Tully (2018 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Tully

| image = Tully (2018 film).png

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Jason Reitman

| writer = Diablo Cody

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Aaron L. Gilbert
Jason Reitman
Helen Estabrook
Diablo Cody
Mason Novick
Charlize Theron
A.J. Dix
Beth Kono

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Eric Steelberg

| editing = Stefan Grube

| music = Rob Simonsen

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

Focus Features (select territories)
Sierra/Affinity (International){{cite web|title='Tully': Sundance Review|website=Screen International|first=David|last=D'Arcy|date=26 January 2018|access-date=7 October 2021|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/tully-sundance-review/5125990.article}}

}}

| released = {{Film date|2018|01|23|Sundance|2018|05|04|United States}}

| runtime = 95 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $15.6 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tully2018.htm |title=Tully (2018) | work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=September 11, 2020 }}

}}

Tully is a 2018 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody, and starring Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston. The film follows the friendship between a mother of three and her night nanny. It is the third collaboration between director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody, following the films Juno (2007) and Young Adult (2011), the latter of which also starred Theron.{{Cite news|url=https://collider.com/tully-trailer-charlize-theron-jason-reitman/|title=New 'Tully' Trailer: Charlize Theron Gets a Nanny in Reunion with Director Jason Reitman |last=Chitwood |first=Adam|date=March 6, 2018 |work=Collider |access-date=January 17, 2022}}

The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/charlize-theron-tully-sundance-film-festival-secret-screening-jason-reitman-diablo-cody-1202262965/|title=Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman & Diablo Cody Reteam 'Tully' Is Sundance Secret Screening |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=January 21, 2018 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 26, 2018}} and was released in the United States by Focus Features on May 4, 2018. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Theron and Davis's performances and the film's portrayal of motherhood. Theron was nominated for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 76th Golden Globe Awards and Best Actress in a Comedy Movie at the 24th Critics' Choice Awards.

Plot

Marlo is pregnant with an unplanned third child with her husband Drew. They have a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Jonah, who has an undiagnosed behavioral disorder. Trying to reduce his sensitivity to external stimuli, Marlo brushes his skin nightly. Craig, Marlo's wealthy brother, offers to pay for a night nanny as a baby gift, but she rebuffs him. Marlo has dreams of an underwater mermaid, and also of her son's tantrums.

After giving birth to a girl, Mia, Marlo quickly becomes even more overwhelmed and exhausted than before. After the principal of Jonah's school again recommends that he be placed in a different school because they cannot handle him, Marlo erupts at her and leaves angrily. Afterwards she gets out the phone number for the night nanny.

That night, Tully, the nanny, arrives at Marlo's house and immediately settles in to take control. Despite initial awkwardness, they develop a close friendship over the course of several nights. Tully proves to be an exceptional nanny and also cleans the house and bakes cupcakes for Jonah's class. Tully explains that she is there mostly not for Mia herself, but to help and support Marlo. Marlo begins re-engaging with her family and self, singing, cooking nice family meals, and having fun with her kids. When Marlo mentions that she and Drew have not had sex for some time, and that Drew has a fantasy about diner waitresses, Tully puts on a waitress uniform that Marlo had previously purchased but never used and, with Marlo coaching, makes love to Drew.

One night Tully arrives visibly distressed. She has fought with her "enmeshed" roommate, due to her roommate's anger over her bringing home men. Tully impulsively suggests going into the city for drinks, to which Marlo reluctantly agrees; they drive to Marlo's old neighborhood, Bushwick, Brooklyn. At a bar Tully suddenly tells her she can no longer work for her anymore, explaining that she was there only to "bridge a gap." Marlo yells at Tully for being immature and not understanding how aging is going to steal Tully's youthful body and demeanor. Marlo impulsively steals a bike and rides to her former girlfriend’s apartment, where Marlo herself used to live, but no one answers the door. Tully suggests she may be taking things too far. When Marlo's breast becomes painfully engorged with milk, Tully takes her into a bar bathroom and helps her express the milk. On their way home, Marlo falls asleep at the wheel, ends up in a river trapped underwater in the car, and Tully as a mermaid comes to rescue her.

She is taken to a hospital, where a psychiatrist informs a surprised Drew that Marlo was suffering from extreme sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Drew admits he does not know much about the nanny, and when asked for Marlo's maiden name, he says "Tully".

In flashbacks, events that Marlo and Tully experienced together now show Marlo alone. Tully comes to Marlo's hospital room to say goodbye, and each thanks the other for keeping her alive before Tully leaves. Drew reenters and apologizes to Marlo for not realizing what she was going through and affirms his love of her and their family, which she reciprocates.

