Union County review: Will Poulter lifts a quiet addiction drama

At Sundance, Adam Meeks's feature debut Union County extends a 2020 short and draws on Ohio drug court participants and non-actors to tell a restrained story of rehabilitation, while Will Poulter gives a quietly affecting lead performance.

Union County premiered at Sundance as Adam Meeks's feature debut and an expansion of his 2020 short. The director filmed in and around Ohio drug court programs and included real participants alongside professional actors. The movie follows Cody, played by Will Poulter, as he moves through the court-supported rehabilitation process and the daily work of staying sober. Meeks kept the tone low-key and intimate, and Poulter embedded himself in the community before shooting. Key points: - The film is an extension of a 2020 short and marks Adam Meeks's feature debut. - Meeks cast non-actors who were in the drug court program and opens with real participants presenting to the judge. - Will Poulter plays Cody and is noted for a quietly affecting, understated performance. - The story focuses on everyday steps of recovery, including routine, work and family ties, with Noah Centineo in a smaller role as Cody's foster brother. - The film's approach is deliberately restrained and intimate, and some viewers may find its pace slow. Summary: The film foregrounds Ohio drug courts and the real people involved, using a largely observational style and a mix of non-actors and professionals to convey rehabilitation as a process. Undetermined at this time.