Key Takeaways:
– Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic for Variety, suggests that the Netflix movie “Hillbilly Elegy” may have indirectly boosted JD Vance’s political career.
– The film highlights Vance’s rags-to-riches journey, paralleling legendary American tales.
– Debruge compares the film’s impact to that of “The Apprentice,” which aided in Donald Trump’s rise to prominence.
– Despite the movie’s success, Debruge feels it fails to accurately represent the essence of Vance’s book.
– JD Vance’s autobiography records his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a celebrated author and politician.
Breaking Down Debruge’s Perspective
Variety’s leading film critic, Peter Debruge, recently wrote an impactful piece on JD Vance’s biographical Netflix film, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was adapted from Vance’s bestselling book of the same name. Debruge suggests that the movie, like Burnett’s “The Apprentice,” may have inadvertently boosted Vance’s political profile, paving the way for his successful Senate run in 2022.
Produced and directed by well-known liberals, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, the film narrates Vance’s journey from an impoverished upbringing to his rise as a noteworthy American author and politician. According to Debruge, the film perfectly fits Howard and Grazer’s penchant for triumphant narratives, similar to their renditions of “Cinderella Man” and “American Gangster.”
However, Debruge believes the film fails to capture the real essence of Vance’s book. He argues that the actual narrative revolves around Vance’s unique personal experience and offers an insight into the disconnect between Middle America and the corporatized coasts, a theme the movie purportedly misses.
Understanding JD Vance’s Journey
In both the book and movie, Vance details his tough childhood living with a drug-addicted mother in Middletown, Ohio. He credits his grandma, affectionately known as ‘Mamaw,’ for his discipline and eventual success. According to Vance’s Senate bio, his journey from there includes serving in the Iraq War, graduating from Yale Law School, and becoming a successful author and entrepreneur.
Debruge argues that Vance uses his book to communicate the class disparity to “the coastal elites” he now ostensibly belongs to, having made inroads into the Silicon Valley via a Peter Thiel-backed venture capitalist fund post his Yale Law degree.
Highlighting Peter Debruge’s Accomplishments
For the benefit of readers unfamiliar with him, Peter Debruge’s tenure at Variety started in 2005. He has since helmed the film critic team, spearheading content for international film festivals. Debruge’s insights have contributed to publications like “Variety’s The Movie That Changed My Life” and others, cementing his voice as a valued one in the global film industry.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, while JD Vance’s compelling journey depicted through “Hillbilly Elegy” resonated with many viewers, it has also provoked discussions on the nuanced role of cinema in real-world politics. The debate continues to analyze whether the film was an accurate portrayal of Vance’s life story or whether it propelled the author into the political arena by magnifying his past. Regardless of these varying perspectives, the powerful narrative of “Hillbilly Elegy” has certainly left an indelible mark on its audiences and will continue to be a topic of discourse for years to come.