Everyone loves a winner, which is why so many movies showcase success. If you are going to showcase failure, you'd better know what you are doing. And the team behind TO LESLIE -- director Michael Morris and writer Ryan Binaco -- know exactly what they are doing. The script in particular is so precise you could study it in film class. Literally 60 seconds after you encounter the central character (Leslie) winning a lottery, you re-engage with her years later -- drunk and mean and homeless. The viewer is hooked. The dialog throughout is fat-free, and the direction never once relies on cheap tricks (like loud background music) to make a point. The unspoken truth with these sorts of stories is that Leslie could be you, or someone you know. We all make mistakes. And we all try to fix them. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes we don't. Andrea Riseborough as Leslie gives an awesome performance; and Stephen Root, way outside of his usual comfort zone, is a standout. Marc Maron is in a class by himself -- he could give acting clinics on "empathy." Easily one of the most engaging films of the year. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Film for the huge masses , and its not a film that will shake the fundations that your standing on, unless youre striving the same issues as the title role .its called a drama and that it is claims the grumpy old man, a real midwest redneck social dweller where the waterhole is the best nest in the west.

A story about a shortcircued woman that wins a high voltage lottery jolt, and becomes queen of the town, spending the money in a hurry, leaving a blasted home and family behind her in the mist of richness

the film really is aboutcollecting the strands of life, struggling the rip currents of normal life, until one day a lifeguard turns up and throws her a rescue buoy of decensy and naive trust, its just a matter of eating the bait of salvation or still ride the wagon of alcoholistic dulldrums.

Its a low cosot production with average standards aall over, its a bit slow and drawn plotwise, but the acting is good and most of all feels realistic from start to end. The preface of this story deserve a film itself, so some ima yoginatio youull have to spend. But good sociaalrealism it is, the main carater really feeds your curiosity and wwill hang on tp you till the end. A 7 with a recommend.

SXSW 2022 Greetings again from the darkness. We have all heard the stories of lottery winners who blow the entire pot and end up back where they started, or sometimes even worse off. There is also no shortage of stories where alcoholism ruins lives and relationships. Director Michael Morris' first feature film combines the two elements in a script by Ryan Binaco, who based the lead character on his own mother. The two men have done their work well and, in a way, win their own lottery by having cast Andrea Riseborough in the lead. Ms. Riseborough has long been labeled underrated, but I believe the more accurate label is underappreciated.

Small town Texan Leslie (Riseborough) is seen celebrating her $190,000 lottery win by lifting the giant check for TV cameras. She admits to picking her son's birthday as the winning number and says her plan is to buy a house and open a diner ... right after she buys the first round at the local bar. We then flash forward six years to find Leslie homeless, having just been evicted from a fleabag motel. Toting her pink suitcase, she is forced to trace her steps back to the bridges still smoldering from her past actions. She tracks down her son James (Owen Teague, IT),whom she abandoned years ago.

Of course it doesn't take long for Leslie to break James' one house rule of 'no drinking', and soon he is shipping her back to their hometown to stay with the friends who raised James. Nancy (Oscar winner Allison Janney) and Dutch (Stephen Root) are a biker couple still upset with Leslie's actions from years ago, but willing to give her a roof over her head. Leslie is a master of saying the right thing, but never doing the right thing. She can sweet talk anyone who might buy her next drink, but her history is one of burning bridges and leaving a wake of shattered emotions.

Leslie is an uncontrollable alcoholic and she's self-destructive, but not in a LEAVING LAS VEGAS way. We sense that in her lucid moments ... when she's not screaming at someone or flirting for a drink ... that she does want to be a better person and live a better life. It takes local motel manager Sweeney (Marc Maron) to give her a real shot at cleaning up. Literally cleaning up, as she's hired to clean the motel rooms. Sweeney's patience with Leslie stems from his past, and it's as painful to watch his efforts as it is to watch Leslie's swings. Andrea Riseborough delivers a raw and riveting performance - one worthy of awards consideration. She captivates us with an emotional and physical performance. Director Michael Morris has directed some terrific TV episodes for shows like "Better Call Saul", "Bloodline", "Animal Kingdom", and "House of Cards", and this film leaves us with hope that the support of one person can make a difference for someone in desperate need of help.