At home, Marlo goes to brush Jonah, but he questions whether the procedure is "real", and they decide they no longer need to do it. Jonah says his favorite part of the procedure was always just being with his mother, and they embrace. Marlo goes to the kitchen and puts in earbuds to listen to music while she prepares the kids' lunches for tomorrow. Drew comes in, takes one of the earbuds, and helps to chop food up while they listen to the music together.

Cast

{{cast listing|

Charlize Theron as Marlo Moreau
Mackenzie Davis as Tully
Ron Livingston as Drew Moreau
Asher Miles Fallica as Jonah
Lia Frankland as Sarah
Mark Duplass as Craig Freehauf
Elaine Tan as Elyse
Gameela Wright as Laurie

}}

Production

Diablo Cody wrote the film as a way of dealing with her own difficult pregnancy. The script helped her, becoming "a glowing, soothing presence I could return to whenever I felt overwhelmed."{{cite web |date=8 November 2018 |title=In her own words, Diablo Cody reveals how writing 'Tully' saved her |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-en-mn-diablo-cody-writing-tully-20181108-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times }} Reitman noted, according to Cody, that Tully fits together thematically with their previous collaborations, logically concluding an unintentional trilogy where "Juno is about being prematurely thrust into adulthood, Young Adult is about resisting adulthood, and Tully is about finding grace and acceptance in midlife."

Theron said she gained nearly 50 pounds (23 kg) for the role over a period of three and a half months. She had to eat around the clock to keep the weight on, and then it took her a year and a half to take the weight off after filming wrapped.{{cite news|title=Charlize Theron Reveals 'Very Long Journey' to Lose 50 Pounds Packed on for 'Tully'|url=http://www.etonline.com/charlize-theron-reveals-very-long-journey-to-lose-50-pounds-packed-on-for-tully-exclusive-100564|date=April 17, 2018|work=Entertainment Tonight|first=Liz|last=Calvario|access-date=April 18, 2018}}

Filming lasted from September 22 to November 2, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia.{{cite news|title=Tully Movie with Charlize Theron Starts Filming in Vancouver|url=http://www.whatsfilming.ca/2016/09/22/tully-movie-charlize-theron-starts-filming-vancouver/|date=September 22, 2016|work=What's Filming|access-date=September 27, 2016}}

Music

Release

In May 2017, Focus Features acquired distribution rights to the film in North America, the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Spain, China, Malaysia, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. A theatrical release date of April 20, 2018 was set; however, in March 2018 the date was pushed back to May 4.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/tully-movie-release-date-charlize-theron-jason-reitman-diablo-cody-focus-features-1202084547/|title=Focus Features Acquires Reitman-Theron-Cody Reteam 'Tully' For April 2018 Bow|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=May 4, 2017|access-date=May 4, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|title=Charlize Theron Comedy 'Tully' Moves To First Weekend Of May|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/charlize-theron-tully-may-release-date-1202338743/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=April 8, 2018}}

Tully was made available for digital download on July 17, 2018, and released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 31.{{cite tweet|user=TullyMovie|number=1001872956597813249|title=Academy Award Winner, @CharlizeAfrica stars in the critically acclaimed dramatic comedy, #TULLY. Own it with Exclusive Bonus Content. Digital: July 17 / Blu-ray & DVD July 31 http://uni.pictures/Tully|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=July 15, 2018}}

Reception

=Box office=

Tully grossed $9.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $6.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $15.6 million.

In the United States and Canada, Tully was released alongside Overboard and Bad Samaritan, and was projected to gross $3–4 million from 1,353 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/avengers-infinity-war-300-million-box-office-record-and-second-weekend-preview-1202381070/|title=Avengers: Infinity War' Ties 'Force Awakens' As Fastest Title To $300M, Will Make Another $100M+ This Weekend |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 2, 2018|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|access-date=May 2, 2018}} It ended up debuting to $3.2 million, which was a lower figure than Reitman's Labor Day ($5.1 million in 2014), and finishing 6th at the box office. 87% of its audience was over the age of 25. Deadline Hollywood noted that an opening of $6.5 million would have been an ideal debut for the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/avengers-infinity-war-second-weekend-box-office-overboard-tully-bad-samaritan-1202382713/|title='Avengers: Infinity War' Is Second-Fastest Pic To $400M With Second-Best 2nd Weekend Ever At $112M+ – Sunday |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 6, 2018| first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro|access-date=May 6, 2018}} It made $2.2 million in its second weekend, dropping to 8th place at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/life-of-the-party-breaking-in-melissa-mccarthy-will-packer-avengers-infinity-war-box-office-1202387487/|title='Infinity War' Second-Fastest To Half Billion; 'Life Of The Party' No Pizzazz With $18M+ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 13, 2018| first1=Anita|last1=Busch|first2=Anthony|last2=D'Alessandro|access-date=May 16, 2018}}

