Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 3 May 2018
In 'Tully,' a rare close-up of postnatal motherhood

By JAKE COYLE, Tully spits out lines like these
NEW YORK (AP) — The title throughout the film. At
character of Jason Reit- times, she sounds downright
man's "Tully" descends extraterrestrial. Of night she
not from the clouds, car- says, "That's the downside
ried by an umbrella in the of living on a planet with a
wind, but glides cheerfully short solar day." The slight-
through the front door on a est turn of the dial and this
black night. She arrives just would be a horror movie.
as Marlo (Charlize Theron), Tully's mission, she says, isn't
the mother of two plus an to take care of the baby;
unplanned-for newborn, it's to help mom. Their con-
is reaching the limits of ex- versations steadily grow
haustion. deeper and soon Tully
"Tully," directed by Jason isn't just helping Marlo rest,
Reitman and penned by she's reinvigorating her life.
Diablo Cody, isn't a song- "It's like I can see in color
singing fantasy like "Mary again," says Marlo, who
Poppins." It lives in the un- earlier in the film refers to
glamorous and sleepless her body as "a relief map
postpartum haze of breast for a war-torn country."
pumps and swaddles. But In repeatedly focusing on
like "Poppins," ''Tully" is a This image released by Focus Features shows Charlize Theron in a scene from "Tully." regular people and their
fantasy of parenthood — Associated Press everyday problems of fam-
a homely fairy tale about ily and work, Reitman's
a haggard mother who's ily depart before sunrise, transferred out. Her hus- cuer and — because she's heart is resolutely in the
feeling her younger, former are "like ninjas" capable of band Drew (Ron Livings- a carefree 26-year-old right place. He also has a
self slip away. reordering Marlo's sleep- ton) is little help, oblivious bubbling with the vibrancy knack for giving good ac-
It's well into "Tully" before deprived life. to Marlo's hardship. After of youth — a physical re- tors room for stand-out per-
we meet Marlo's savior: Marlo is less sure. "You can't work, he mostly zones out minder to Marlo of her pre- formances. His films may be
a 26-year-old night nurse just outsource your life," she playing video games. kids life. "I'm like Saudi Ara- zippy portraits of everyday
(Mackenzie Davis), for says. But her life is punish- When Tully arrives, she's like bia," Tully says "I have an life, but they're also senti-
whom Marlo's wealthier ing. Her tantrum-throwing a pixie apparition, both res- energy surplus." mental star-vehicles.q
brother Craig (Mark Du- son Jonah (Asher Miles Fal-
plass) has paid. He prom- lica) is labeled "quirky" by
ises night nurses, who arrive his school, but they mean Viewers see vulnerable Serena
in the evening and stealth- worse and they want him
Williams in 5-part TV series

ing power.
"Being Serena," airing on
Wednesday nights starting
this week, offers viewers a
chance to feel as if they are
getting to know the athlete
better. There is the foot-
age, including in the de-
livery room when Williams
gave birth to her daughter
on Sept. 1. And there are
interviews, including with
Williams; her husband, Red-
dit co-founder Alex Oha-
In a photo provided by HBO date not provided, Serena Williams
holds her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanion Jr., in a scene from nian; her tennis-playing sis-
the HBO's "Being Serena," a five-part documentary series. ter, Venus; another sibling;
their mother; and Williams'
By HOWARD FENDRICH, don't think it ever felt so far agent, Jill Smoller.
The first episode of "Being away. And I don't think my The debut episode is titled
Serena," a five-part docu- life ever felt so unsure." "Fear." The other episode
mentary series on HBO That is just one example provided to reviewers is
about Serena Williams, of the images and words called "Strength."
closes with the tennis great that show vulnerability the Those first two installments
in a hospital bed, about to world is not accustomed mainly focus on Williams'
have a C-section. to seeing — or hearing pregnancy, her difficult
Just before the screen — from the owner of 23 childbirth and her thoughts
fades, a voiceover from Grand Slam singles cham- on motherhood. "There's no
Williams is heard: "I was ter- pionships, someone whose escaping the fear: The fear
rified. And it was a whole on-court game is built, at that I might not come back
new kind of fear. Tennis? I least in part, on intimidat- as strong as I was. q