We hardly recognize it when it appears on our screen.
To promote "An American Ode", by videoconference from Los Angeles, Amy Adams wears a pink complexion, illuminated by her large blue eyes, a red brushing falling on her shoulder.
An elegance that contrasts with that of her character in Ron Howard's drama for Netflix: the 46-year-old actress plays Bev, a woman with glassy eyes, a puffy expression and shaggy hair.
In this film adapted from the autobiography of businessman JD Vance, a brilliant law student (JD, therefore) is about to land the interview for the job of his dreams.
But a phone call reminds him urgently in Ohio, where he has to manage yet another excess of his mother.
JD then remembers the highlights of his childhood in this dysfunctional family… and tries to settle this new drama before the meeting which could allow him to escape his destiny.
Carried by an epic staging, "An American Ode" is the striking portrait of a certain America (the English title of the film means "The Lament of the Rednecks").
It is also a very touching family melody, crossed by two powerful matriarchal figures: Mamaw, the intransigent grandmother embodied by an unrecognizable Glenn Close, and Bev, toxic mother and drug addict… and yet very human.
When asked why she accepted this poignant role, Amy Adams admits that the desire to work with Ron Howard, the filmmaker of "Apollo 13", "The Da Vinci Code" or "Solo: A Star Wars Story", l 'lived for a long time.
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“When I arrived in Los Angeles,” says the one who began her career by being a dancer in Colorado and then playing in the theater in Minnesota, I had drawn up a list of directors with whom I wanted to work.
Ron Howard was in the lead, with Steven Spielberg and Tim Burton… ”Since then, Amy Adams has toured with Spielberg in“ Catch Me If You Can ”and with Burton in“ Big Eyes ”.
“But there are still a lot of filmmakers I would like to work with!
»Laughs the actress, who confides that one of her big goals is to make a film with the Coen brothers.
Besides the presence of Ron Howard, it is the desire to bring “humanity” to the character of Bev that seduced Amy Adams.
"Among my friends or in my distant family, I have known people who have suffered from addiction," says the actress.
It was very important for me to try to understand who Bev was and to approach this character with empathy, without judging her.
I am sure she really wanted the best for her children.
Before filming, the cast of "An American Ode" met the real family of JD Vance.
"I was caught up in history"
“Bev, JD, Lindsay
(Editor's note: JD's sister)
and one of their cousins welcomed us to their home in Ohio,” explains Amy Adams.
They told us their story and we got to observe their relationships.
For Glenn, it was very important to hear them talk about Mamaw, who is no longer there… ”To camp Bev, Amy Adams had to wear a prosthetic nose and endured long hours of makeup.
How did she react to seeing herself so ugly on the screen?
“My husband always watches my movies before me,” she smiles.
There, I was in another room and then, I arrived and I was so caught up in the story and touched by the characters… ”
Like his upcoming film, “Woman in the Window,” “An American Ode” is airing on Netflix.
"I really hope that cinemas will survive the health crisis because nothing can replace the experience of the room," says Amy Adams.
But with my family, we do a lot of
streaming.
And I am very grateful to the platforms, which are a great film library, for allowing us to escape.
"
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EDITOR'S RATING: 4/5
"An American Ode",
American drama by Ron Howard.
With Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso… 1h56.
On Netflix, starting this Tuesday.