by Linda Kay

Directed by: Ron Howard

Synopsis: Based on the true story written by J.D. Vance. J.D. (Gabriel Basso), who is struggling to make his way financially through his next year at Yale, hopes to land a summer job which will help cover the costs. He learns his mother Bev (Amy Adams) has OD’d and a trip home causes him to reflect on his life growing up in a transplanted Tennessee family living in a dying midwestern town in Ohio.

Purr Blurs: Several cats are shown briefly throughout the film. The first three appear during the main credit sequence, playing on a random lawn.

In another establishing shot a woman is sitting on a porch petting her brown tabby cat.

Closer to the end of the film, J.D. takes his mother to a motel. As they walk down the second floor corridor, two cats are present: a dark cat sits in one of the plastic chairs outside the rooms, while a frisky ginger tabby scurries along with J.D. as if showing him the way to his room.

The animal trainer on the film was Megan-Kate Hoover.

Final Mewsings: Cats know character is more important than history.

Many thanks to Stevie Holcomb for letting us know about the cats in this film.

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