THE STORY – Assigned to a county-mandated drug court program, Cody Parsons embarks on the tenuous journey toward recovery amid the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio.
THE CAST – Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, Elise Kibler, Emily Meade, & Annette Deao
THE TEAM – Adam Meeks (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 97 Minutes
Recovery from addiction is a long journey with each day presenting new wins and challenges. That is at the forefront of writer/director Adam Meeks’ subdued drama “Union County,” which takes on a poignant and grounded approach to a story we’ve seen many times before. Rather than opt for grand gestures and overdramatic performances, this film finds its slow-paced rhythm in reality, as it’s set near the director’s hometown and features non-actors who have participated in rehabilitation programs. While the film may not dazzle as a whole, star Will Poulter delivers a nuanced performance that handles this story with care and respect.
It’s Cody’s (Poulter) first day in his drug rehabilitation program and there’s a lot he has to do in order to earn his keep over the next 18 months. He has to abstain from drugs and alcohol, attend court sessions, and complete routine drug testing. Otherwise, he can head back to jail, where this young man has likely spent enough time since he started doing opioids at 17. Meeks lets the reality of Cody’s life sink in as non-actors/real life program participants share their daily progress, instantly grounding this film. Unlike the bubbly participants who have been in the program for some time, Poulter’s Cody is quiet and reserved, taking in what’s around him and realizing a tough road awaits. But he seems determined to make changes as he’s secured a job at a lumbar yard and is trying to find a stable home.
Joining Cody is his scruffy foster brother Jack (Noah Centineo), who isn’t fully committed to all that this program offers. He’s late on paying fees, he doesn’t do his required journaling, and more often than not his drug tests come back positive. This sets up an obvious conundrum for Cody, who eventually does relapse with serious results. On the one hand, it’s an obvious screenplay trope and one we’ve seen play out in plenty of films prior. On the other, it makes sense given the film’s focus on showing the daily struggles for those in recovery. Every day is a constant battle with choices one has to make, and triggers can come in every form, whether it’s going back to the “bad crowd” or just having a craving for that vice. When the two brothers do relapse, it’s not because something dramatic happened that led them back down that road; sometimes things just happen.
Though “Union County” is void of those grand moments audiences may expect and it does feel repetitive at times, the work from this group of actors and non-actors is soulful and impressive. Even though he’s soft-spoken and doesn’t open up much, we’re still able to understand so much about Cody’s past because of the life that Poulter breathes into this character. The way he stands or acts around certain people, such as his brother or sister Kat (Emily Meade), tells us all we need to know about strains in their relationships. Even as he makes mistakes with the program or with his new friend Anna (Elise Kibler), we can’t help but root for him given Poulter’s work. Though Centineo doesn’t have quite as much screentime, he still makes an impression as Jack, the guy who never wants the party to stop. If the script would have allowed for it, a deeper exploration into his habits and struggles could have given this actor a real meaty supporting role. The non-actors also add so much color to this film, especially in moments when they’re celebrating big and small victories alike. If anything, Meeks should have incorporated more of them into the central story.
While we’ve seen plenty of recovery stories on the big screen in the past, “Union County” stands apart with its sincerity. This isn’t a film that has a “big scene” or earth-shattering performances, which, in fairness, won’t keep everyone interested. But by showcasing how each day comes something new to overcome and incorporating real-life elements, Meeks and Poulter deliver something poignant and thoughtful for audiences.
