The Art of the Phone Call Scene
Vulture • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Union County, directed by Adam Meeks and starring Will Poulter as Cody Parsons, explores the opioid epidemic's impact on rural Ohio through a mix of professional actors and real recovery court participants, emphasizing authentic storytelling and stillness in its visual style.
- Poulter delivers a deeply internal performance as Cody, a man struggling with heroin addiction, estrangement from family, and the challenges of a court-mandated recovery program, portraying his character’s guardedness and gradual emotional opening.
- The film’s pivotal moment centers on Cody’s reaction to his brother Jack’s fentanyl overdose, presenting a raw and unflinching look at grief, guilt, and the temptation to relapse, while ultimately offering a message of hope and support through the compassionate intervention of a counselor.
- Union County avoids simplistic narratives by showing the complexity of addiction recovery, highlighting the ongoing struggle and the importance of human connection and understanding in the healing process.
