To Leslie

British actress Andrea Riseborough stars in this big-hearted American chamber drama, playing an alcoholic mother careening towards oblivion seven years after a sizeable lottery win. Having blown the cash and trashed her relationships with family and friends, Leslie now finds herself on the streets, until her long-suffering 20-something son (Owen Teague) takes pity on her. The next drink still takes priority, but a chance encounter with a kindly motel manager (Marc Maron) offers Leslie a glint of hope. Dressed-down to resemble a ravaged scarecrow, and providing a mesmerising portrait of a damaged soul, Riseborough delivers an awards-calibre performance. Maron is almost as good in a tricky supporting role. While the story becomes rather conventional, the bracing first half of the film is fantastic, and has us desperately willing Leslie to turn her life around.