Union County Proves the Power of the Phone Call in Cinema

Key points

• Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi identifies the phone call scene in Union County as the film’s most soul-baring moment and a key example of effective cinema.
• The scene features Will Poulter as Cody Parsons, a character in a drug rehabilitation program, calling his counselor Annette Deao after his brother Jack dies from a fentanyl overdose.
• Hadadi notes that Poulter’s performance is highly internal and restrained, making the emotional release during the phone call a significant breakthrough for the character.
• The article argues that phone call scenes allow actors to engage in direct, emotional two-handers without the distraction of complex visual effects or movement.
• Hadadi compares this scene to other notable phone call moments in films such as The Insider, Mississippi Masala, and Wake Up Dead Man, highlighting their power to convey humanity and dignity.

Background

This analysis focuses on the film Union County, which addresses the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio. The archive contains no related background on this specific film or topic, so no additional context is provided.

Why it matters

The article underscores the enduring value of simple, dialogue-driven scenes in filmmaking. By focusing on the emotional weight of a phone call, it highlights how actors can convey deep vulnerability and connection without relying on visual spectacle, offering a counterpoint to the trend of increasingly complex and visually dense cinema.

What to watch

The film Union County is set to be released in theaters on August 14. The article suggests that audiences may find the film’s focus on stillness and intimate human interaction compelling, particularly given the critical acclaim for Poulter’s performance.