It's an unwritten rule that every festival must include at least one movie starring Andrea Riseborough, sometimes as many as four (that was Sundance 2018). While I’ll note that I haven’t seen one of her more recent entries – Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor – most of her turns in the past few years have been very subdued in lackluster films like Nancy, Luxor, and Here Before. I fondly remember her standout performances even with minimal roles in Birdman and The Death of Stalin, and I’m pleased to report that her latest effort, To Leslie, gives her a superb platform again in a leading part…
In established television director Michael Morris’ film debut, Riseborough plays the title character, who is seen in the opening moments being interviewed on the local news. She has won the lottery, a sum of $190,000, and her first celebratory act is to buy everyone watching a round of drinks. Cut to six years later and the money is all gone. After being kicked out of a motel for failing to pay for her room and a brief and unsuccessful stay with her adult son, James (Owen Teague), she has no choice to return to her hometown, where everyone knows her and has little faith in her ability to change.
Riseborough dives fully into this role, turning Leslie into someone who understands that people around her don’t like her and acts in a way that’s meant to preemptively combat that judgment. The trouble is that she has nothing to back it up, since she does do the things that they despise her for, whether it’s drinking excessively, stealing money, or failing to live up to her commitments. She’s loud and unapologetic, and her only path to redemption comes from a motel manager (Marc Maron) too polite not to give her a second, third, and fourth chance.
There have been stories like this before, but this film has an energy that keeps it feeling fresh and invigorating. The dynamic that Riseborough and Maron have on screen is extremely entertaining, adding a bit of humor into an otherwise serious story. The supporting cast includes Allison Janney and Stephen Root, who form part of a very effective ensemble. This film is very much a showcase of Riseborough’s abilities and the cyclical nature of addiction and true rehabilitation, as expressed in a compelling and memorable project. B+
To Leslie makes its world premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section at the SXSW Film Festival.