=Critical response=

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}; the website's critical consensus reads: "Tully delves into the modern parenthood experience with an admirably deft blend of humor and raw honesty, brought to life by an outstanding performance by Charlize Theron."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tully_2018|title=Tully (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on 52 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|title=Tully Reviews |work=Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tully-2018|access-date=May 22, 2018}} According to PostTrak, filmgoers gave the film an overall positive score of 73%, with audience members over the age of 25 giving it a 71% and those under 25 giving it an 87%.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a "B", calling it "funnier than Juno and almost as ruthlessly honest as Young Adult", and saying: "Tully never pulls at your heartstrings quite as hard as it might, but there's something beautiful about the way these two women both learn to love themselves, and in a way that also makes it easier for them to love each other."{{cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=David |date=January 26, 2018|title='Tully' Review: Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman Deliver a Modern Fairy Tale About Motherhood — Sundance 2018|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/tully-review-jason-reitman-diablo-cody-charlize-theron-sundance-2018-1201921773/ |website=IndieWire |access-date=May 2, 2018}} Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers praised the performances and script, giving the film 3.5 stars out of 4 and saying: "When the film takes a sharp turn and veers off-course in its final third, you hold on because Davis and Theron make sure you do. Together these two dynamite actresses cut to the soulful core of a movie that turns out to be funny, touching and vital."{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |date=May 2, 2018 |title='Tully' Review: Charlize Theron's Maternal Meltdown Is Dramedy Gold |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/peter-travers-tully-movie-review-charlize-theron-w519688|magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=May 3, 2018}}

Despite the film receiving positive reviews from many critics, one group of critics criticized the film for its portrayal of postpartum mental health. In particular, they took exception to the normalization and lack of recognition of postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis, which they deemed careless.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/04/25/charlize-theron-tully-mental-health_a_23419970/|title=Charlize Theron's Movie 'Tully' Angers Maternal Mental Health Advocates|website=HuffPost|last=Tomasi|first=Patricia|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 29, 2017}} Manohla Dargis' review in The New York Times suggested that:

Marlo very visibly sinks into postpartum depression — you can see Ms. Theron pulling Marlo deeper and deeper inside — the movie pretends that her burden is somehow too hidden for anyone to notice ... it isolates Marlo, and once again it is a woman who's the problem that needs solving.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/movies/tully-review-charlize-theron.html | last=Dargis | first=Manohla |title=Review: In the Comedy 'Tully,' Mom's Struggle Is Real |website=The New York Times | date=3 May 2018 |access-date=2 May 2019}}

Diana Spalding (the digital education editor for the website Motherly, a midwife, and a pediatric nurse) argued that Theron's character displays behaviors more typical of postpartum psychosis, the symptoms of which include delusions, hallucinations, periods of extreme activity, anger, paranoia, and trouble communicating. Along with other negative critics of the movie, Spalding had looked forward to seeing a film about what motherhood is truly like, but instead found the issue of postpartum mental illness "unaddressed", and Marlo's suicidal ideation normalized.{{cite web | url=https://www.mother.ly/life/weve-seen-tully-and-weve-got-some-real-concerns | title = We've seen Tully—and we've got some real concerns | last=Spalding | first=Diana | date=n.d. |website=Motherly |access-date=2 May 2019}} This condition is dangerous to both mother and child; according to Carolyn Wagner, a maternal mental health therapist based in Chicago, "it is extremely serious, and presents a grave danger to mom and infant. It does not involve [a] fantastical imagined friend and caregiver, and it is certainly nothing to be made into a plot twist."

=Accolades=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipients

! scope="col" | Result

rowspan="2" | Alliance of Women Film Journalists{{cite web |title=2018 EDA Award Nominees |url=https://awfj.org/eda-awards-2/2018-eda-award-nominees/ |website=awfj.org |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| rowspan="2" | 2020

| Best Woman Screenwriter

| Diablo Cody

| {{Nominated}}

Bravest Performance

| Charlize Theron

| {{Nominated}}

CinEuphoria Awards

| 2019

| Best Actress – International Competition

| Charlize Theron

| {{Nominated}}

Cleveland International Film Festival

| 2018

| rowspan="1" |Best American Independent Feature Film

| Jason Reitman

| {{Nominated}}

Columbus Film Critics Association Awards{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Erik |title=Columbus Film Critics Association nominations: 'The Favourite,' 'Widows,' 'Beale Street' and more |url=https://awardswatch.com/columbus-film-critics-association-nominations-the-favourite-widows-beale-street-and-more/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=AwardsWatch |date=December 30, 2018}}

