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Tully
The Oscar-winning writer of Juno and the director of Up in the Air collaborated on a lovely little 2018 comedy-drama called Tully, which works thanks to a fresh look at some well-worn subject matter and some on-target performances.
The film stars Oscar winner Charlize Theron as Marlo, the mother of three who is at her wit's ends. Her son, Jonah, is a special needs child, though his specific needs have not really been determined and she has just given birth to a newborn she has named Mia. Marlo has pretty much given up on everything in her life outside of motherhood, including sex, and has resigned herself to the fact that she will never have a full night's sleep again. As a present for the birth of Mia, her wealthy older brother decides to gift Marlo with a night nanny, a woman who comes to the house at night to take care of the baby (except for breastfeeding) and give the mother a chance at a life. The night nanny is a luminous, 26-year old free spirit named Tully who ends up forming a remarkable bond with Marlo in addition to giving Marlo her life back.
Diablo Cody has crafted a starkly realistic yet often humorous look at the toll that motherhood can have on a woman. This Marlo has basically had three children back to back and her entire life has been reduced to diapers and expressing breast milk and carpools. She feels guilty about not being a supermom who bakes cookies and runs the PTA but feels no guilt about the extra attention she has to give Jonah, even though no one seems to be able to tell her exactly what's wrong with him. Marlo is also refreshingly realistic about what being a mother has done to her physically and how she has basically stopped caring about what she looks like anymore. I would have liked the screenplay explore the feelings of Marlo's daughter, Sarah, who between special needs Jonah and newborn Mia, has to have felt some serious neglect at some point. it would have been nice to see this addressed in at least one scene.
Director Jason Reitman does a marvelous job of crafting the evolution of the relationship between Marlo and Tully...love the first time Tully knocks on the door and Marlo looks terrified as she hesitantly approaches the door. I also felt Marlo's awkwardness the first time Tully hands Mia over to breastfeed and Tully sits there and watches. It's lovely watching Tully become a friend and confidante to Marlo, but the change that having a break night brings about in Marlo. It's great to see Marlo start to care about things like bathing, makeup, and sex again and beginning a deliberate journey back to the person she was pre-babies. Watching the journey Marlo makes during the running time is an absolute joy.
Charlize Theron gives a rich performance as Marlo, meticulous and detailed even in its tiniest moment. One of my favorite Theron moments comes when Tully is asking Marlo about what she wanted to be before she became a mother and you see Marlo bow her head and her heart break a little inside. Theron, like she did in Monster, sheds any pretense of glamour in order to make her character more real, which includes a tummy pooch and sagging breasts. Mackenzie Davis lights up the screen as Tully and Ron Livingston has one of his best roles as Marlo's husband. There's a slow spot here and there, but for the most part, an engaging comedy-drama which will have a special appeal to young mothers.
The Oscar-winning writer of Juno and the director of Up in the Air collaborated on a lovely little 2018 comedy-drama called Tully, which works thanks to a fresh look at some well-worn subject matter and some on-target performances.
The film stars Oscar winner Charlize Theron as Marlo, the mother of three who is at her wit's ends. Her son, Jonah, is a special needs child, though his specific needs have not really been determined and she has just given birth to a newborn she has named Mia. Marlo has pretty much given up on everything in her life outside of motherhood, including sex, and has resigned herself to the fact that she will never have a full night's sleep again. As a present for the birth of Mia, her wealthy older brother decides to gift Marlo with a night nanny, a woman who comes to the house at night to take care of the baby (except for breastfeeding) and give the mother a chance at a life. The night nanny is a luminous, 26-year old free spirit named Tully who ends up forming a remarkable bond with Marlo in addition to giving Marlo her life back.
Diablo Cody has crafted a starkly realistic yet often humorous look at the toll that motherhood can have on a woman. This Marlo has basically had three children back to back and her entire life has been reduced to diapers and expressing breast milk and carpools. She feels guilty about not being a supermom who bakes cookies and runs the PTA but feels no guilt about the extra attention she has to give Jonah, even though no one seems to be able to tell her exactly what's wrong with him. Marlo is also refreshingly realistic about what being a mother has done to her physically and how she has basically stopped caring about what she looks like anymore. I would have liked the screenplay explore the feelings of Marlo's daughter, Sarah, who between special needs Jonah and newborn Mia, has to have felt some serious neglect at some point. it would have been nice to see this addressed in at least one scene.
Director Jason Reitman does a marvelous job of crafting the evolution of the relationship between Marlo and Tully...love the first time Tully knocks on the door and Marlo looks terrified as she hesitantly approaches the door. I also felt Marlo's awkwardness the first time Tully hands Mia over to breastfeed and Tully sits there and watches. It's lovely watching Tully become a friend and confidante to Marlo, but the change that having a break night brings about in Marlo. It's great to see Marlo start to care about things like bathing, makeup, and sex again and beginning a deliberate journey back to the person she was pre-babies. Watching the journey Marlo makes during the running time is an absolute joy.
Charlize Theron gives a rich performance as Marlo, meticulous and detailed even in its tiniest moment. One of my favorite Theron moments comes when Tully is asking Marlo about what she wanted to be before she became a mother and you see Marlo bow her head and her heart break a little inside. Theron, like she did in Monster, sheds any pretense of glamour in order to make her character more real, which includes a tummy pooch and sagging breasts. Mackenzie Davis lights up the screen as Tully and Ron Livingston has one of his best roles as Marlo's husband. There's a slow spot here and there, but for the most part, an engaging comedy-drama which will have a special appeal to young mothers.