The Struggles and Realities of Addictions in the Film "Union County"

"Union County" by writer-director Adam Meeks ventures deep into the lives of two polar opposite brothers who are wrestling with substance addiction. With empathetic portrayals by Will Poulter and Noah Centineo, the film paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by inhabitants of rural Ohio.

"Union County" is an expansion of Meeks' impactful 14-minute short film from 2020. While the full-length version has allowed deeper exploration of the duo's blue-collar environment, it arguably drags at points, lacking the punchiness of the original short. Despite this, the film is an earnest portrayal of a community battling an opioid crisis that is often overlooked.

In the film, Poulter plays Cody Parsons, a man determined to pull himself out of addiction. Opposite to him is his brother Jack (Centineo), who struggles to maintain sobriety. While both brothers work at a lumber mill, Cody aims to improve his life by saving up for stable accommodation, while Jack fails to make significant progress in paying off his fines.

"Union County" doesn’t shy away from showcasing the realities of addiction struggles, including relapses and tragic losses. Meeks balances these grim realities with moments of genuine compassion and resilience that depict the taxing journey towards recovery.

Both Poulter and Centineo deliver strong performances as the struggling siblings. Poulter skillfully depicts Cody as a man carrying his past regrets and seeking redemption, while Centineo embodies the tragically familiar figure of a man unable to break free from the grips of addiction.

The film's power lies in its sincere and thoughtful approach to the sensitive topic. Despite some lethargic scenes, its exploration of addiction and recovery, through both dramatic storytelling and actual accounts from individuals in similar sobriety programs, makes it a worthy watch. However, the trade-off between creating a feature-length film over a documentary and the audience for such a sober tale is debatable. Nevertheless, the grave subject matter is treated with the authentic consideration it deserves in "Union County".