It's a clear-eyed drama set in western Texas, probably in the 1990s. It tells the journey of an alcoholic 40-ish woman battling her demons as she pursues her next drink and deals with inklings of better possibilities.
Leslie (Andrea Riseborough) is an alcoholic mom who wins $190,000 in the lottery but soon blows it in bad investments and having fun. She abandons her 13-year-old son, James (Owen Teague), leaving him to her sister, Nancy (Allison Janney), and Nancy's biker boyfriend, Dutch (Stephen Root). Six years later, after striking out with her now-19-year-old son in the city, she returns to the small Texas town where she grew up, won the lottery, and alienated her family and friends.
Through happenstance, she ends ups at a low-brow, non-chain motel owned by Royal (Andre Royo), a burned-out druggie. Royal's partner, Sweeney (Marc Maron), runs the motel and has his own hard experience with alcoholic women. Recognizing Leslie's situation, he offers her a job as a maid. The film follows Leslie's struggle to make this work and whether she has the stamina to stay in the town and face the consequences.
"To Leslie" was an independent film made for less than $1 million; by November 2022, it had taken in under $30,000. Nonetheless, it has created a lot of buzz. Andrea Riseborough gives a truly remarkable performance as a manipulative alcoholic woman, burdened by her failures and trying to find the will to survive. Marc Maron provides empathy and second/third/fourth chance. The mostly country music that accompanies the film is excellent. Only the ending is less than bang-on.
Leslie (Andrea Riseborough) is an alcoholic mom who wins $190,000 in the lottery but soon blows it in bad investments and having fun. She abandons her 13-year-old son, James (Owen Teague), leaving him to her sister, Nancy (Allison Janney), and Nancy's biker boyfriend, Dutch (Stephen Root). Six years later, after striking out with her now-19-year-old son in the city, she returns to the small Texas town where she grew up, won the lottery, and alienated her family and friends.
Through happenstance, she ends ups at a low-brow, non-chain motel owned by Royal (Andre Royo), a burned-out druggie. Royal's partner, Sweeney (Marc Maron), runs the motel and has his own hard experience with alcoholic women. Recognizing Leslie's situation, he offers her a job as a maid. The film follows Leslie's struggle to make this work and whether she has the stamina to stay in the town and face the consequences.
"To Leslie" was an independent film made for less than $1 million; by November 2022, it had taken in under $30,000. Nonetheless, it has created a lot of buzz. Andrea Riseborough gives a truly remarkable performance as a manipulative alcoholic woman, burdened by her failures and trying to find the will to survive. Marc Maron provides empathy and second/third/fourth chance. The mostly country music that accompanies the film is excellent. Only the ending is less than bang-on.