Tully

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) offers a deadpan but honest vision of motherhood in “Tully,” starring Charlize Theron. The film is a slice of life study of a mother’s struggles, told plainly without fanfare, decoration or embellishment. At first sight, it plays almost like a horror film. Sincere and undecorated as it is, the spare style begs for verve.

Charlize Theron is Marlo, an overworked and overwhelmed mother of three. Like Rosemary in “ Rosemary’s Baby,” events seem to conspire against her. She can’t sleep and her toddler appears to have some sort of emotional problem. He is about to be dismissed from school. On top of that, Marlo is nine weeks pregnant. Her sloppy husband Drew (Ron Livingston) is no help.

On a family visit, her brother Craig (Mark Duplass) encourages her to hire a nanny. Marlo adamantly refuses, not wanting the invasion of privacy. But Craig treats Marlo to a nanny and Tully (Mackenzie Davis) promptly arrives at night.

Marlo is at a loss to relate to Tully’s dedicated and nonjudgmental attitude. Davis is excellent and quite eerie as the focused and concentrated aide, whose only interests are Marlo and her baby. It is disturbing to watch Tully’s eyes as they appear to actually jump and spin as Mom breastfeeds her baby. Roman Polanski and Patricia Highsmith come to mind, as Tully hovers behind every corner in every room. Is this normal or does this cross the line, one wonders?

Reitman plays with audience expectations and he does it well in one of the film’s strongest scenes. Charlize Theron is terrific once more and the actor is a true chameleon. Pale, bloated and hectic in her incarnation, Theron’s entire being speaks of a manic mother pushed to the limit.

The film appears a bit weak only in its secondary characters. Dad is nondescript and generic as are the two children, who do not exhibit much color or drama in their roles. This is a missed opportunity as it would give Marlo more thrust and fight. As it is, the film is a one woman show for Theron. The role of Tully herself wilts into anemia and what was once odd, hypnotic and compelling fades to ambiguity.

Painstaking and pointed with precise detail, “Tully” is a fine showcase for Charlize Theron, highlighting her immersive no holds barred acting method. This singular transcending aspect is enough to lift an otherwise laconic and inscrutable film.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com