to Riseborough’s nuanced portrayal of addiction. ⏰⏰⏰⏰
Josh:
It’s pretty much exactly what you think it will be, save a plot development or three, and of course, Riseborough is fantastic, and Janney gives her best performance in years, and I don’t believe Maron as a Texan for a second, but it’s still kind of an endearing performance somehow, and while I like feeling that lump in my throat while also smiling as much as the next person, and there’s really no reason why this type of movie should always have to end in devastation, the cynic in me thinks Maron’s benevolent smile was a bit much, and I’m left wondering why she didn’t win the lottery a second time at the end… OR DID SHE? ⏰⏰⏰
The Bare Minimum 