"Junebug" is more than just Amy Adams
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 5:00PM Lynn Lee revisiting Junebug, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this week…
Junebug is best known as the film that launched Amy Adams’ into the A list, and deservedly so. Her wonderfully layered portrayal of the bright-eyed, meerkat-loving Ashley, should have taken home the supporting actress Oscar for 2005 (with apologies to Rachel Weisz). But for a change let's talk about the best scene in the movie, in which another, more elusive character suddenly, if fleetingly, comes into focus.
I’m referring to the scene in which George (the always-welcome, perennially undervalued Alessandro Nivola), the returning native who’s brought his new wife Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) to visit his small North Carolina hometown, attends a church social with his family. By this point, Madeleine’s outsider status has already been made starkly clear: a long-limbed, graceful, effortlessly stylish and posh-accented art dealer whom George met and married in the big city, she stands out without even trying, like a greyhound among border collies. George’s status, on the other hand, is more ambiguous.
The trip was Madeleine’s idea, not his, and he remains tight-lipped about the family and community he hasn't seen in years. Yet the church gathering leaves little doubt the town still considers him one of their own. While the congregation members are friendly towards Madeleine, George is welcomed warmly back like the favorite son he is. It doesn’t matter where he’s been or how long he’s been away; it doesn’t even matter how he consciously feels about being back. Something deep-wired – instinct, upbringing, perhaps some blend of the two – allows him to slip smoothly back into an old groove, and everyone except Madeleine knows it.
The point’s driven home when the pastor asks George to sing. George demurs at first, but before we know it he’s delivering a spellbinding a cappella rendition of “Softly and tenderly,” accompanied by two other men in the congregation. It’s spontaneous, earnest, and utterly lovely in its simplicity. It’s also remarkable for the range of reactions it draws from the other characters and how perfectly they crystallize George’s relationship with each of them. Johnny (Ben McKenzie), always in his older brother’s shadow, turns his back for almost the entire time and refuses to join the applause. Ashley reveals a rapt yet thoughtful, almost somber, demeanor, hinting at emotional depths we’ll discover later, before shifting to joyous approval at the close. George’s stonyfaced mother (Celia Weston) unbends briefly, poignantly mouthing along the lyrics (“come home, come home” indeed) before breaking into a smile of quiet pride at the end—a smile that says more eloquently than words, “That’s my boy.”
The most telling reaction, however, is Madeleine’s. She stares and stares at George like she’s never seen him before, and in a way she never has. The moment marks her first realization that there’s an integral part of this man, her husband, that she never even knew existed and may never truly understand. It also foreshadows the couple’s later rift over visiting Ashley in the hospital. For all the urbane veneer George acquired since leaving home, his old codes and values, so foreign to Madeleine, still lie deep at his core and can’t be denied as long as he’s with this family, in this town. Perhaps that’s why he was so reluctant to bring Madeleine there in the first place, and so apparently relieved to be leaving again by the end.
The rest of the film is more uneven than I remembered – I could have done without the subplot involving Madeleine’s quest to sign an eccentric local artist, and the script occasionally goes out of its way to emphasize her fish-out-of-water cluelessness. But this one scene is perfect. It’s a sweet interlude that also manages to sum up, in just a few minutes, all of the themes and dynamics that Junebug as a whole carefully explores at length. From both a musical and narrative standpoint, this hymn strikes just the right note.
Reader Comments (19)
Davitz was very underrated in 2005 I have her at 7 among the crop of actress possibilities.
Thank you for the write-up. I too think it amounts to way more than Amy Adams' performance, as genius as she is in the role.
I too found it fascinating how George seems both the same but also a completely different person when he's back home. It reminded me of when I used to go back home during college. College had changed me so much, but there was something about going back home that brought me back to my old self. Like George, there was a part of me that wanted to hide how different I was, either because I was afraid my parents would notice and judge me, or because I was scared to realize that I hadn't changed at all. I think the actor captures that in such a subtle but complicated way.
Also, a shout out to Celia Weston, who actually had a a great role to work with in this movie. After seeing this, I could totally see her playing the Meryl Streep role in August Osage County.
This is also MY favorite scene in the movie so this was a joy to read. I think every actor in this is really good. even Ben McKenzie who i never thought much of until this and then he was just excellent on Southland but i had this as the wakeup call so I wasn't surprised as some others might have been.
I love Junebug. It's such a good film. Amy Adams is great, but Nivola and Davidtz are excellent too. So many good scenes, so much fun to have in this movie. And a great use of the song "Harmour Love".
I love this movie. Alessandro's ass is a marvel.
I didn't love the movie the way others did but the performances were lovely.
I have to admit, I'd forgotten almost everything about the movie (except this scene actually, go figure). I remember thinking Amy's nomination was well earned at the time, but I had to go to Wikipedia to remember most of the plot of the movie.
Great film. I love this movie. Celia Weston steals the show.
Embeth Davidtz always was the big discovery for me when I saw this movie.
Junebug captures life in the South better than most films, and I simply adore it. Wonderful scene to review!
Such a great movie. Amy Adams is perfect in it - one of her top 3 performances for sure - but I agree the movie is so much more than her.
Did anyone see Phil Morrison's All Is Bright? Any good?
It's Adams in a landslide for the Oscar over Weisz, who is so: blah! in the movie she won for & in anything she does actually...
Peggy Sue exactly what I was going to say. Alessandro's ass should have won the Oscar. Although I am torn between Amy and Michelle's heartbroken turn in "Brokeback".
@ Peggy Sue and forever1267
It should have won three years earlier for its work in Laurel Canyon.
I wish Adams would've taken home that Oscar too. Great write up! This was a very good scene, even though I thought Nivola was one of the weakest links in the film. Madeleine's reaction was perfect.
This was a beautiful read. Thank you so much for sharing it!
Aside from Amy Adams's performance -- which should have yielded her elusive Oscar win hand down -- I remember being totally ambivalent toward this movie the one time I saw it during its theatrical release. Having said that, this always has been the most memorable moment of the film for me.
Thanks, all! I'm glad you all have a corner in your hearts for JUNEBUG It's not a perfect movie, but the casting and acting is really strong all the way around (not just Amy Adams, though she's the obvious standout). I haven't even mentioned Scott Wilson as George's dad, who gives possibly the subtlest performance of all.
And BVR, I know what you mean about going home and how it brings some residual, throwback version of yourself - almost despite yourself sometimes. It's like when some people pick up regional or other accents they don't have anymore when they're away from their hometown. Such a rich subject, so delicately drawn here.
Nathaniel - you are reminding me how much I miss SOUTHLAND (sigh).
Love this movie and when you mentioned focusing on the best scene, I was so hoping it would be the very one you chose. Beautifully articulated.