| 2020

| Best Overlooked Film

| {{Nominated}}

Critics' Choice Awards{{cite news |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2019 Winners: 'Roma' Takes Best Picture, Director |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/critics-choice-awards-2019-full-winners-list-1202034782/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=IndieWire |date=January 13, 2019}}

| January 13, 2019

| Best Actress in a Comedy

| Charlize Theron

| {{Nominated}}

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards{{cite news |title=Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2018 – the results are in, with a few surprises |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/dublin-film-critics-circle-awards-2018-the-results-are-in-with-a-few-surprises-37644751.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=December 20, 2018}}

| 2018

| Best Actress

| Charlize Theron

| {{draw|10th place}}

Dorian Awards{{cite web |title=2018/19 Film & TV Dorians |url=https://www.galeca.com/past-winners/ |website=galeca.com |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| 2019

| Unsung Film of the Year

| {{Nominated}}

Golden Globes{{cite web |title=Best Actress - Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2019 |website=Golden Globes |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| January 6, 2019

| Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

| rowspan="3" |Charlize Theron

| {{Nominated}}

Hawaii Film Critics Society{{cite web |title=Hawaii Film Critics Society 2018 Nominees List |url=http://hifilmcriticssociety.org/hawaii-film-critics-society-2018-nominees-list |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110173112/http://hifilmcriticssociety.org/hawaii-film-critics-society-2018-nominees-list |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |website=hifilmcriticssociety.org |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| 2019

| rowspan="2" |Best Actress

| {{Nominated}}

rowspan="3" |Hollywood Critics Association Awards{{cite web |title=The Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society announces their mid-season award nominees |url=https://hollywoodcriticsassociation.com/the-los-angeles-online-film-critics-society-announces-their-mid-season-award-nominees/ |website=Hollywood Critics Association |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| rowspan="3" |2018

| {{Nominated}}

Best Supporting Actress

| Mackenzie Davis

| {{Nominated}}

Best Original Screenplay

| Diablo Cody

| {{Nominated}}

Jupiter Award

| 2019

| Best International Actress

| Charlize Theron

| {{Won}}

rowspan="3" |Leo Awards{{cite web |title=2019 Nominees & Winners by Program |url=http://www.leoawards.com/past_nominees_and_winners/nominees_and_winners_by_program_2019.php |website=Leo Awards |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| rowspan="3" |June 4, 2019

| Best Motion Picture

| Jason Reitman, Helen Estabrook, Beth Kono,
Charlize Theron, Diablo Cody, Mason Novick, Ron McLeod, Aaron Gilbert

| {{Nominated}}

Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture

| Aieisha Li

| {{Nominated}}

Best Visual Effects in a Motion Picture

| Robin Hackl, Dave Morley, Tara Conley & Matt Yeoman

| {{Nominated}}

Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards{{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=December 3, 2018 |title=The 2018 Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society (LAOFCS) Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2018-los-angeles-online-film-critics-society-laofcs-nominations/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=Next Best Picture |language=en-US}}

| December 9, 2018

| Best Actress

| rowspan="3" |Charlize Theron

| {{Nominated}}

Online Association of Female Critics

| 2018

| Best Female Lead

| {{Nominated}}

St. Louis Film Critics{{cite news |title=St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations: 'The Favourite,' 'A Star Is Born,' 'Vice' lead |url=https://awardswatch.com/st-louis-film-critics-association-stlfca-nominations-the-favourite-a-star-is-born-vice-lead/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=AwardsWatch |date=December 9, 2018}}

| December 16, 2018

| Best Actress

| {{Nominated}}

The Joey Awards{{cite web |title=Official 2018 Film & Television Nominations |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-26709023/documents/5b9d83a553cadfO4BxBi/Official%202018%20Film%20%26%20Television%20Nominations%20(1).pdf |website=Joey Awards |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| 2018

| Best Actress in a Feature Film Supporting/Principal Role Age 5-11

| Lia Frankland

| {{Won}}

Young Artist Awards{{cite web |title=Nominees 2019 |url=https://youngartistacademy.org/2019nominees |website=YoungArtistAcademy.org |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| July 14, 2019

| Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actor

| Asher Miles Fallica

| {{Nominated}}

Young Entertainer Awards{{cite web |title=The 4th Annual Young Entertainer Awards |url=https://youngentertainerawards.org/YEA%20NOM%20LIST%202019.pdf |website=Young Entertainer Awards |access-date=17 November 2022}}

| April 7, 2019

| Best Supporting Young Actress – Feature Film

| Lia Frankland

| {{Won}}