Netflix Unveils Trailer For Ron Howard's ‘Hillbilly Elegy’

Netflix is seemingly building a strong case for academy award success

Netflix has granted us another look at one of their top awards contenders for the season and this week’s addition is “Hillbilly Elegy” the new family drama from Oscar winning director Ron Howard and starring multiple Academy Award nominated actresses Amy Adams and Glenn Close.

Based on the bestselling memoir by J.D. Vance, the film is set in Southern Ohio where the writer grew up and focuses on the family that he is trying to leave behind but a crisis forces him to return to his roots. Adams plays Bev, Vance’s opioid addicted mother, whose addiction causes a tumultuous relationship between the two. Close takes on the role of Mamaw, Bev’s aging but tough mother who raises the young J.D. and encourages him to follow his potential and become somebody better than his upbringing has given him. Gabriel Basso plays the adult Vance while Frieda Pinto and Haley Bennet co-star.

As for the trailer itself… well it’s pretty much what we all thought it was going to be. That is, a film that is clearly made for the hopes of getting some awards love and it ticks off many of the checklists in regards to typical Oscar bait. It has lots of shouting moments, Adams and Close made to look unglamorous, dramatic music and all that kind of stuff that Academy voters pay attention to.

Compared to some of Netflix’s other awards hopefuls, “Hillbilly Elegy” could go either way in my opinion. Although well respected and successful, Howard can be very hit and miss as a filmmaker and if this goes hard for the schmaltz that he is known, it may end up being a mess. On the other hand, he has balanced that out well in the past with movies like “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind” while films like “Frost/Nixon and “Rush” have shown that Howard can do more serious work. Given how “Green Book” was loved by the Academy two years ago, these type of films have a fanbase and if it gets even remotely decent reviews, it could surprise come Oscar time.

“Hillbilly Elegy” hits select theatres in November and streams on Netflix November 24, just in time for Thanksgiving. Check out the trailer below and comment if you think this has a chance for Academy Award Success.