"To Leslie", features Andrea Riseborough as the protagonist. The audience initially meets Leslie through a string of pictures, revealing her life prior to the present. Leslie's life comprises a marriage, a son, a lottery win of $190,000, and a subsequent mismanagement of the windfall. The narrative kickstarts seven years post her lottery win, painting a bleak picture of Leslie's life. An alcoholic recluse, Leslie is on the brink of collapse. After having to leave her motel accommodation, she stuffs her minimal possessions in a pink suitcase. She then turns up at her now grown-up son's apartment in the city.
Her son, James, along with everyone else, isn't happy to see her. Leslie, in her pursuit of alcohol and other substances, has exhausted her borrowing limits, owing to her debts. Her actions are by her cravings and desires, completely disregarding societal norms and rules. She often walks into a bar with the little confidence she has left. She tries to attract a man not for sexual pleasure but for the financial support and attention, he can provide.
James sets a ground rule for her stay - she can live with him till she improves her life conditions. However, she cannot consume alcohol. Predictably, it doesn't go as planned.
Leslie's journey eventually leads her back to her small-town origins, the place of her lottery win, where she's deemed worthless in her own words. Screenwriter Ryan Binaco and director Michael Morris do not portray her self-deprecation as a mystery, emphasizing the authenticity of the narrative.
Although Leslie's life begins to improve, the first part of the film illustrates her struggle, showcasing a web of damaged relationships and her continual descent into darkness. A beacon of hope emerges when she discovers a small motel run by the kind-hearted Sweeney (Marc Maron) and his peculiar partner Royal (Andre Royo). The question remains, can Leslie see this hope herself?
Sweeney and Leslie make a compelling on-screen pair. Sweeney's pleasant, straightforward demeanor contrasts with Leslie's turbulent, manipulative, and inward personality. Initially dismissing her, Sweeney eventually offers Leslie a job and accommodation, subtly boosting her self-esteem.
Characters as altruistic as Sweeney often turn out to be hypocrites, but Sweeney genuinely seems to want to improve everyone's life, even at personal loss. He understands the challenges Leslie presents, and despite her erratic and pitiful nature, he takes a liking to her. The inevitable attraction between Leslie and Sweeney makes their pairing for a happy ending seem unavoidable, despite the potential for catastrophe in reality.
"To Leslie" features several conventional narrative choices, yet still captivates audiences by offering an accurate depiction of an adult woman dealing with her life's trials.
Leslie's character, brought to life by Riseborough's superb performance, is the shining star of the film. Some parts of "To Leslie" have a nostalgic 1990s indie feel, despite its predictability, while the rawness of the first act camouflages this aspect. The film lacks enough scenes showing Leslie's journey of self-recovery, making the narrative slightly unbalanced.
Nevertheless, it's an effective character study. Leslie has a habit of taking more than she's offered, which often leads to trouble. The film cleverly doesn't absolve her of her past mistakes, making it feel more real and relatable.
Director Morris' artful arrangement and simple shots help the audience focus on Leslie's internal struggles more than external events. Riseborough's exceptional performance captivates the audience, making you feel as though you're watching a new face rather than an established actress.
Morris' technique provides a model for creating a small yet grand film by making definitive decisions and sticking to them. The film is filled with powerful scenes where Leslie's reactions take the center stage. The turning point in the film is an unbroken tracking shot of Leslie sitting at a bar, listening to a song that seemingly comments on her life. This isn't the moment of change for Leslie, but it marks the beginning of something new. As a masterpiece of silent acting, it ranks alongside legendary moments in cinema history. Uninterrupted closeups of characters thinking, like in "To Leslie", underline what makes cinema a unique art form.
