Andrea Risborough is not a household name as an Actress, though every time she has been involved in a film project, she was been a mark of quality - and with her first Oscar Nomination in the small, independent, "Based on True Events" film, TO LESLIE, perhaps Risborough will have greater opportunity to show those talents to more people.
Risborough shines in TO LESLIE as the titular character, a small town Texas girl who wins big in the lottery a few years before and returns to that small Texas town years later, broke, defeated, drunk and with a long list of amends to make. It is an extremely watchable performance by Risborough who draws the audience into the inner turmoil of Leslie while bringing enough nuance to the early-in-the-film portrayal of the drunk, out-of-control Leslie to keep the character interesting without breaking into caricature. This is a strong actress sinking her teeth into a meaty role and Risborough's Oscar Nomination is well deserved.
While this film is Risborough's from start to finish, she is ably assisted by other performers who match her energy on the screen so there is always something interesting to watch. Stephen Root (BARRY) and Oscar Winner Allison Janey (I, TONYA) bring Independent Film starpower to their small-ish (but powerful) roles as does Owen Teague (Stephen King's IT) and Andre Royal (Bubbles in THE WIRE). But the biggest surprise to me was the nuanced, layered work of Podcaster Marc Maron who becomes a force in Leslie's life. His performance was strong enough that it would have been fine if he was nominated for an Oscar as well.
Credit for all of this has to go with Screenwriter Ryan Binaco (PANDEMIC) and first time feature film Director Michael Morris (who has Directed many episodes of the fine TV Series BETTER CALL SAUL). Binaco writes characters that seem real and react in realistic, subtle ways and Morris, wisely, leans into that realism and let's the characters control the flow of the scenes - and the energy of the film - while ensuring that the pacing continues at a pace that keeps the film from bogging down.
Congrats to Ms. Risborough for her Oscar Nomination for this film - this nomination did what it needed to do - put a spotlight on this small, independent film and the strong Writing, Direction and Performances found within.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 Stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Risborough shines in TO LESLIE as the titular character, a small town Texas girl who wins big in the lottery a few years before and returns to that small Texas town years later, broke, defeated, drunk and with a long list of amends to make. It is an extremely watchable performance by Risborough who draws the audience into the inner turmoil of Leslie while bringing enough nuance to the early-in-the-film portrayal of the drunk, out-of-control Leslie to keep the character interesting without breaking into caricature. This is a strong actress sinking her teeth into a meaty role and Risborough's Oscar Nomination is well deserved.
While this film is Risborough's from start to finish, she is ably assisted by other performers who match her energy on the screen so there is always something interesting to watch. Stephen Root (BARRY) and Oscar Winner Allison Janey (I, TONYA) bring Independent Film starpower to their small-ish (but powerful) roles as does Owen Teague (Stephen King's IT) and Andre Royal (Bubbles in THE WIRE). But the biggest surprise to me was the nuanced, layered work of Podcaster Marc Maron who becomes a force in Leslie's life. His performance was strong enough that it would have been fine if he was nominated for an Oscar as well.
Credit for all of this has to go with Screenwriter Ryan Binaco (PANDEMIC) and first time feature film Director Michael Morris (who has Directed many episodes of the fine TV Series BETTER CALL SAUL). Binaco writes characters that seem real and react in realistic, subtle ways and Morris, wisely, leans into that realism and let's the characters control the flow of the scenes - and the energy of the film - while ensuring that the pacing continues at a pace that keeps the film from bogging down.
Congrats to Ms. Risborough for her Oscar Nomination for this film - this nomination did what it needed to do - put a spotlight on this small, independent film and the strong Writing, Direction and Performances found within.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 Stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)